BIOGRAPHY
Praised for her crystal-clear voice, British soprano Sarah Gilford is a recent 1st prize winner of the "Bolko von Hochberg" International Lied Competition, finalist of the Concurs Tenor Viñas 2024, Song Prize finalist at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2021 and an alumnus of the prestigious Opernstudio at the Bayerische Staatsoper.
​
Sarah begins the 2024/25 as Juliette in Korngold's Die tote Stadt at the Bergen Nasjonale Opera in a new production staged by Calixto Bieito. This season, she will perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony. alongside the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican as well as with the Festival Philharmonie Westfalen. In the new year, Sarah will join the Armenian National Symphony Orchestra in a Christmas Gala. In Munich, she will sing Mahler's 2nd Symphony.
​
​
"Sarah Gilford, who embodies Dalinda with a captivating voice, perfectly balanced in its registers and with a high-level interpretative capacity."
CRESCENDO
In the 2023/24 season, Sarah Gilford sang Woglinde in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt as well as in Handel's Messiah. She also made her role debut as the Governess in Isabelle Kettle's new production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw at Theatre Royal in Bath. She sang Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini in Parma and made her debut at Staatsoper Hamburg as First Niece in Peter Grimes. She also made her debut as Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante with Les Arts Florissants under the baton of William Christie at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
"Sophie was charming debutante Sarah Gilford, whose lyric soprano fitted the role like a glove - more from her, please."
OPERA NOW
"With soulful piani, yes practically angelic, and secure high notes, one experiences Sarah Gilford as Gilda."
KLEINEZEITUNG
Highlights of previous seasons include Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Berlin Philharmonic and her debut as Sophie in Werther at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano. She also made her debut at Wigmore Hall in London with pianist Ewa Danilewska. At Stadttheater Klagenfurt, she sang Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Soprano I in Rihm’s Jakob Lenz, and Gilda in Rigoletto. In addition, she could be heard in recitals in London, Rome, and Madrid at the Fundación Juan March . At the Bayerische Staatsoper, Sarah performed roles including the title role in Thomas’ Mignon at the Cuvilliés Theatre, as Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, as Taumännchen in Hänsel und Gretel, and as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro.
​
Sarah is very grateful to the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, Imogen Cooper Music Trust and Samling for their continued support of her career.