London born soprano and Cambridge University graduate, Elinor Rolfe Johnson, possesses a ‘commanding stage presence and the voice to match’ (Seen and Heard International) and has been praised for her ‘superlative singing’ (The Guardian). An RCS scholar and Britten-Pears Young Artist, Elinor has been a Finalist in various competitions, including the inaugural Sing Finzi, London Welsh Singer of the Year and International Handel Singing Competitions.
 

Elinor has worked with companies including Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Chelsea Opera Group, Opera Up Close, Nevill Holt Opera, The Mozartists, Wild Arts Opera, Regents Opera, Clonter Opera and the London Handel Festival; her roles include Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Desdemona (Otello) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni).  Directors include Olivia Fuchs, Wiliam Relton, Robert Chevara, Bruno Ravella, Simon Butteriss and Christof Loy.
 

Elinor has performed in venues including the Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Royal Opera House, Het Concertgebouw, Palais de Versailles, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican and La Scala. Broadcasts include appearances on In Tune for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms performances.
 

In demand on the concert platform, Elinor has performed with ensembles including La Nuova Musica, Britten Sinfonia, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Monteverdi Choir and Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Camerata Jerusalem; her repertoire includes the Passions of J.S. Bach, Handel Messiah, Mendelssohn Elijah, Mozart Mass in C minor, Strauss Vier Letzte Lieder, Mahler 4 th Symphony and Rückertlieder, Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony and Serenade to Music, Rossini Petite Messe Solonnelle and the Requiems of Brahms,Verdi, Mozart and Fauré.

 

Elinor has worked with conductors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Antonio Pappano, Laurence Cummings, Anna Lapwood, Nicholas Chalmers and Raphael Pichon.
 

In recital, performances include Cambridge Summer Music Festival, Marschallin debut (Strauss Rosenkavelier) for the Lewes Chamber Music Festival, competition recitals for the International Wigmore Hall/Bollinger and International Handel Singing Competitions, Gregynog Music Festival
and Fitzwilliam College Music Festival. Collaborative partners include Ian Tindale, Graham Johnson, Gavin Roberts, Audrey Hyland, Robin Ticciati and Mark Padmore. Upcoming recitals include French Song recital ‘Du Banal à l’extase’ for the St Clement Danes Song Series.
 

Elinor was recently nominated for an ‘Off Westend’ Best Performance award for Contessa with Ensemble Orquesta at the Arcola Theatre and awaits the result in February 2025. Upcoming highlights include Verdi Requiem at York Minster (June 2025) and recital with Ian Tindale at the Bechstein Hall (March 2025).

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