Rosenblatt Recitals

Artist Biographies

The young British soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn is poised on the brink of a significant international career. Following her spectacular debut as Mimi La Bohème for English National Opera, the Daily Telegraph crowned her “best newcomer” 2010, and engagements in 2011 include CONTESSA Le nozze di Figaro for Opera Holland Park and a gala special guest appearance for Bury Court Opera, conducted by Simon Over. Highlights of her recent concert appearances have included performances for Raymond Gubbay in Manchester and London, while Spring 2011 also sees her much-anticipated Rosenblatt Recital debut at St John’s Smith Square in London.

Born to Jamaican parents in London, Elizabeth’s singing career began at the age of sixteen, going on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music, where appearances included Semele (title role), IDAMANTE Idomeneo, The Pilgrim’s Progress (Vaughan-Williams), Cendrillon (Massenet) and Orleanskaya Dyeva (Tchaikovsky). In 2010 she completed her advanced studies at the National Opera Studio in London, where she was kindly supported by both the Peter Moores Foundation and English National Opera.

Her appearances in the UK have included PRIMA CONVERSA Suor Angelica for Broomhill Opera, CONTESSA Le nozze di Figaro and ADINA L’elisir d’amore for Handmade Opera, Carmen (title role) and FIRST LADY The Magic Flute for Intimate Opera Company, FIORILLA Il Turco in Italia, AMELIA Simon Boccanegra, and KONSTANZE Die Entführung aus dem Serial conducted by David Syrus.

She created the role of LUDOVINA in the premiere of Glyndebourne Festival’s new opera The Yellow Sofa with the Britten Sinfonia in 2009, and in 2010 Elizabeth covered the role DONNA ELVIRA for Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s Don Giovanni, directed by Jonathan Kent and conducted by Vladimir Jurowski.

A champion of the work of English composers, her concert and recital appearances have included Walton’s A Song for the Lord Mayor’s Table, in addition to Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music at Lichfield Cathedral. European highlights have included Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the Salzburg Festival and in 2009 Elizabeth was awarded both the inaugural Voice of Black Opera Competition, and the Sir Willard White Award.

Simon was born in Kent, read music at King’s College Cambridge and studied piano accompaniment with Michael Dussek at the Royal Academy of Mausic. Whilst a student he won every major award for piano accompaniment including the Gerald Moore Award and the accompanist prizes in the Kathleen Ferrier, Royal Overseas League and Richard Tauber competitions. He is an Associate of the Royal Academy and currently a Professor of piano accompaniment at the Royal College of Music, London.

Simon Lepper has established himself as one of the UK’s leading piano accompanists performing regularly on BBC Radio 3 as well as at venues and festivals including the Wigmore Hall, Auditorium du Louvre, Cologne Philharmonie, Concertgebouw, Mozarteum, Verbier Festival and BBC Proms. He has given recitals with many of Britain’s leading singers as well as being an official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize. Recordings include Warlock songs with Andrew Kennedy. His CD with violinist Carolin Widmann of works by Feldman, Zimmerman, Xenakis and Schoenberg was released last year by ECM to much critical acclaim.