Rachel Roper - Mezzo Soprano

In February 2024 I have the privilege of helping to bring Stephen McNeff and Aoife Mannix’ brand-spanking-new opera, ‘A Star Next to the Moon’, to life with my wonderful colleagues on the Opera Course at Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Based on the Mexican classic novel ‘Pedro Paramo’ by Juan Rulfo, it promises to be a thrilling experience!

Respighi Double Bill: Maria Egiziaca & La Bella dormente nel bosco

Conducted by Dominic Wheeler
Directed by Victoria Newlyn

Guildhall School of Music & Drama
📸: David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

I can’t believe that opening night is Monday!

If you want to see me play 7 different roles (yes, that’s right, SEVEN) in these two beautiful operas, get yourself tickets asap 💃

Tickets here: https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/whats-on/opera-double-bill-respighi

I’m so happy to say that Rachel Roper - Mezzo Soprano Luke Isom and I managed to raise over £750 for Barts Charity through our concert at 1901 Arts Club ❤️👏🏻 the power of music and the good we can do through it never ceases to amaze me and I am so grateful forever to Barts for saving my Dad’s life 🙏🏻 a huge thank you to our sponsors, including The Ivor Gurney Society ✨👏🏻 photog 📸White Star Bulb Company

A few photos from Thursday night’s performance of our multimedia recital ‘My Heart Makes Songs on Lonely Roads’, curated by the fabulous Claire Habbershaw, Pianist and supported by the moving sound and video design by Luke Isom, it was a joy to perform at 1901 Arts Club and meet Ian Venables - Composer afterwards.

Not many people know this, but I had the privilege of recording the audio examples for the new Melofonetica Method book a few months ago - today I received my very own copy!

Honoured to be a part of such a comprehensive guide to Italian diction, I will be using this for my next project…

Opera Makers 2023 | Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Artist - Reborns by Elif Nur Karlidag and Stanley Lawson

Miscellaneous chorus (animals, fish, feminists!)

📸: David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

What a wonderful end to the first year!

Lovely to sing at Hereford Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s ‘A Night at the Oper(etta)’ gala concert this evening at The Vine Chamber Music Festival.

Looking forward to going back to my roots and singing with Hereford Gilbert and Sullivan Society at The Vine Chamber Music Festival on 8th July!

8th July at 2pm - Hereford Gilbert and Sullivan Operatic Society with and present a gala concert of favourite opera numbers. Tickets www.hannahbethanroper.co.uk/vinemusic

A wonderful closing night of the summer opera double bill at Guildhall School of Music & Drama!

As promised, here’s Act 2 as ‘Berthe’ in Blond Eckbert by Judith Weir.

📸: David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

Act 1 as ‘Berthe’ in Blond Eckbert by Judith Weir, for Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

There’s still a few tickets left for the last night, 12th June: https://tickets.barbican.org.uk/choose-seats/1440401

Act 2 photos to come…
📸: David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

So exciting that we open in under a week!

I’ll be performing every night in the offstage chorus for Sāvitri, and as Berthe in Blond Eckbert on 7th & 12th June.

Guildhall questions: Timothy Redmond answers We speak to Timothy Redmond, conductor of Guildhall School's upcoming Opera Double Bill of works by Holst and Judith Weir, about these two chamber operas and what it's like to work with Guildhall School artists.

Not long now…

Opera Double Bill: Sāvitri & Blond Eckbert Two imaginative and haunting British chamber operas from opposite ends of the 20th century feature in Guildhall School’s summer opera double bill: Holst’s 'Sāvitri' and Judith Weir's 'Blond Eckbert'.

A lovely day performing with Hannah Bethan Roper and Valeria Kurbatova for the Three Choirs Festival in the glorious Gloucestershire countryside 💐

A rare opportunity to work with my sister on some gorgeous English repertoire, stay tuned for some exciting announcements… ⭐️

I’m taking a refreshing diversion into some beautiful song cycles by Rebecca Clarke and Ralph Vaughan-Williams this weekend, and I get to perform them with Hannah Bethan Roper!

Spring Concert and Post-concert Dinner | Three Choirs Festival Hannah Roper violinRachel Roper mezzo-sopranoValeria Kurbatova harp Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending” and songs by Gustav Holst will be among a glitte

🎭Spring Opera Scenes🎭

Romeo (I Capuleti e I Montecchi)
Anna (Maria Stuarda)
Sesto (La Clemenza di Tito)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama
David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

Dead Man Walking

27th Feb, 1st, 3rd & 6th March 2023

📸: David Monteith-Hodge / Photographise

Had a super time tonight singing with Morriston Orpheus Choir in the beautiful Lincoln Cathedral.
Congratulations to all involved - enjoy the afterglow 🍻🎉

Only 2 performances left!

I can’t believe that it’s been a whole week since our final performance of this remarkable project.
Congratulations to everyone involved, a truly memorable experience!

Some of my favourite quotes:

“MacRae is remarkably assured, whether connecting with Roper’s lower-register, calmly expressive singing or cowering, fearful of admonishment from stern Jeremy Huw Williams as the dogmatic father.” - The Stage

“Finely sung by Susanna MacRae and Rachel Roper…the Jewish Child a much softer, warmer mezzo.” - The Telegraph

“Rachel Roper as the Jewish child was vocally compelling and clear, with a defiant strength.” - The Arts Desk

So exciting that this is just 2 weeks away!

'A Child in Striped Pyjamas' is Preview of the Month in the December 2022 edition of Opera Now, available digitally and in print.

Excited to be singing Handel’s Messiah this evening with Hereford Choral Society as the alto soloist.
I was a member of this society for 7 years and sang in 7 performances of the Messiah with them, so I’m thrilled to be singing with them again as a soloist!

Tickets are available on the door, so please do come along if you’re about!

Still 3 nights left! Book tickets to avoid missing the fun 👍

On Sunday afternoon I was over-the-moon to receive the MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Award 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

It’s been such a long time since I last competed anywhere, after some bad experiences, and this was such a warm and welcoming environment to ease back into things. My fellow finalists Matthew Bawden and Rhys Meilyr were absolutely stellar and it was great to hear the Morriston Orpheus Choir in full force as well!

Tomorrow evening at 6pm I will be performing some Puccini, Bizet and Janáček as part of the Opera Scenes in Milton Court Studio Theatre, come along if you can🌟

Vocal Scenes Kelvin Lim music director Guido Martin-Brandis director Iben Bering Sørensen stage manager Jack Garner-Green deputy stage managerDownload programme (PDF)A selection of opera scenes performed by undergraduate and postgraduate singers from Guildhall School. ...

This evening I’ll be performing some sexy Ravel mélodies with Antonia Huang and Edward Picton-Turbervill at 6pm in Milton Court Concert Hall 🌟

Songs at Six: Ravel's songs for voice and piano led by Julius Drake directed by Julius DrakeDownload programme (PDF)Julius Drake leads a concert showcasing Maurice Ravel's songs for voice and piano, ranging from the epigrammatic to song cycle, drinking song to religious confessional, folksong to mystical text. ...

Excited to be performing this programme of gorgeous music in April! 🌟

23rd April! Looking forward to this duo concert with Rachel Roper - Mezzo Soprano

Tonight I’ll be singing some glorious Rachmaninov at 6pm in Milton Court Concert Hall! Admission is free, and a stream will be available on the GSMD website from next week 🎉

Songs at Six: Russian & Czech Songs Pianist, Czech native and Russian coach Lada Valešová leads a project focusing on Russian and Czech songs and arias. Download the programme (PDF)...