* En anglais uniquement
The mezzo soprano
Sarah Connolly has been one of Britain's most versatile and committed singers, with a repertory ranging from
Monteverdi to newly commissioned works. Her recording career has been notable for a variety of independently conceived recital recordings, as well as appearances in major operatic and choral works.
Connolly was born in County Durham in North East England on June 13, 1963, and grew up in Middleton St George. She sang in a village choir and studied piano and cello as a youngster in addition to singing. At Queen Margaret's Boarding School, she continued with piano and was impressed by her sister's performance in
Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, but continued to focus on piano at the Clarendon College of Further Education (as well as winning college championships in tennis and table tennis).
Connolly even earned a piano education degree at the Royal College of Music before switching definitively to singing. After graduating, she joined the
BBC Singers and became a freelance choral singer, flirting as well with a jazz career. A second-place finish at the International Vocal Competition s'Hertogenbosch, Opera Section, as well as meeting teacher
Gerald Martin Moore confirmed her choice of classical music, and she landed solos in
Bach concerts conducted by
Philippe Herreweghe in the 1990s. She continued to make inroads into the early music scene, recording
Rameau's Les Fêtes d'Hébé with
William Christie's
Les Arts Florissants and performing the title role in
Handel's Xerxes in several houses, including the New York City Opera. Gaining a reputation as a
Handel specialist, she has moved into Romantic and contemporary repertory as well, performing heavy works such as
Mahler's Rückert Lieder and
Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius; in 2011, as part of the observances of the centenary of
Mahler's death, she performed all his vocal works with the
Philharmonia Orchestra. She has also supported contemporary music, performing and recording
Mark-Anthony Turnage's Twice Through the Heart.
Connolly has an extensive recording career dating back to the early 2000s which includes many song recitals, both orchestral and voice-and-piano, that were original in conception. These included The Exquisite Hour (2006), which inaugurated her ongoing relationship with the Signum label.
Connolly appeared with the choir
Tenebrae on the 2017 release
A Walk with Ivor Gurney. That year, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.