Rachel to sing Sesto in Giulio Cesare in London's Handel Festival

Rachel will appear under the direction of Christian Curnyn and The Early Opera Company in St John's Smith Square London on Wednesday the 11th April in the London Handel Festival. Rachel will be singing Sesto in Handel's Giulio Cesare with a star-stunned line up of performers including:

Tim Mead - GIULIO CESARE
Anna Devin - CLEOPATRA
Rachel Kelly - SESTO
Hillary Summers - CORNELIA
Rupert Enticknap - TOLOMEO
Callum Thorpe - ACHILLA
James Hall - NIRENO

Rachel made her debut as Sesto last August in the Kilkenny festival with Christian Curnyn to great acclaim: 

“the mezzo Rachel Kelly was a marvellously vengeful Sesto (Giulio Cesare).”
Opera Magazine, November 2017

For more information on tickets and timings click here. 

Photo: Rachael Hegarty

Rachel to make her debut as Dido at Wigmore Hall, London

Rachel will make her role debut as Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas in London's Wigmore Hall on Saturday the 7th April. She will sing with La Nuova Musica under the direction of David Bates. Tickets are available here.

Rachel Kelly as Proserpina with Callum Thorpe in Royal Opera House/ Roundhouse production of Orfeo, 2015

Rachel last performed with David Bates and La Nuova Musica in Wigmore Hall singing the role of Giunone in Cavalli's La Calisto last year.

"Rachel Kelly was a vibrant Giunone. Entering midway through Act 2, she immediately made her vengeful presence felt, her mezzo glinting darkly with outraged dignity as she transformed Calisto into a bear."
Opera Magazine, February 2017

David Bates director
Rachel Kelly mezzo-soprano (as Dido)
George Humphreys baritone (as Aeneas)
Anna Dennis soprano (as Belinda)
Emilie Renard soprano (as Sorceress)
Helen Charlston mezzo-soprano (as First Witch)
Martha McLorinan mezzo-sporano (as Second Witch)Louise Kemény soprano (as Second Woman)
Nick Pritchard tenor (as Sailor)
Richard Bannan baritone (as Spirit)

Rachel Kelly's reviews for Medarse In Siroe with Reisoper

"Mezzo Rachel Kelly, as Medarse in both presence and voice, is a beautiful androgynous image, and knows how to impress ('Fra l'orror della tempesta') and how to move the audience ('Tu decidi del mio fato') with a slender and concentrated but warm voice."
Alba Klassiek NL, February 2018

“For the role of Siroe’s brother Medarse, they engaged the Irish mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly. She sang the beautiful lines of her role with a full, smooth tone”
Opera Magazine NL, January 2018

“Siroe’s brother Medarse was performed by Rachel Kelly, who has a mature, beautifully polished mezzo. Brilliantly sung.”
Opera Gazet, January 2018

"The young star soprano Rachel Kelly as the conniving brother Medarse"
De Volkskrant, January 2018

Photo by Nienke Elenbaas

Rachel Kelly's Reviews for Glyndebourne on Tour's Cosi Fan Tutte

"As Dorabella, Irish mezzo Rachel Kelly glowed with a warmth expressive of the younger sister's impulsive, passionate nature. The full, rich tone of her Act 2 confession of indiscretion. 'E amore un ladroncello' (Love is a little thief), was winningly honest."
Opera Today, November 2017

Rachel Kelly (Dorabella), Ilya Kutyukhin (Guglielmo),
Cosi Fan Tutte - Glyndebourne on Tour
Photo: Tristram Kenton

“Rachel Kelly’s bright, wide-eyed Dorabella. Kelly's winningly sly Dorabella - vocally reminiscent of Ann Murray's - was the perfect foil.”
Hugh Canning, Opera Magazine, December 2017

“But then there’s Rachel Kelly, who plays her sister Dorabella with irresistible charm and openness, singing beautifully”
The Guardian, October 2017

"Rachel Kelly (Dorabella) the pick of the women"
Whats on Stage, October 2017

“Rachel Kelly sang a delicious Dorabella, radiating honeyed warmth”
Bachtrack, October 2017

"Kirsten MacKinnon and Rachel Kelly make a marvellous pair as Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Alike in many ways yet clearly different in voice and appearance as well as in their responses, they act most convincingly while singing their richly-ornamented arias and duets magnificently."
Eastern Daily Press, November 2017

"Kelly’s Dorabella is also puckishly full of naughty fun and has a very expressive face, perfect for this role.  "
Norwich Eye, November 2017

Rachel to sing Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte at Glyndebourne

After her successful debut this summer in the main summer festival, Rachel will sing Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte with Glyndebourne on Tour in the famous Nicholas Hytner production, opening on Saturday 7th October. The first seven shows will take place in Glyndebourne's Opera House before embarking on a seventeen show tour around the country. More details can be found here. 

The cast includes Canadian soprano, Kirsten McKinnon (Fiordiligi), Bogdan Volkov (Ferrando),  Ilya Kutyukhin (Guglielmo), José Fardilha (Don Alfonso) and Ana Quintans (Despina), all under the baton of Leo McFall. 

Rachel to debut with Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

After her success with Idamante in Damiano Michieletto's Idomeneo in the 80th opening of the Maggio Musicale with Opera di Firenze, Rachel is back in the UK and will debut with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday 10th May in the Symphony Hall. Rachel will be singing the Vaughan Williams' setting of the Five Tudor Portraits - a group of songs for chorus, baritone and mezzo that illuminate and convey the antics and eccentricities of Elizabethan England. This daring program will be performed under the baton of John Wilson along with Williams' other work; Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Arnold Bax's November Woods. The concert will be broadcast live on BBC 3 at 7.30pm before which Rachel will be giving an interview. More information is available here.