Biography
Born in Scarborough, and brought up in the North East, British/Greek Cypriot soprano Annette Wardell has been described as “the Supreme Soubrette” (Manchester Evening News). From her first piano lesson at the age of four, Annette went on to study at The Royal College Of Music in London, and the Royal Northern College Of Music, Manchester (RNCM Opera). Excelling in the soubrette repertoire, operatic engagements include her Glyndebourne Opera debut as Cis and Emmie in Sir Peter Hall’s critically acclaimed revival of Benjamin Britten’s “Albert Herring” (Festival and Tour.) For Opera North she performed the role of Duende in Simon Holt’s The Nightingales To Blame, and Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel And Gretel. Her Barbican Hall debut was in the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and subsequent Mozart roles include Despina Cosi Fan Tutte for Opera Project, and Blondchen Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail for both Opera Project and Diva Opera.
A great favourite with Gilbert And Sullivan audiences, Annette has performed Phyllis Iolanthe for Carl Rosa Opera; and Caslida The Gondoliers, Elsie Maynard Yeoman Of The Guard and Yum Yum Mikado for The National Gilbert And Sullivan Company at the Buxton International G&S Festival. Most recently, she sang Mabel in Pirates Of Penzance for Raymond Gubbay, at venues including Bridgewater Hall Manchester, and Usher Hall Edinburgh.
On the concert platform, Annette has performed as soloist with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Halle Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, City Of London Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata, Northern Sinfonia and the National Symphony Orchestra. Her oratorio performances include Mozart Requiem and Mass In C Minor; Vivaldi Gloria; Bach Magnificat, Easter Oratorio and B Minor Mass; Brahms Ein Deutches Requiem; Beethoven Symphony No 9; Poulenc Gloria; Faure Requiem; Handel Messiah; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Carl Orff Carmina Burana. She is closely associated with the multi award-winning Locrian Ensemble, with whom she premiered Julie Coopers Ad Astra for Orchestra and Soprano, at London’s St Martin-In-The-Fields.
Reviews
I saw the soprano Annette Wardell putting her fellow performers in the shade.
Sunday Times
Soloist Annette Wardell … bubbled and sparkled and clearly knows how to put a song across.
Sunday Times
Annette is adorable, sunny and sweet.
Manchester Evening News
Annette Wardell’s yummy rendition of ‘The Sun Whose Rays’ might soften the yummy heart of even the most frustrating Mikado.
Bachtrack
The Most Accomplished singing came from … Annette Wardell.
Daily Express
Annette Wardell’s charming Yum-Yum … made (their) her mark.
Daily Mail