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The English mezzo-soprano, Rosemary Clifford, began singing lessons at the age of 15 with Kirsty Mackenzie, and has pursued her love of performance ever since. Whilst at school in Hertfordshire she took an active role in music-making, both as a chorister and soloist; she was a member of and soloist with the St Katherine Singers, the BBC Radio 3 Youth Choir of the Year 2005 for four years. After leaving school, she read English Literature at the University of Bristol, where she continued her vocal training with Angela Hickey and continued to perform extensively; during this time she was also a founder member of the Bristol University Operatic Society, with which she sang several roles. Having graduated with a first-class degree, she began postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD) in London, during which time she was generously supported by the Worshipful Companies of Haberdashers and Poulters, the Northfield Educational Trust and the Liz Holliday Foundation for Young Singers. She completed her Masters of Performance degree in Vocal Studies at GSMD with distinction in 2013. She currently studies with Theresa Goble.
Rosemary Clifford's concert work is wide-ranging, both at home and abroad, including performances in venues such as the Wigmore Hall, St George’s Bristol and Rouen Opéra. Oratorio and recital work includes George Frideric Handel's Messiah, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony and Haydn's Nelson Mass, as well as individual song recitals in Bristol, Hertfordshire and London. As part of the Bristol-based Baroque ensemble Musica Ornata she gave the UK premiere of Charles Levens' Te Deum in June 2009. She made her solo debut at the Royal Albert Hall singing G.F. Handel's Messiah with The Really Big Chorus in December 2013. She also performed in Sir Jonathan Miller’s recent revival of J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) at the National Theatre and was a member of the Guildhall Consort whilst at GSMD. She currently a regular member of the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and performs regularly with a wide range of ensembles across London, including her close-harmony trio, the Leading Ladies. She was also a Monteverdi Choir Apprentice for the year 2014-2015.
In operatic and theatrical repertoire, Rosemary Clifford's interests are many and varied. Operatic roles include Nancy in B. Britten's Albert Herring (Hampstead Garden Opera); Hansel in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel (Cooper Hall Emerging Artists); Gertrude (cover) in Fortunio (Grange Park Opera); Lazuli in L'étoile, L'Enfant in L'Enfant et les Sortilèges (AIMS); Tisbe in Cenerentola, Hero in L'Egisto, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia (GSMD ensemble scenes). She has a keen interest in contemporary opera, having created the roles of Claire Dessenne in A Foreign Field (premiered 2009, Bristol Redgrave Theatre) and the Thief in Diary of a Thief (premiered 2011, King’s Head Theatre). For the 2012 and 2013 seasons she worked with Grange Park Opera in the chorus of Queen of Spades (2012), Francis Poulenc's Dialogues des Carmélites and Fortunio (2014) |
