Song Prize winner, main prize finalist
Elizabeth Watts was a Norwich Cathedral chorister, then graduated with a first in archaeology at Sheffield University before winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Music Britten International Opera School in 2002, studying with Lillian Watson and winning numerous prizes, most recently the 2006 Kathleen Ferrier Prize and the MIDEM 2007 Outstanding Young Artist Award.
Elizabeth joined ENO Young Singers' Programme in 2005 where her roles have included Barbarina Le nozze de Figaro, Papagena Die Zauberflöte, Music and Hope Orfeo and roles in King Arthur.
Other roles include Flora The Knot Garden for Music Theatre Wales/ROH, title role Semele for British Youth Opera, and Arthébuze Actéon at the Aldeburgh Festival, Flora Turn of the Screw, Poppea Agrippina, Elmira Sosarme, Fulvia Ezio and Constance Carmelites at RCM.
Future roles include Susanna Le nozze di Figaro with Santa Fe Opera in 2008.
Elizabeth has appeared at the Purcell Room, Zürich Tonhalle, Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Cheltenham Festival, among many others. She has also sung with the ECO, RLPO, and CBSO.
Future plans include concerts with the RPO and les solistes européen, Luxembourg.
Repertoire details for Concert 1, Recital 4, Song Prize final and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Cardiff Singer of the World final:
Final - Sunday 17 June
- Handel: Amor è quel vento (Orlando)
- Puccini: Oh! mio babbino caro (Gianni Schicchi)
- Berlioz: Je vais le voir - Il me revient fidèle (Béatrice et Bénédict)
Song Prize final - Friday 15 June
- R Strauss: Ständchen (6 Songs, Op 17 No 2)
- R Strauss: Breit' über mein Haupt (Songs, Op 19 No 2)
- Debussy: L'ombres des arbres (Ariettes Oubliées)
- Debussy: Fantoches (Fêtes Galantes, Vol 1)
- Maconchy: Sun, moon and stars
- Maconchy: The Hill
- Wolf: Auch kleine Dinge (Italienisches Liederbuch, No 1)
- Wolf: Wer rief dich denn? (Italienisches Liederbuch, No 6)
- Wolf: Du denkst, mit einem Fädchen mich zu fangen (Italienisches Liederbuch, No 10)
- Wolf: Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebsten wohnen (Italienisches Liederbuch, No 46)
Recital 4 - Tuesday 12 June
- Schubert: Liebe schwärmt auf allen Wegen
- Schubert: Im Abendrot
- Rachmaninoff: Zdes' khorosho (12 Songs, Op 21 No 7)
- Rachmaninoff: Oni Otvechali (12 Songs, Op 21 No 4)
- Barber: Sure on this Shining Night (Songs, Op 13 No 3)
- Poulenc: C and Fêtes galantes (Deux Poèmes de Louis Aragon)
Accompanist: Phillip Thomas
Concert 1 - Sunday 10 June
- Massenet: Je suis encor tout étourdie (Manon)
- Mozart: Giunse alfin il momento...Deh vieni, non tardar (Le nozze di Figaro)
- Handel: Credete al mio dolore (Alcina)
- Szymanowski: Taniec (Songs of a Fairytale Princess Op 31 No 3)
With the orchestra of WNO conducted by Carlo Rizzi
