Anna Leese
New Zealand- Biography of Anna Leese
- The Prince Consort and Early Career
- Accolades and Education
- Solo Performances and Collaborations
- Later Career and Achievements
Biography of Anna Leese
Anna Leese is a New Zealand soprano opera singer. Born on March 7, 1981, she developed a passion for music and singing when she joined the local church choir. She later sang in the New Zealand Secondary Students choir and Tower New Zealand Youth Choir before deciding to focus on a solo career.
The Prince Consort and Early Career
In 2006, Anna Leese made her debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as an understudy for the role of Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's opera "La bohème." She also became one of the founding members of the vocal-piano ensemble "The Prince Consort."
Accolades and Education
Anna Leese's list of awards and prizes is impressive. In 2001, she received the Dame Sister Mary Leo Scholarship. The following year, she won the Mobil Song Quest vocal competition and received the Lockwood Aria scholarship. In 2003, she was awarded the McDonalds Aria Scholarship by the Sydney Opera House.
In 2002, Anna graduated with honors from the University of Otago in New Zealand, studying under Isabel Cunningham. She then continued her studies at the Royal College of Music and the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, completing her training in 2007.
Solo Performances and Collaborations
Anna Leese's solo performances include Strauss' "Vier Letzte Lieder," Brahms' "Requiem," Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Bach's "St John Passion," Handel's "Messiah," and Fauré's "Requiem." She won the Royal Overseas League Vocal Competition in 2004, performed Mahler's Second Symphony, and sang the role of Donna Anna with the London Mozart Players.
In 2007, Anna participated in the opera festival "Opéra Les Azuriales" in Cap Ferrat and the "Musique-Cordiale Festival" in France. She also performed in productions of "Carmen" and "Ariadne auf Naxos" at Covent Garden. She frequently collaborates with conductor Richard Cooke from Canterbury.
Later Career and Achievements
In 2008, Anna Leese returned to Covent Garden as the lead performer in the role of Musetta. She also performed Beethoven's choral "Fantasia" at the BBC Proms with renowned pianist Hélène Grimaud and conductor Sir Roger Norrington at the Royal Albert Hall.
Her career further flourished with tours in Korea alongside José Carreras and a Christmas tour in New Zealand. In January 2009, she sang Mozart's "Requiem" at Canterbury Cathedral. She also embarked on joint tours with José Carreras in New Zealand, performed at various European festivals, and participated in the "Linari Festival" in Tuscany.
Anna Leese's operatic repertoire includes Tatyana in "Eugene Onegin," Ilia in "Idomeneo," Fiordiligi in "Cosi Fan Tutte," Rosalinde in "Die Fledermaus," Juliette in "Romeo et Juliette," Antonia in "The Tales of Hoffmann," Arminda in "La Finta Giardiniera," and Erste Dame in "Die Zauberflöte."
Interestingly, a special variety of rose with a deep red-orange color was named "The Anna Leese rose" in her honor by a California breeder.
