Lesley Garrett English opera singer, soprano Date of Birth: 10.04.1955 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Leslie Garrett
2. Early Life and Career
3. International Success
4. Other Endeavors
5. Leslie Garrett is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.

Biography of Leslie Garrett

Leslie Garrett is an English opera singer and soprano who is a member of the board of the English National Opera. She was awarded a CBE in 2002 for her contribution to music.

Early Life and Career

Leslie Garrett was born on April 10, 1955, in Thorne, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she participated in school plays and musicals. Her grandfather was a classical pianist. Her father worked as a signalman at a railway station, and her mother was a seamstress who had a talent for singing.

While working as a dishwasher near RAF Lindholme during the summer, 19-year-old Leslie received two marriage proposals. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, she won the Decca Prize of the Kathleen Ferrier Award in 1979, which marked the beginning of her career. She became the leading soprano at the English National Opera, known for her performances in operas such as Serse, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, and Die Fledermaus.

International Success

Leslie Garrett has performed concerts all around the world, including Europe, the United States, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea. On the eve of the year 2000, she sang with Brian Ferry, "The Eurythmics," and Mick Hucknall at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.

She played the role of Ganna Glavari in a production by the Welsh National Opera, touring the United Kingdom in 2005. In November 2006, she portrayed Mother Abbess in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Sound of Music." In 2008, she played the role of Nettie Fowler in the production of "Carousel" and later toured with the show throughout the United Kingdom.

Leslie Garrett has released 11 solo albums, many of which have achieved gold or silver status. Her album "Soprano in Red" received a Gramophone Award.

Other Endeavors

In addition to her opera career, Leslie Garrett has been involved in various other projects. In 2004, she competed in the show "Strictly Come Dancing" and placed third with her dance partner Anton du Beke. That same year, she also appeared on the BBC show "Who Do You Think You Are?" in search of her family history in her hometown of Thorne.

In February 2008, she hosted the show "20 Operas to See Before You Die on Sky Arts" and also presented the program "Christmas Voices" on BBC for four weeks.

Leslie Garrett is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.