"Lucy Elston as Grittly [was] fantastic, Elston in particular has impressive control." - The Stuart Review
"Le 66 [...] was exquisitely sung. Offenbach’s 1856 score showcased the vocal talent of [...] Elston; the latter of whom was excellent throughout the evening."
- Londonpubtheatres.com
"The challenging soprano solos were superbly handled by Lucy." "Soaring high notes" - Keith Orrell, The Sidmouth Herald
"Lucy sang with composure and a wonderful sense of line and colour" - Andrew West, Ajudicator of The Elizabeth Schumann Lieder Competition
BIOGRAPHY
Lucy Elston is an award-winning lyric soprano based in Warwick and London. She is a winner of Wilton's Music Hall's 'Music 4all' competition in the Opera Category 2020, a finalist of the Douglas Rees Memorial Young Opera Singer of the Year 2019, and was awarded an honorary mention by the panel of the Kyrenia Opera Competition 2019. In 2021 Lucy performed with Gothic Opera as Anna in the UK premiere of La Nonne Sanglante by Gounod, which won an OFF WEST END award for Best Opera Production.
Lucy's roles include Pamina ‘Die Zauberflöte’ (WIAV Opera Role), Euridice ‘Orfeo ed Euridice’ (Grassroots Opera), Galatea ‘Acis and Galatea’ (Aylesbury Opera), Suor Genovieffa ‘Suor Angelica’ (Opera in the Meantime), Mrs Gobineau ‘The Medium’ (Clockwork Opera), Cathleen ‘Riders to the Sea’ (City Lit Opera), Grittly ‘Le 66’ (Irrational Theatre), and Maria ‘West Side Story’ (Saint Monica's Players). For Trinity Laban Opera Scenes, she played Blanche ‘Dialogues des Carmélites’, Donna Anna ‘Don Giovanni’, and Woglinde ‘Das Rheingold’. In September 2022 Lucy will be performing as both Hélène and Mrs Bouncer at Orwell Park in a double bill of Chabrier and Gilbert & Sullivan.
Lucy has a particular interest in Modern Opera. In July 2022 she performed at Hoxton Hall in The Hive Opera, which challenges popular stereotypes about women killers and their pathology. In July 2019 Lucy took part in the Tête à Tête festival, both as a Director, and in the role of Elder Sister for Motley Opera's production of The Cruel Sister. In 2018, she created the role of Natalya for the premiere of John Whittaker's Opera 'The Proposal' which was performed as part of a Comic Triptych at The King’s Head Theatre. Lucy performed with British Youth Opera for their production of The Vanishing Bridegroom, working with Stuart Barker, James Holmes and Mandy Demetriou. For Trinity Laban Opera, she portrayed Rachel Turner in the world premiere of Stephen McNeff’s Banished, working with Elaine Kidd and Jessica Cottis.
In 2019 Lucy graduated with Distinction from the Wales International Academy of Voice where she studied under the tutelage of Dennis O'Neill and Nuccia Focile. In 2017, she graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire with Distinction for her MMus in Vocal Performance. At Trinity she studied with Alison Wells, and was a grateful recipient of the Kathleen Roberts Scholarship Award. She also has a BA (hons) degree from The University of Leeds, where she studied music and graduated with a 2:1 in 2011. Lucy has taken part in masterclasses with David Gowland, Susan Bullock, Ryland Davies, Della Jones and Janice Chapman. She has enjoyed performing in The Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Buxton Opera House, St Albans Cathedral, Leeds Town Hall and The ORNCC in Greenwich.
MEDIA
GALLERY
NEWS
UPCOMING...
- The Hive Opera
The Hive fuses verbatim interviews with a scorching operatic score to explore our fascination with serial killers – from grim tales to the real thing; from the first act of murder to the protracted effect of psychopathic darkness.
A story as beguiling as it is shocking.
- Open Air Opera & Picnic: Double Bill Une éducation manquée and Cox and box
www.maldonfestival.co.uk/programme
Featuring students from Orwell Park School and held in St Mary’s churchyard with the Blackwater Estuary providing a spectacular backdrop, this is the perfect opera for a summer’s evening. It offers the classic combination of wonderful music and a ditsy story of an innocent young couple investigating the dynamics of relationships, facilitated by no-less innocent but more elderly advisors.
Lucy returned to work- after the pandemic and the birth of her daughter- as Anna with Gothic Opera in their production of La Nonne Sanglante.
"With a story based on the bleeding nun episode from the 1796 novel The Monk, written by the English Gothic horror writer Matthew Gregory Lewis, La Nonne sanglante premiered at the Opéra de Paris in 1854, where the response was generally poor due to the opera’s subject matter. The controversy led to the opera director being fired and replaced. The new director immediately cancelled the run, calling for an end to “such filth.” The opera’s reputation was tarnished and it has rarely been performed since.
Gothic Opera brought this exciting work to UK audiences for the very first time. A thrilling and entertaining tale of ghosts, a family feud, and mistaken identity, the opera is at times witty and at times frightening, all bound together with a suitably chilling atmosphere."
© Craig Fuller
Postponed due to the coronavirus crisis
"Last year we invited applications from all over the UK for young, emerging musical artists to take part in our Music 4all Festival (11th – 16th May).
The Festival will give a platform to artists from the worlds of: Opera; Contemporary & Jazz; Popular, Rock & Indie; Urban, Electronic & DJ; and Cabaret & Alternative.
We are thrilled to announce the winners in each category and the eight groups taking part in Songs for the Hall, a day of music making.
On 11th May, we celebrate Opera with performances from:
Lucy Elston
Thomas Isherwood
Edward Kim
Theodor Uggla
With thanks to Nicholas Roberts and English National Opera (@englishnationalopera) for mentoring the Opera category."
TEACHING
Lucy enjoys teaching singing, working with pupils ranging from age four to adult. She holds a DBS certificate and currently teaches for King's High and Warwick Prep in addition to teaching privately from home. She has previously taught at Weald of Kent Grammar School, Ark Greenwich Free School, Highams Park School, the North London Music Centre and for Scales Music. Lucy has worked as an assistant in a Music Kindergarten run by the North London Conservatoire, where she engaged children aged three to six in musical activities using the Kodály method.
Through her teaching Lucy creates an environment in which students can feel comfortable, find their authentic voice and love the music they perform. Lucy believes in the importance of developing a healthy technique. She uses her knowledge of Alexander Technique and Hatha Yoga to inform her when assisting students with their posture, and in eliminating any problems. Lucy believes that, to a large extent, singing is a natural activity. She therefore helps students reacquaint themselves with their own natural impulses. Lucy treats each student as an individual and uses kindness to encourage students to practice regularly. This way they can gain confidence and progress, achieving their potential without anxiety.
Lucy frequently enters pupils for ABRSM examinations and has a 100% pass rate, with most of her students achieving merit or distinction. However, not all her students choose to take exams and it is the student's personal growth and enjoyment that interests Lucy most.
If you are interested in taking lessons with Lucy, please click here and use the contact form to make enquires, she would be delighted to hear from you.
DIRECTING
Opera in the Meantime is a dynamic young opera company praised for its “energy, commitment and attention to detail”, as well as “individuality, freshness and dynamism” (Jennifer Hamilton). Based in Greenwich, OITM was founded by Lucy Elston in 2017 on the premise that brilliant shows can be put together on a low budget and with a small team. We are passionate about what we do and committed to making opera accessible to everybody. Our goal is to make our performances feel intimate, and for our audiences to feel close to the action. We excel by making the most of our small team. This includes a chamber orchestra of piano, oboe and flute in addition to visual artists who design our brightly coloured shadow puppets and bring to life our backdrop by operating them from behind the scenes. We have historically performed in small venues - either churches or theatre pubs. Our portable set and electric piano means we are no strangers to adapting to whichever space we find ourselves in.
"Hansel and Gretel' last night in Greenwich was fabulous! The space was used imaginatively and the design and staging were very engaging. All-round great singing and acting and a special mention must be given to the Witch, Marrianne Town Smith and Father, Themba Mvula. As a regular operagoer, I loved it, but it would be a really good introduction to opera for a first timer. Well done everyone!"
"Caught the matinee show of Hansel & Gretel at the Old Rose and Crown today; it was fantastic. Felt a geniune privilege to be so close to such wonderful voices. The entire cast were superb, the music wonderful, the set and shadow puppets were great. All weaved together to make a magical production. Quite the feat to switch my two kids on to opera in the process too! Thank you Opera In The Meantime!"
"Congratulations to all at Opera in the Meantime! What a wonderfully original, entertaining, well-produced, sung, and played Hansel and Gretel opera - loved it. The proof of your success were the many adults - and three children - that were enthralled throughout. Can't wait for your next opera!"
"Congratulations to everybody in Opera in the Meantime on a wonderful, powerful and moving performance of Suor Angelica. I wish I could see it again. Can't wait for your next production!"
"Absolutely wonderful! I loved every moment, that's what music's about. You were all brilliant, I was profoundly moved."
"It was very dramatic and compelling all the way through. I liked the simplicity of the props and your use of the space and the singers were fab!"
"'A poignant, epic production. Congratulations, it was really a stunning opera with faultless singing."