Claire Watkins SOPRANO

Claire Watkins  graduated in with a DipRam from the Royal Academy Opera studying with Beatrice Unsworth and Audrey Hyland. Formerly Head Chorister of St. Davids Cathedral Choir, Pembrokeshire, Claire also has a Bmus (Hons), Cardiff University, and PGDip (Distinction) RWCMD. She participated in the Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto 2007 in Tuscany and is a 2009 Samling Scholar. Claire also participated in a series of masterclasses and with Sir Thomas Allen and was one of four finalists in the 2008 Welsh Singer Competition.

Operatic roles include Leïla The Pearl Fishers for English National Opera, Gilda Rigoletto & Micäela Carmen for Scottish Opera, Amelia Simon Boccanegra in Valladolid, Constance The Sorcerer Opera della Luna, Donna Anna, Lauretta, Venus Dardanus, Almirena Rinaldo, Arminda La finta giardiniera, Manon Manon Lescaut and Yvette La rondine for RAO; the title role in The Cunning Little Vixen (RWCMD). Covers roles include the title role in Manon for Scottish Opera, Bronwyn Jones in Carbon 12 for Welsh National Opera.

CV

Biography

Reviews

Website

Current Highlights

Reviews

Gilda, Rigoletto
Scottish Opera

2012
Main Stage Role, tba
Scottish Opera

"a light-toned gilda with gymnastic vocal reach, who most consistently hits the spot, and who most clearly won the audience's hearts"
Michael Dervan, Irish Times - Gilda Rigoletto, Scottish Opera

"Claire Watkins was excellent as Leila, with a strong, powerful soprano and excellent diction, she also proved to be a capable actress and the scene in Act III between her and  Zurga was amongst the strongest moment of the opera dramatically."
Dickie & Butch website - Leïla The Pearl Fishers, English National Opera