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The English soprano & mezzo-soprano, Sophie Gallagher (Károlyi), began singing, cello, piano and organ whilst at Salisbury Cathedral Scool, England, at Wells Cathedral School (A levels: 2007-2012), and at Kings College London (French & Italian: 2012-2013), before devoting herself
entirely to solo singing. She was also a scholar for the English Speaking Union. After graduating from her undergraduate studies with Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Studies from the Royal College of Music where she studied with David Rendall and Caroline Dowdle (2013-2017; Josephine Baker Prize: 2016), she moved to Firenze and later gained a Master of Music degree the Haute École de Musique in Geneva with Heidi Brunner and privately with Raymond Connell. She was awarded 1st Prize at the Gustav Mahler Competition, Geneva with duo partner and pianist Émile Chandellier.
Recital and solo work includes W.A. Mozart's Exultate Jubilate (Dorset Chamber Orchestra), J. Haydn's The Creation, George Frideric Handel's Messiah (Bristol Old Vic, National Portrait Gallery), Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, W.A. Mozart's C Minor Mass, recitals further afield in Milan (Palazzo Serbelloni), Hong Kong (The Peninsula, The Foreign Correspondents Club, Academy of Performing Arts), Chilcott’s Requiem at Three Choirs Festival in Hereford (July 2015), Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle at Poole Lighthouse and Heinrich Schütz Christmas Oratorio at St. John's Smith Square in London.
In July 2016 Sophie Gallagher made her international debut as Emmie in Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring for Firenze Maggio Musicale under the baton of Jonathan Webb and Oberto in G.F. Handel's Alcina for Ryedale Opera. Other roles include Atalanta' in G.F. Handel's Xerses, Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde for Charles Hazlewood/ Kneehigh Theatre Company, Suor Genevieffa cover in Suor Angelica, Gretel at The Estates Theatre, Papagena in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (Norden Arts Theatre) in London and First Witch for The English Concert and Harry Bicket's production of Dido and Aeneas at Opéra de Lausanne. In July 2017 she revived the role of Emmie for Buxton Opera and covered Giannetta in Elisir d'Amore for New Generation Festival, Firenze
Since 2020, Sophie Gallagher has been artist in residence for Brera Musica at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, starring in their original cinematic film Peregrin and the Giant Fish. During the 2022-2023 season, she appeared as Rachel in the creation of The Song of the Ladder by John Barber in Florence (2023) as well as Fiordiligi in W.A. Mozart's Così Fan Tutte at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva (October 2022). She collaborates regularly with the Gli Angeli Genève (Director: Stephan MacLeod) orchestra in Geneva. Their recent performance at Victoria Hall of J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion BWV 245 was acclaimed by the public and the press: “The young Sophie Gallagher has all the vocal assets for this type of repertoire, round voice and fruity tone” (journal; le temps.ch). A CD of this work where she features as a soloist has recently been released with the record label Claves Records. She currently lives in Florence, Italy. |
