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The English mezzo-soprano, Sophie Allen, studied ancient history, with a choral scholarship, at the University of Nottingham (Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient History with Honours: 2003-2006) before moving to Austria. She went on to study voice with Regina Prasser and John Thomasson at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, completing all her studies (Magister Artium (secondary education): Music / English: 2009-2016; Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy: 2013-2016; Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy (uncompleted): 2016-2018) with distinction in 2016; she continued to work with Professor Thomasson and deepened her knowledge of Lied repertoire with Thérèse Lindquist. Through the EVTA “Young Professionals Programme” at a conference in Den Haag, She participated in master-classes with Elly Ameling, Nelly Miricioiu and Brian Masuda.
From 2016 to 2020, Sophie Allen was a member of the ensemble BachWerkVokal Salzburg (Director: Gordon Safari), working on numerous projects as both a soloist and ensemble member. Highlights included performing the role of Cleofe in a staged production of George Frideric Handel's oratorio La Resurrezione (April 2018) and recording the ensemble’s first CD “Cantate Domino” (July 2018). She performs regularly as a soloist with the choir and orchestra of St Peter’s monastery in Salzburg, under the direction of Peter Peinstingl, with whom she also works outside the liturgical context.
As a chamber musician Sophie Allen has taken part in recitals featuring Lieder by female composers in Nazi Germany and Lieder set to texts by Georg Trakl. She has worked as part of a duo with different guitarists, performing in Austria, Germany and Indonesia. A highlight of her chamber music repertoire is the role of the reciter in William Walton's Façade, which she performed in its entirety at the Salzburger Winterfest 2023.
Sophie Allen's opera chorus experience includes productions at the Salzburg Easter Festival under Christian Thielemann, Andris Nelsons and Antonio Pappano, at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival and the Salzburg Festival under Gianluca Capuano, and at the Bregenzer Festspiele under Ulf Schirmer and Carlo Rizzi. She performs regularly throughout the season with the Extra Chorus of Salzburg State Theatre.
As a member of the Bachchor Salzburg she has performed all the standard oratorio repertoire. In 2023 she joined the Symphonischer Chor Bamberg, and has a fixed position in the chamber choir “Bamberg 24”. |
