Described by Opera Magazine as ‘rapidly developing an enviable reputation in the International world of Opera’ British Lyric Soprano Katherine Crompton studied at the National Opera Studio, having previously graduated from the Royal College of Music International Opera School. In the current season Katherine returns to Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera where she covers the roles of Countess Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro, Nella Gianni Schicchi and Micaëla Carmen. Katherine will also appear as Micaëla at NIOF for INTO Opera.

 

​She fast gained a reputation for her ‘crystal bright soprano’ performing Handel, Purcell and Monteverdi working with conductors Christian Curnyn, Paul Agnew, Richard Egarr, David Bates and Laurence Cummings appearing as a soloist at many opera houses throughout Europe. These include Opéra Royal de Wallonie Liege, Teatro Niccolini Firenze, Opéra Avignon, Opéra Rennes, Opéra Massy and the Montepulciano Festival. In the UK she has sung roles for Garsington Opera, Longborough Festival Opera, Waterperry Opera Festival, Early Opera Company, Independent Opera and covered major roles for Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera.

 

Her operatic repertoire includes many Baroque roles, while more recent roles include Erste Dame, Pamina, Fiordiligi, Metella and Mařenka. Katherine has sung with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, City of London Sinfonia, La Nuova Musica, Le Banquet Céleste, The Hanover Band, The Instruments of Time and Truth, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra, appearing at the Aldeburgh Festival, Festival d’Ambronay, Festival de La Chaise-Dieu and London Handel Festival singing repertoire that ranges from Bach’s Passion’s to Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and Strauss’s Vier Letzte Lieder. A passionate recitalist praised for her ‘luminous musicality’ and ‘considerable technique’ Katherine has sung at the prestigious Oxford Lieder Festival and at London’s Wigmore Hall.

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Katherine adores the choral repertoire and has appeared as a soloist at many venues throughout the UK including Royal Festival Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral singing repertoire ranging from Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony and Mendelssohn Elijah to Beethoven Missa Solemnis and Verdi Requiem.

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As a keen performer of contemporary music, she worked with Harrison Birtwistle, performing his Niedecker Songs alongside Cellist Adrian Brendel and in the world première of David Blake’s Opera, Icarus, directed by Keith Warner. She has recorded Helen Caddick’s piece ‘Amphora’ and more recently performed Cecilia McDowall’s Da Vinci Requiem.

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During her studies, Katherine was the winner of the Harriet Cohen Memorial Prize, the McCullough Prize for Opera and the Miriam Licette Prize. She was also the recipient of a Tutton Award, a Susan Chilcott Award and is a former Britten Pears Young Artist. Katherine is extremely grateful to be an Independent Opera Scholar.