helen maree cooper

Mezzo-soprano, Helen Maree Cooper, recently returned to both the Buxton International Festival, where she performed the role of Don Ettore in Haydn's La Canterina. She also performed at the Wexford Festival Opera, creating the role of Eithne Magee in Alberto Caruso’s newly commissioned opera Lady Gregory in America, with a libretto by Colm Tóibín.

Other notable roles include La Suora Infermiera in Puccini’s Suor Angelica (Wexford Festival Opera), Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel (Westminster Opera), and Second Witch and Spirit in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (If Opera). She also starred in the premiere of the new musical The Land of Might-Have-Been, playing Debutante / Swing / Cover Shirley & Stella (Buxton International Festival and Norwich Theatre).

Helen trained at the Royal College of Music and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Roles during her training included Dritter Knabe in Die Zauberflöte, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ruggiero in Alcina, Tisbe & Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, Radamisto in Radamisto, Lel in The Snow Maiden, Mrs Segstrom in A Little Night Music, Sœur Mathilde in Dialogues des Carmélites, Mercedes in Carmen, and La Libellule in L’enfant et les sortilèges. She also created the role of Louise for the premiere of Michael Wolter’s Ava’s Wedding.

An experienced dancer, Helen began training at the North London Dance Studio at the age of five and competed in the All England Dance Festivals. This background led her to perform as the animation silhouette of Tinkerbell in the world premiere of Welsh National Opera’s Peter Pan by Richard Ayres, directed by Keith Warner.

Helen has worked with internationally renowned conductors including Adrian Kelly, Iwan Davies, Oliver Gooch, Christopher Bucknall, and Michael Rosewell. Her coaches have included Jonathan Lemalu, Sophie Bevan, Stephen Varcoe, Richard Jackson, and Isabel Leonard.

Her solo oratorio repertoire includes Bach’s Johannes-Passion and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Vespers, Duruflé’s Requiem, and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes.

Helen has performed with contemporary music ensemble Festival Voices, the CBSO, and toured and broadcast across Europe as a member of the Philharmonia Chorus. Other professional engagements include contracts as a soloist and ensemble member with the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in 2015, as well as touring internationally with the Ida Girls.