Lee Bisset, soprano
Lee Bisset sang the role of Mimi in the final three performances of the ENO’s La boheme, in addition to covering Mary Plazas in the previous performances. Lee gave such a moving performance, even Fit Crit was forced to write a five-star review – despite the opera’s being by Puccini. The Primi Divi first saw Lee when she represented Scotland in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2005, and we joined Hairy McMungo in outrage when she failed to make the final of either the Main or Song Prizes. We were very happy to learn that she would become an ENO Young Singer, and have since enjoyed her performances as First Lady The Magic Flute and Karolka Jenufa, in which opera she also covered the title role.
Lee was born in Loch Lomondside in the beautiful country of Scotland. She studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Royal Northern College of Music, the National Opera Studio, and in Italy. Awards include: the Joyce and Michael Kennedy Strauss Prize, the Webster Booth Award, the Dame Eva Turner Award, and the Audrey Gunn Award.
Lee created the role of Lady Hamilton in Rupert Bawden’s The Sailor’s Tale. Other roles include Fiordiligi, Donna Elvira, Tatyana, Violetta and Donna Eleonora Prima la musica for companies including Diva Opera (no relation), Pimlico Opera, Clonter Opera and Grange Park Opera. She has covered Denise The Knot Garden for Scottish Opera. In concert, she has performed the soprano solos in Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Samson and Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Verdi’s Requiem, and also sung Strauss’ Four Last Songs, and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music at the Edinburgh Festival.
Lee’s plans include Tatyana for Longborough Opera – and, I hope, further performances with the ENO.
Read Lee Bisset’s biography on the Harwood Management website
Another on the ENO website
Lee’s official website
A very interesting blog Lee wrote when preparing for the role of Mimi
REVIEWS
Mimi La boheme, ENO – Musical Pointers (Serena Fenwick)
Karolka Jenufa, ENO – Independent (Anna Picard)
Violetta La traviata, Clonter Opera – Manchester Evening News (Philip Radcliffe)
Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte, Grange Park Opera – Independent (Roderic Dunnett)
Donna Elvira Don Giovanni, Ryedale Festival Opera – This is York
Cunning Little Vixen
primi-divi at hotmail.co.uk