Harriet Eyley

Doctoral Student

British Soprano Harriet Eyley is increasingly in demand on the Operatic Stage and Recital Halls across Europe, hailed as “silver-toned and effortless, by turns virtuosic and exquisite” (The Guardian).

Running harmoniously to her research commitments, Harriet continues to build her thriving performance career. She is currently touring the UK/Czech republic as Kritsa, The Makropulos Affair WNO and Symphony Hall, Birmingham/The Kultur-und Kongresszentrum, Luzernthe, for Raymond Gubbay Ltd Four Seasons with the Mozart Festival Orchestra.

Performance highlights include Oriana Amadigi, English Touring Opera, Messiah, Britten Sinfonia, Carols By Candlelight, Raymond Gubbay Ltd, and Return to Vienna with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera whilst concurrently making her role debut as Zerlina Don Giovanni.

Concert engagements include Beethoven Unleashed: the 1808 Concert with the BBC NOW and New Year Gala Concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Harriet has performed in Lucy Worsley’s Queen Victoria’s Music (BBC), live for BBC Radio 3 InTune and for His Majesty, King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Refining her artistry as a WNO Associate Artist, Harriet made role debuts as Norina Don Pasquale, Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Frasquita Carmen and Barbarina Le nozze di Figaro. Critical acclamations also include Vixen Sharp-Ears The Cunning Little Vixen, Beth Little Women (UK Premiere) Opera Holland Park and Meleagro La corona, Bampton Classical Opera, “whose heroism en travesti, both bright-toned and variegated, proved just the early Classical ticket.”

Challenges posed by exploration of en travesti have influenced Harriet’s doctoral thesis - The anachronism of the operatic Travesti in the 21st Century - for which she is an RCM Studentship Holder. As an alumna of the RCM, Harriet received an Artistic Diploma in Opera, in addition to First Class BMus and MMus (DipRAM) degrees from The Royal Academy of Music. Harriet remains under the esteemed tutelage of Lillian Watson and is the grateful recipient of numerous awards, including the Siow-Furniss Scholarship.

Faculties / departments: Research