Leila Zanette

Mezzo-soprano

Biography

Leila is a mezzo-soprano of English and Italian origin. She completed her training on the Royal Academy Opera Programme as well as completing her Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Sarah Walker, Nuccia Focile and Joseph Middleton Leila was kindly supported by the Charles Mackerras Opera Scholarship, PF Charitable Trust Award, the Patricia Kris Wolfe Prize and is currently supported by the Josephine Baker Trust and Opera Prelude, with whom she is a Young Artist.

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Leila spent the beginning of 2020 working with Scottish Opera in the chorus for their production of John Adams' Nixon in China. In April 2020 Leila was due to perform the role of Irene, with Cambridge Handel Opera Company for their production of Handel's Tamerlano in Cambridge, however due to COVID-19 this has now been postponed to April 2021. Leila was also set to perform in the chorus as one of Garsington Opera Festival's Alvarez Young Artists, however again due to COVID-19 the Festival has been cancelled. The Young Artist Programme has fortunately been moved online in which the artists are receiving mentoring and career specific talks.

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In September 2020 Leila will be traveling to Wexford to perform int eh chorus with Wexford Festival Opera as well as performing in their Pocket Opera "Shakespeare in Love." Leila will be singing Romeo's aria 'Se Romeo t'uccise un figlio' from Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Desdemona's aria 'Salce' from Rossini's Otello.

Leila recently performed the roles of La Ciesca in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with LunchBreak Opera. Prior to this with the Royal Academy Opera Leila performed the roles of Marta in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta, Juno in Handel's Semele, Véronique in Bizet’s Le Docteur Miracle and Older Woman in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and Medea in Handel’s Teseo at the London Handel Festival in conjunction with the Royal Academy Opera. In Academy Opera Scenes she has played Dorabella in Così fan tutte and Idamante in Idomeneo.

Leila first appeared at the Grange Festival in the summer of 2017, both as the cover of the title role and in the chorus of Bizet’s Carmen, and of Granados’s Goyescas. She has recently completed another season with the Grange Festival chorus in Verdi's Falstaff and Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro where she appeared also as one of the Bridesmaids.

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Other roles in scenes include Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle), Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Mistress Quickly (Sir John in Love) and Minskwoman (Flight).

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Leila is a Young Artist with London based charity Opera Prelude. She is grateful for their continuous support and has benefited from several performance opportunities and masterclasses provided by Opera Prelude. Masterclasses include: Sir Thomas Allen and Della Jones.  

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