Anna Leese

Soprano Anna Leese is the recipient of an impressive number of Australasian awards and prizes, including the Royal Overseas League Vocal competition. Anna represented New Zealand in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition and is now a vocal tutor at the University of Waikoto.

Since graduating from London's RCM Benjamin Britten International Opera School, Anna has performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden as Tamiri (II Re Pastore), Musetta (La bohème), Micaela (Carmen), First Lady (Die Zauberflöte) and Echo (Ariadne auf Naxos). Other roles have included Musetta with the Canadian Opera Company and at the Royal Albert Hall; Antonia (Les contes d’Hoffmann) for Opera Köln; Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) for Flanders Opera; Biancofiore (Francesca di Rimini), Suzel (L’amico Fritz) and Tatyana for Opera Holland Park; and Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte) with the Classical Opera Company, UK. In New Zealand she performs regularly with all the major symphony orchestras, choral societies and festivals and for New Zealand Opera: Katherine in the world premiere of Strangest of Angels, Ilia (Idomeneo), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), Tatyana, Majenka (The Bartered Bride), Governess (Turn of the Screw), Micaela, Mary/Luck (Brass Poppies), and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni).

Press

Mozart’s Requiem, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra

“…soprano Anna Leese made a particularly notable impression…Her entry in the Recordare, to mention just one example, was breathtakingly beautiful as well as heartmelting in its prayerful pleading quality.”

Tony Ryan, Radio New Zealand, 2 September 2019

Capriccio, Orchestra Wellington
“And what singing Anna Leese gave us… the glorious outpouring of vocal splendour... Never did Strauss' opulent orchestra overpower her, yet she gave us many unforgettably subtle moments as well.”
John Button, Dominion Post Wellington, 18 July 2016

Don Giovanni, NZ Opera
 “Best of all was Anna Leese's superbly sung Donna Elvira, her intonation faultless, her portrayal of this turbulent character utterly convincing”.

Roger Wilson, Dominion Post Wellington, 13th October 2014

La Bohème, The Canadian Opera Company

"Vocally vivid, [Anna Leese as Musetta] ...turned Act II into a mad scene, and stopped the show with her famous aria Quando m'en vo. I found myself wishing Puccini had given her more to do."

The Globe and Mail; 20 April 2009

Elijah, Cardiff

"...the sheer vocal presence of Anna Leese's fine soprano provided an element of theatricality that might have surprised even Mendelssohn."

The Guardian, 5 March 2009



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