Ciara Hendrick - Mezzo Soprano
Ciara graduated with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and was a finalist of the Gold Medal. In 2007, she joined the opera studio of L’Opéra National du Rhin (JVR) and has just completed the ENO Opera Works programme. Ciara studies with Jennifer Dakin.
Recent engagements include the roles of Hansel for Iford Festival Opera and Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard for Buxton; she received outstanding reviews for both these roles and received a full scholarship to work with Richard Egarr and Michael Chance in Aldeburgh as part of the Britten-Pears Programme. Specialising in early and contemporary works, roles include Irene (Theodora, Handel) at St Martin in the Fields; David (Saul, Handel) at St James, Piccadilly; Cherubino, Lazuli (L’Étoile, Chabrier) for JVR; Annio (La Clemenza di Tito, Mozart); Popova (The Bear, Walton) directed by Stuart Barker. Ciara joined the Glyndebourne Chorus in 2008 creating the role of Margarida in Julian Philips’ The Yellow Sofa in the 2009 festival. She has also covered the role of Hermia at Garsington.
A regular soloist at St Martin in the Fields, Ciara’s oratorio engagements include Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s Magnificat, Monteverdi’s Vespers and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at St John’s Smith Square.
As a recitalist, Ciara works frequently with Baroque ensembles including L’Avventura London, the Solomon consort and The Musicke Companye, specialising in works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, performing at prestigious venues throughout the country such as the Foundling Museum and Temple Church, London. With Sholto Kynoch she has appeared regularly at the Oxford Lieder Festival, most recently in Schumann’s Liederkreis op.39.
As a solo recording artist, Ciara has worked with the LSO, recording the title track of the Oscar-nominated film, Incendies. Other contemporary works include a performance of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, creating the role of Margarida in Julian Philips’ The Yellow Sofa, working with composers from Oxford University as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival and the Witch in the premier of a new version of Hansel and Gretel by John Barber and James Redwood for Glyndebourne Education.
Future plans include Frasquinella for Garsington’s 2012 production of La Périchole, the title role in Handel's Susanna at Iford Festival 2012, a recital at Lille Opera House for Emmanuelle Haïm, Vivaldi’s Gloria at St Martin in the Fields and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and a recital with L’Avventura London at the Garrick Club.
“The irresistible Ciara Hendrick [is] robustly musical as Hansel”
Hilary Finch, The Times
(Hansel & Gretel, Iford Festival Opera, June 2011)
"Best of all, however, was Ciara Hendrick, a delightfully spirited Phoebe"
Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph
(Yeomen of the Guard, Buxton G&S Opera Company, 2010)
"Ciara Hendrick, one to watch for singing and acting the socks off a minor role."
Opera Now
(The Yellow Sofa, Glyndebourne Festival 2009)