Stella Woodman - Mezzo Soprano
Stella Woodman studied at the RNCM and appeared as a regular soloist with the RNCM Baroque ensemble.
In 1996 Stella was asked to join Glyndebourne Festival Opera Chorus. She was a member of the Festival and Touring Opera chorus from 1996 until December 1999. Whilst at Glyndebourne, Stella sang the top line of the madrigal in Manon Lescaut in two Festivals, the Bridesmaid in Le nozze di Figaro and the top line of the chorus solo quartet in Die Entführung aus dem Serail on tour.
In 1997 Stella made her Glyndebourne Festival Opera debut as Alice in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory which she also sang on the 1997 tour. In 1999 Stella understudied the role of Esmerelda in Smetana’s Bartered Bride for Glyndebourne Touring Opera which entailed having to learn to perform on the trapeze.
After leaving Glyndebourne, Stella joined Diva Opera and sang the role of First Boy and chorus in their touring production of The Magic Flute in 2000 and in the chorus of La Traviata.
Since 1997, Stella has performed in Raymond Gubbay’s opera productions at the Royal Albert Hall. She has appeared in past productions of Madam Butterfly in which she covered the Cousin; she also performed in Raymond Gubbay’s productions of Aida, Carmen, Cavelleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci, La Boheme and Tosca.
Stella was a member of Garsington Opera Chorus in 2004 and 2005 and sang in their productions of Cosi Fan Tutte and Le nozze di Figaro.
2006/07 was a year of transition from soprano to mezzo soprano and in 2007 Stella joined Grange Park Opera Chorus for their productions of Die Zauberflöte and Falstaff.
In 2008, Stella sang with Garsington Opera in their productions of Cosi Fan Tutte and Rake’s Progress and in August she sang in the chorus of Idomeneo at Birmingham Opera and also performed the role of 2nd Cretan. In the Autumn, Stella sang with Den NYE Opera in Bergen Norway in the chorus of Der Fliegende Holländer. She also sang in masterclasses with Lillian Watson, David Jones and Graham Vick.
2009 began with Stella singing in the chorus of Carmen in Raymond Gubbay’s production at the Albert Hall which she performed again at the O2 centre in May 2010. In 2009 she joined the chorus at English National Opera for their new productions of Peter Grimes and Turandot. Stella sang with them again in 2010 for their new production of Idomeneo and will be singing in their production of Wagner's Parsifal in 2011. Also in 2011, Stella will be singing in the chorus at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in their productions of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore.
Stella has voice lessons with Arwel Treharne Morgan and coaching sessions with Mark Packwood and Jane Robinson.