Recently...
Award winning mezzo-soprano Laura Woods reprised her role as Flora for Opera Holland Park’s critically acclaimed production of La Traviata during the 2021 season, and joins English National Opera singing Schwertleite* Die Walküre.
Engagements postponed due to Covid included Wife Greek for English Touring Opera, La Patronne Margot La Rouge for Opera Holland Park and Nurse* King Priam for English National Opera.
Laura sang the role of Marta Iolanta for Opera Holland Park, a production nominated by the Royal Philharmonic Society and The Southbank Sky Arts Awards and joined Scottish Opera as Second Secretary* Nixon In China during the 2019/20 season. Laura also made her role debut as Wife-Sphinx-Doreen Greek for Grimeborn at The Arcola.
* denotes cover
Before...
Laura received much acclaim in the press for her performance as Polina The Queen of Spades for Opera Holland Park and was nominated for ‘Best Female in a Supporting Role’ for her performance as Wowkle La Fanciulla del West; she has sung Flora La Traviata, Glaša Kát’a Kabanová, Agnes the Digger Fantastic Mr Fox, La Suora Zelatrice Suor Angelica, and Giovanna Rigoletto for the company, also appearing as Zita Gianni Schicchi for the inaugural Christine Collins' Young Artist Programme.
Her broadcasts include In Tune for BBC Radio 3 and Newsnight for BBC Two.
Her engagements elsewhere have included The Witch Mad King Suibhne for Bury Court Opera, Leonora La Favorita for Opera Siam (Bangkok Opera), Mistress Quickly Falstaff for Opéra Berbiguières, Tisbe La Cenerentola for Opera Up Close and Florence Pike Albert Herring for BYO.
A recipient of the Bursary and Foundation Development Grant from The International Opera Awards, The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award and an alumna of The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and English National Opera's Opera Works programme.
Laura currently works with Rosalind Plowright OBE and New York based voice teacher Pamela Kuhn. Laura has also studied with Susan McCulloch and Christine Cairns and is thankful for previous support from Help Musicians UK and the EMI Music Sound Foundation.