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The English mezzo-soprano, Ciara Hendrick, showed a love of music at an early age, taking up piano lessons at the age of 5 and adding the Clarinet, Saxophone and Flute by her early teens. A chance rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody on a school trip ended in joining the school choir and singing soon became her passion. After leaving school, she studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, with piano as a second study, graduating with distinction and a finalist of the Gold Medal. In 2007 she joined the opera studio of L’Opéra National du Rhin (Les Jenues Voix du Rhin) and was a member of the ENO Opera Works programme. She now studies with Jennifer Dakin. During her time in France, she honed her dramatic skills, working intensively with actors and directors including Yves Lenoir, Lionel Parlier and Matthew Jocelyn. She took the lead role of Lazuli in Chabrier’s L’Étoile in the programme’s major production and the roles of Hermia, Cherubino, Rosina and Charlotte in scenes and was fortunate to work with Francoise Pollet, Felice Venanzoni, Alessandro Misciasci and Antoine Palloc.
Upon returning to England, Ciara Hendrick joined the Glyndebourne Chorus in 2008 and was invited to participate in the Jerwood Young Artist Programme the following year, creating the role of Margarida in Julian Philips’ The Yellow Sofa in the 2009 festival. Recent engagements include the title role in George Frideric Handel’s Susanna for the Early Opera Company with Christian Curnyn (Iford Arts), Frasquinella, La Perichole at Garsington with Jeremy Sams, Dorinda, Il Pastor Fido with La Nuova Musica at the London Handel Festival, Hansel for Iford Festival Opera and Phoebe in Yeomen of the Guard for Buxton, directed by Jeff Clarke. Specialising in early and contemporary works, roles include Irene in G.F. Handel's Theodora, at St Martin in the Fields, David in G.F. Handels Saul at St James, Piccadilly, Annio ib W.A. Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito; Popova in William Walton's The Bear directed by Stuart Barker.
A regular soloist at St Martin in the Fields, Ciara Hendrick's oratorio engagements include G.F. Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria, J.S. Bach’s Magnificat (BWV 243) and Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) Monteverdi’s Vespers, J.S. Bach's St John’s Passion (BWV 245) at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No, 9 at St John’s Smith Square.
As a recitalist, Ciara Hendrick works frequently with Baroque ensembles, including La Nuova Musica, The Early Opera Company, L’Avventura London, the Solomon consort and The Musicke Companye, specialising in works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, performing at prestigious festivals and venues throughout the country including the Handel Festival, the Wigmore Hall, the Foundling Museum and at Lille Opera House for Le Concert d’Astreé. With Sholto Kynoch she has appeared regularly at the Oxford Lieder Festival, most recently in Robert Schumann’s Liederkreis Op.39.
As a solo recording artist, Ciara Hendrick has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, 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 premierE of a new version of Hansel and Gretel by John Barber and James Redwood for Glyndebourne Education. She currently lives in London. |
