Mezzo - soprano
NEWS
Carolyn receives critical acclaim for the role of Annina with Irish National Opera
March 2023
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Carolyn is delighted to have received excellent reviews on her debut as Annina in Der Rosenkavalier with her home national company. Initial mentions include The Irish Times "Among numerous well taken smaller roles...I would single out - Carolyn Holt as a conniving meddler", and The Arts Desk "well-defined performances especially from...Carolyn Holt's trouser-suited Annina". More reviews to follow.
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Carolyn returns to Royal Opera House in another Britten role
November 2022
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Following her time covering Mrs Sedley in Deborah Warner's 5-star production of Peter Grimes at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Carolyn returns to the ROH in another Britten role, Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia.
This is co-production between Britten Pears Arts and the Royal Opera House, London, with performances in Snape Maltings Concert Hall and the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House London.
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Carolyn performs opening night with Garsington Opera
July 2022
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Carolyn was delighted to 'jump in' for opening night to sing the role of Mrs Grose in Louisa Muller’s acclaimed production of The Turn of the Screw. Read the 5 star reviews on the REVIEWS page.
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Carolyn begins 2nd year as a Garsington Alvarez Young Artist, covering Susan Bickley as Mrs Grose
April 2022
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Carolyn looks forward to covering Mrs Grose in Louisa Muller’s acclaimed production, winner of the 2020 RPS Award. Mark Wigglesworth makes his debut at Garsington conducting Britten’s extraordinary masterpiece.
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Carolyn's operatic start-up business enjoys success
2020-Present
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At the beginning of the pandemic, Carolyn and her partner Mark Nathan, a successful baritone and lyricist, set up Send-a-Song. Send-a-Song creates bespoke songs; written, performed, and recorded especially for you. Whatever the occasion, we can make something truly special. From re-imagined operatic classics to brand new original songs, Send-a-Song allows you to give the gift of music.
So far Send-a-Song has been featured on Opera Wire and Opera Magazine.
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For more information, please visit www.sendasong.co.uk
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Carolyn reaches semi-final of the VIII Alfredo Kraus International Singing Competition
September 2021
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Aiming to support young opera singers of all nationalities, the FIAK and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria have revived a personal initiative of Alfredo Kraus. In 1990, Gran Canaria’s illustrious tenor brought to life his project for an international singing competition, held as a biennial event in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the city of his birth.
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Carolyn performs as Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin to standing ovation at the Garsington Opera 'Opera First' Performance
July 2021
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OperaFirst gives an exceptional opportunity to a new generation of young people to explore the musical and dramatic themes of an opera through in-school workshops, before attending a full-scale performance at Wormsley. Carolyn covered the role of Madame Larina at Garsington Opera this year, and was delighted to perform the role with full costume, orchestra and set. at the Opera First performance.
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Carolyn reaches semi-finals of international competition
March 2023
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Carolyn travelled to Lithuania in March to compete in the live rounds of the Virgilijus Noreika International Singing Competition, along with 70 other chosen participants from around the world. She was chosen to sing in the semi-finals (25 competitors) by the distinguished international jury.
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Carolyn reaches semi-final of International Competition
August 2022
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Carolyn was delighted to reach the semi-finals of the 10th Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, resulting in a €500 prize.
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Carolyn debuts role of Charlotte in Massenet's 'Werther'
August 2022
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Carolyn made her role and house debut to standing ovations in August 2022, as Charlotte in Massenet's Werther with Lyric Opera Ireland, at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
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Carolyn begins rehearsals for ROH debut in Deborah Warner's production of Peter Grimes
February 2022
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Carolyn looks forward to covering Mrs Sedley in this production of Britten's Peter Grimes. Following Deborah Warner’s award winning production of Billy Budd in 2019, The Royal Opera continues its Benjamin Britten series with her new production of Peter Grimes, which had its premiere in Madrid in April 2021.
Mark Elder conducts a cast that includes British singers Allan Clayton, Bryn Terfel and John Tomlinson, alongside Maria Bengtsson and former Jette Parker Young Artist Jacques Imbrailo.
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*POSTPONED* Carolyn reaches live rounds of international competition
January 2022
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*POSTPONED - NEW DATES AUGUST 2022* Carolyn has qualified for the live rounds of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition 2022. She reached the semi-finals of the 2019 competition and was awarded the Dermot Troy Prize. The esteemed panel includes Jane Carty, Richard Bonynge AC CBE, Tara Erraught, Christina Scheppelman, David Lomeli, David Gowland, Henning Ruhe and Andreas Schubert.
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Carolyn qualifies for live audition rounds of Neue Stimmen
September 2021
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The international singing competition NEUE STIMMEN has become one of the most famous opera competitions in the world during the last 30 years. Live rounds begin during the autumn with singers from across the globe aiming to qualify for the final rounds in Germany in March 2022.
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