press
PRESS QUOTES
BERLIN STAATSOPER
VANITAS - SCIARRINO
“Mezzo soprano Rowan Hellier played the role of the singer as an angular marionette puppet...in the course of the piece she proved that she possesses richly-nuanced vocal power. Her artistic achievement was to be admired, towards the end she had to sing crawling on the floor. Deservedly she received the most applause and bravo calls at the end of the performance.”
“Mezzosopranistin Rowan Hellier spielte die Rolle der Sängerin als ungelenke Marionettenpuppe....im Verlauf des Stücks...bewies, dass sie auch über nuancenreiche Stimmkraft verfügt. Ihre artistische Leistung war zu bewundern, musste sie gegen Schluss sogar über den Boden robbend singen. Verdientermaßen erhielt sie vom Publikum am Ende der Vorstellung den meisten Applaus und einige Bravo-Rufe.”
Udo Pakolt, Online Merker
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
THE TRIAL - GLASS | FRAU GRUBACH/WASHERWOMAN
World Premiere
“… the cast project just the right blend of gallows humour, with Rowan Hellier...bringing real beauty to [her] arias.”
Michael Church, The Independent
MOZARTEUM ORCHESTRA cond. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
IL TURCO IN ITALIA - ROSSINI | ZAIDA
“As her opponent Zaida, Rowan Hellier brought lyrical and velvety colours to the role, but also had vocal power at the ready for the catfight.”
“Neben ihr Rowan Hellier, die als Gegenspielerin Zaida (des Sultans frühere Gespielin hat die Hoffnung noch nicht aufgegeben) lyrische, samtene Farben einbringt, im Zickenkrieg aber auch nicht wenig Attacke bereit hält.”
Reinhard Kriechbaum, DrehPunktKultur
CLASSICAL OPERA
LUCIO SILLA - MOZART | CECILIO
“Rowan Hellier, as Cecilio, delivered the other really excellent performance of the evening and was the singer that impressed me the most. She possesses a wide mezzo range, with a dark edge in the lower register and clear, easy high notes in the top of her voice, which she is capable of sustaining above the orchestra with remarkable ease. Her tone is warm and varied and she also displayed an elegant, delicate legato line, particularly during her final aria.”
Margarida Mota-Bull, Seen and Heard International
“Rowan Hellier as the hero Cecilio...won over the audience completely with her extraordinarily warm voice, which has an astonishingly beautiful and introspective quality to it.”
Tullia Giersberg, British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
ADRIANO IN SIRIA - J.C. BACH
ADRIANO
“As Adriano, mezzo-soprano Rowan Hellier was appropriately restless and headstrong....the lovely richness of her tone gave stature to the Emperor despite his fickle caprices, while in higher registers her voice shone beautifully.”
Claire Seymour, Opera Today
BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA cond. Alexander Verdernikov
FIVE HAUNTINGS - ALASDAIR NICOLSON | St. Magnus International Festival
Mezzo soprano Rowan Hellier was compelling, with her rich, matt velvet tone, as she performed these haunted and expressive melodies with focus, drama and clarity.”
Rosenna East, The Herald
DUNEDIN CONSORT
Gramophone Award Winner, Linn Records CKD 449
REQUIEM - MOZART
“Ms. Hellier’s fruity timbre melds well... and she sings with superb control and composure.”
Joseph Newsome, Voix des Arts
THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA | BRITISH YOUTH OPERA
LUCRETIA
“And at the centre of everything, the Lucretia of the young Scottish mezzo Rowan Hellier is totally gripping, neurotically yet credibly acted, superbly sung in a rich, expressive contralto-like timbre.”
Richard Morrison, The Times
“There was a real intensity here, from the almost aggressive purity of Rowan Hellier's Lucretia.”
Robert Thicknesse, Opera Now
“Sung with fierce sweetness by Hellier”
Anna Picard, The Independent
MOZARTEUM ORCHESTRA cond. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla
IL MONDO DELLA LUNA - HAYDN | LISETTA
“Of the women, Rowan Hellier stood out as Lisetta, with her dark, velvety tones.”
"Bei den Damen sticht klar Rowan Hellier als Lisetta mit dunklem, samtigen klang hervor."
Tiroler Tageszeitung
“The mezzo soprano Rowan Hellier brought lots of charm to the role of housekeeper Lisetta.”
"Die Mezzosopranistin Rowan Hellier bringt als Haushälterin Lisetta ebenfalls viel Charme ein."
Reinhardt Kriechbaum, DreiPunktKultur
IL RITORNO D"ULISSE IN PATRIA - MONTEVERDI cond. Christian Curnyn
PENELOPE
“Mezzo Rowan Hellier makes a noble, troubled Penelope, her rich lyric tone a huge asset.”
George Hall, The Stage
“Rowan Hellier’s fine mezzo embodies the dignity of this suffering in a tightly focused performance.”
Rian Evans, The Guardian