Biography

British Mezzo Emma Carrington has worked in opera and concert venues across the world, performing a huge variety of repertoire, all to critical acclaim. An articulate, authoritative voice with a rich vocal substance combined with a remarkable stage presence and flair see her fit into a wide range of roles.

Emma made her Royal Opera House debut playing the Valkyrie Rossweisse (Die Walküre) in Keith Warner’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle conducted by Antonio Pappano in Autumn 2018. Also for ROH she understudied the role of Erda (Das Rheingold/Siegfried). She returns to the ROH as First Maid (Elektra) in spring 2020.

A regular soloist at Welsh National Opera, she made her main stage debut as Mercedes in Carmen, shortly followed by Third Lady (Die Zaüberflöte). Also for WNO she appeared alongside Bryn Terfel for the Millennium Centre's 10th anniversary celebrations as Schwertleite (Die Walküre). Also for WNO, Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) conducted by Tomáš Hanus, Nerissa (cover) The Merchant of Venice and most recently Maddalena (Rigoletto).

For English National Opera, Emma performed Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) after making her debut, to critical acclaim, as Queen Nefertiti in Glass’s Akhnaten under the baton of Karen Kamensek. Akhnaten was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Emma was then chosen to be a soloist, appearing in cinemas across the globe for the BBC’s Shakespeare Live as part of Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary celebrations with ENO and Mark Wigglesworth. 

Her international debut was made in Chile’s only opera house ‘Teatro di Santiago’ as Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress) with David Syrus conducting.

Other projects have included Marcellina, under the baton of Sir Colin Davis, for one of his final performances of Le Nozze di Figaro. In the London première of Jonathan Dove’s Flight she performed the Older Woman for British Youth Opera. For Chelsea Opera Group, her most recent performance includes Konchakovna from Prince Igor, Farzana from Wagner’s first opera Die Feen, and Ursula (Béatrice et Bénédict). With the perfect stature for trouser roles, she sang Mazet in Gounod’s La Colombe at The Buxton Festival.

For Glyndebourne on Tour she sang the role of Salty Sue in the world première of Captain Blood’s Revenge. Also for the Glyndebourne Festival, Emma understudied Ježibaba (Rusalka) and the Third Nymph. For Opera North, Emma sang The Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Schwertleite (Die Walküre)‚ and Matilda/George in the world premiere of The Cautionary Tales. On BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night Ten Pieces Prom, she sang the infamous Habanera from Carmen. ​

She is equally at home in the concert hall, and has performed in prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall, The Birmingham Symphony Hall, The Sage, Cadogan Hall and in many of the UK’s Cathedrals. To name but a few, these include Bach’s St. Matthew Passion‚ Monteverdi’s Vespers‚ Handel’s Messiah‚ Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms‚ Bach’s Christmas Cantatas‚ Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Walpurgisnacht‚ Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle‚ Haydn’s Nelson Mass‚ Vivaldi’s Gloria‚ Schubert’s Mass in E Flat‚ Tippet’s A Child of Our Time‚ Britten’s Spring Symphony and Janacek’s Diary of One Who Disappeared, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

Current and future plans include a role debut with Scottish Opera as Third Secretary (Nixon in China), First Maid (Elektra) with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and a return to Covent Garden as First Maid (Elektra) 2020.

Born in Hertfordshire, Emma completed her studies on the Opera Course at Royal Academy of Music.

She is represented worldwide by Musichall.