Helen Donaldson (born 14 March 1968 in Rockhampton, Queensland) is an Australian operatic soprano, best known for her performances of the heroines in Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
Biography
editDonaldson started singing at the age of seven, after winning an eisteddfod. She was trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Brisbane, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music and a Graduate Diploma in Opera. While at university, her roles included Phyllis in Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe.[citation needed]
Her first professional role was as a chorus member and swing in The Phantom of the Opera in 1990. The role that gave her recognition in Australia was Mabel in Essgee Entertainment's The Pirates of Penzance (1994).[1] A review of the video recording of this productio nin The Canberra Times stated: "Donaldson ... has a voice truly suited to light,lyric opera and, for my part, is a cut above the other cast in talent and vocal technique."[2] Its soundtrack won a 1995 ARIA Award.[citation needed] Her other Essgee shows were The Mikado (as Yum-Yum),[3] HMS Pinafore (as Josephine),[4] A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1999, as Philia)[5][6] and The Merry Widow (as Anna in Brisbane, in 1998; and as Valencienne in Melbourne, Victoria, Adelaide, South Australia, and Perth, Western Australia, in 1999).[7]
Donaldson has performed in more than twenty operas, including Cinderella's Bad Magic as Cinderella, and Don Pasquale, variously in Russia, the United States and Brazil.[7][8] In 2007, she returned to live in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia[8] and rejoined Essgee, reprising the role of Yum-Yum in The Mikado in 2008 and 2009.[7][8]
She has four children.[8]
References
edit- ^ Gocs, Danny. "Modern Pirates have a rollicking time", The Australian Jewish News (Melbourne, Victoria), 12 August 1994, p. 4
- ^ Hampton, Cass. "English plays Aussie king", The Canberra Times, 20 February 1995, p. 36
- ^ Howard, Christine. "Mikado – it's surprising", Times (Victor Harbor, South Australia, 14 November 1995, p. 4
- ^ Gocs, Danny. "Good old entertainment aboard Pinafore", The Australian Jewish News, 10 January 1997, p. 3
- ^ Gocs, Danny. "Corny capers at the Forum", The Australian Jewish News, 8 January 1999, p. 4
- ^ Vincent, Jeremy. "Revival revels in farce, not class", The Australian, 4 January 1999; and "Forum Is Light Musical Theatre at Its Very Best", The Canberra Times, 2 April 1999
- ^ a b c "Helen Donaldson", AusStage: The Australian. Retrieved 10 October 2024
- ^ a b c d Cooper, Nathanael. "Coast's own diva", The Sunshine Coast Daily, 10 June 2008
Further reading
edit- Brown, Phil. "Back to the start", Brisbane News, 23 July 2008
- Kelly, Patricia. "Family puts a song in Helen's well-travelled heart", Courier Mail, 26 June 2004
- The Queensland Pops Orchestra, Biography: Helen Donaldson