Helen Donaldson
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
[edit]Donaldson 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