Elizabeth's operatic experience has been a journey through a gamut of vocal repertoire, including appearances as Olympia (Les Contes d'Hoffman, Opera Integra, Feb 2020), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth, Park Opera, Feb 2019), Gilda (Rigoletto, Park Opera, Feb 2017), Violetta Valéry (La Traviata, Kennet Opera, 2015), Micaëla (Carmen, Park Opera), Hannah Glawari (The Merry Widow, West London Opera), Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte, MOS), Mabel (Pirates of Penzance), Second Woman (Dido and Aenea), Papagena/2nd Spirit (Zauberflöte) and Marjanah (Chu Chin Chow, Asche/Brayton), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte, Taylormade opera).
Complementing her operatic engagements, Elizabeth continues to work in concert and recital with Quartano, a unique pairing of soprano and string quartet of which she was a founding member. Highlights of the past two seasons encompass several recitals with Quartano at corporate and private events and in recital across the country covering repertoire from Mozart to Gershwin. Quartano released their first self-titled CD in 2011. Elizabeth has also appeared internationally with EnChant, a captivating soprano duet with fellow soprano Sinéad Blanchfield.
After studying music at the Universities of Sheffield and Huddersfield and an early musical career as an oboist working with Bournemouth Orchestras and free-lancing in London, Elizabeth returned to study, this time on the Opera course at London's Birkbeck University where, in opera scenes she performed Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Donna Elivira (Don Giovanni), Sandman (Hänsel und Gretel), and Poppea (L'incoronazione di Poppea).
Elizabeth has sung much of the sacred choral repertoire as soloist for choral societies from Scotland to southern England, including Schubert Mass in G, Handel Messiah, Mozart Vespers and Mass in C minor, Vivaldi Gloria, Bach Magnificat, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Duruflé Requiem and she was for a year a professional chorister at All Saint's, Margaret Street, London.
Elizabeth studies voice in London with Arwel Treharne-Morgan and has her own teaching practice in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.
Some recent accolades...
'Elizabeth Slade as Lady Macbeth gave [an] extremely powerful vocal and at times mesmerising performance... it did twitch the hairs on the back of my neck.'
Terry Adlam, Maidenhead Advertiser
'Elizabeth Slade as Violetta Valéry gave an outstanding performance dramatically and vocally. The dynamics she achieved throughout were remarkable
and her cadenza in Act 1 superlative. Her death scene was powerfully climatic and emotional with the overall characterisation one of impassioned sentimentality.' Jeanette Maskell, National Operatic & Dramatic Association (Noda)
'...thank you for your excellent singing... I have received a large number of compliments about the concert, and people have invariably mentioned the soprano solos as a high point.' Christopher Sparkhall, Director of Music, Canford School
'I was staggered by the overall level of performance of this role [Micaela]. From the first bars it was evident that this was an outstanding voice and this was coupled with a perfect characterisation of the part...' Kevin McNally, audience, Carmen
'...a really lovely voice plus a commanding stage presence - in short, [you were] an absolute delight to listen to and to watch.' Roger Ware, audience, The Merry Widow
'...fine soprano voice...' Mike Marsh, Bournemouth Daily Echo
'...superb soprano soloist, Elizabeth Slade...' Barry Baines, Dorset Echo
