| Biography | Alison was born in Glasgow. She read music at Durham University and trained at the Royal Northern College of Music where she was awarded a scholarship and the Professional Performance Diploma. At the RNCM Alison won the Claire Croiza Competition and sang the role of Hermia in A Midsummer Nights Dream. In 1990 she won the Shell Scottish Opera John Noble Bursary.
Operatic roles for Glyndebourne include Zita Gianni Schicchi (GFO), Florence Pike Albert Herring (GTO), Clo-Clo Die Lustige Witwe (EMI Recording), The Beggar Woman Death in Venice and Priestess Idomeneo. Understudies at Glyndebourne - Josefa Miranda Love and Other Demons (World Premiere 2008), Dorabella Cosi fan Tutte, Sesto La Clemenza di Tito, Ghost in Sir Harrison Birtwistles The Last Supper, Pauline The Queen of Spades and Varvara Katya Kabanova. Engagements for other companies include Rosina The Barber of Seville English Touring Opera, Dorabella Cosi fan Tutte Holland Park Festival, Madame de Croissy Les Dialogues des Carmelites Aldebrugh Festival, Laura Luisa Miller Chelsea Opera Group, The Hostess Boris Godunov New Sussex Opera with John Tomlinson in the title role, Suzuki Madam Butterfly for New Devon Opera. Understudies at ENO - Ofglen Handmaids Tale (UK Premiere), Emilia Otello, Charlotte Die Soldaten (UK Premiere) and Dresser/Schoolboy/Waiter Lulu. Alison has recorded the role of Wirtin in Korngolds Die Katrin with Martyn Brabbins and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Outside Opera, Alison has been a member of the BBC Northern Singers and is an experienced Oratorio singer. In 1997 she was the alto soloist in the Russian Premiere of Sir Michael Tippetts A Child of Our Time with the Choir and Orchestra of the St Petersburg Philharmonic. Other concert engagements include Mozarts Requiem with Leonard Slatkin and The Philharmonia at the Brighton Festival and with Andre Bernard at the Festival de Musique dAuch, Handels Messiah in Madrid and Singapore, Berliozs Lenfance du Christ conductor Sian Edwards at Dartington, Vivaldis Gloria with the ECO, Handels Samson at the Snape Proms, Mahlers Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen at the Edinburgh Festival, Beethovens Choral Symphony No. 9 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Bachs Christmas Oratorio at the Queens Hall Edinburgh and John Dankworths Thy Kingdom Gone for alto solo with the London Mozart Players at St Johns Smith Square. Alison has also sung a series of concerts with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, conductor Adrian Leaper. Recent engagements include de Fallas El amor brujo at Dartington. |