Helena Dix

Helena Dix (born 26 May 1979) is an Australian operatic soprano and specialist in bel canto roles. In 2005 Dix represented Australia in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.[1] She was awarded as an associate of The Royal Academy of Music in 2015 for her significant contribution to the music industry.[2]

Early life and education

Dix was born in Melbourne, Australia. She attended Caulfield Grammar School and gained a scholarship to Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music, where she studied with her first teacher Margaret Nisbett OBE.[3] She went on to do a postgraduate diploma in opera at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she held an ABRSM scholarship and studied with Elizabeth Ritchie.[3][4]

Career

Dix's operatic repertoire includes the title role in Cristina Regina di Svezia for Wexford Festival Opera, Oldenburgisches Staatstheater and Chelsea Opera Group.[5][6] Elettra in Idomeneo and Odabella in Attila for Staatstheatrer Nurnberg and Theatre Lubreck.[7][8] Gioconda in La Gioconda for Proyecto Ópera Universidad de Valladolid, Flowermaiden in Parsifal for English National Opera, Elvira (cover) in Ernani for The Metropolitan Opera, Isabella in Das Liebesverbot for Chelsea Opera Group.[9][10][11] Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow for Scottish Opera where she has also covered Frasquita in Carmen and Karolina in The Two Widows.[12] Also, Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro and Nella in Gianni Schicchi for The Opera Project.[13]

In 2014 Dix was nominated in the Best Young Singer category in The International Opera Awards.[14]

Dix returned to Australia to star in her first staged Wagner role Elsa in Lohengrin and also appeared in a production of Roberto Devereux by Melbourne Opera.[15][16]

In April 2020, Dix contracted Covid-19 which developed complications which required her to be hospitalised.[17]

Critical reception

Her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in Roberto Devereux received positive reviews. Rob Holdsworth wrote that she was "The most exciting voice since Sutherland"[15] and The Age wrote:

The Australian-born soprano sang one of opera's most demanding roles flawlessly, from florid coloratura to (literally) high drama via ravishingly delicate pianissimos. But what was most extraordinarily impressive was her acting, vocally and physically, by turns a termagant, fragile, nervous, regal, vulnerable – a woman in love with a man 30 years younger, rightly doubting that it is requited. Dix gets 8 out of 5 stars.[18]

The Arts Desk praised her performance in Das Liebesverbot:

In Wagner Dix seems to me more impressive, personable and occasionally witty in this demented role which veers from Beethoven's Leonore – to bel canto heroine and even French comic minx .The gleaming if slightly metallic middle register gives great focus to intelligent recitative, and all the top notes work for her.[19]

References
  1. "2005 - The Final, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World - 2005 competitors". BBC. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  2. "2016 Honours are announced - Royal Academy of Music". www.ram.ac.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  3. "Australia: Helena Dix". BBC. 1 July 2005. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. "Associated Board Annual Review 2003" (PDF). ABRSM. 2004. p. 26. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  5. "Programm | Archiv | Archiv 16/17 | Wiederaufnahmen | Oper | Cristina, Regina Di Svezia | Oldenburgisches Staatstheater". staatstheater.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  6. "Chelsea Opera Group". Cadogan Hall. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  7. Nürnberg, Staatstheater. "Attila | Staatstheater Nürnberg". www.staatstheater-nuernberg.de (in German). Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  8. "Diary: Theater Lübeck". operabase.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  9. Castilla, El Norte de. "La JOUVA elige La Gioconda para su décimo Proyecto Ópera". www.elnortedecastilla.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  10. "English National Opera – Parsifal @www.classicalsource.com". Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  11. "Chelsea Opera Group Chorus and Orchestra". Cadogan Hall. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  12. Design, Site Buddha Web. "Lustige Witwe 2008 | Tour | Opera Scotland". www.operascotland.org. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  13. http://britozsoc.org/, Britain-Australia Society -. "Marriage of Figaro – West Green House Opera". britain-australia.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  14. "Stuart Skelton and Barrie Kosky win at Opera Awards - Limelight". Limelight. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  15. Holdsworth, Rob. "Roberto Devereux (Melbourne Opera)". Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  16. "Lohengrin | Melbourne Opera". www.melbourneopera.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  17. https://www.smh.com.au/national/opera-singer-among-those-hit-by-covid-19-blood-clot-mystery-20200428-p54nts.html
  18. Zwartz, Barney (2017-11-12). "Melbourne opera - Roberto Devereux: Helena Dix imbues work with real credibility". The Age. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  19. "Das Liebesverbot, Chelsea Opera Group, Cadogan Hall | The Arts Desk". www.theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
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