Winner of the 2017 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Main Prize and joint winner of the Song Prize, Scottish mezzo Catriona Morison is the first British artist to win this highly coveted award. Last season a member of the ensemble at Oper Wuppertal, her season 2018-19 return includes her role debut as Charlotte Werther to open the season and Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro to close the season. Other opera highlights include her house debut at Bergen Nasjonale Opera in the role of Charlotte Werther.
On the concert platform the artist makes her Wigmore Hall recital debut as a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist. She travels to Scotland for performances of Shéhérazade with Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Thomas Søndergård before returning to Germany and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Heidelberg to perform Chausson’s Poème de l'amour et de la mer. Back in the UK, Ms Morison joins the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Ethel Smyth's Mass in D conducted by Sakari Oramo at the Barbican, a piece she later revives with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, followed by Handel’s Messiah with the Huddersfield Choral Society.
In the New Year, Morison performs Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Thomas Søndergård and later with Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal conducted by Julia Jones. Performances of Bach’s St Matthew Passion follow with MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and again with Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal. Back in the UK she sings Duruflé’s Requiem with Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.
This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced.
Werther, Bergen National Opera
February 2019
Catriona Morison, 2017’s Cardiff Singer of the World, conveyed Charlotte’s dilemma with great sensitivity, modulating her voice to consistently expressive effect in the middle and lower registers and making a touching transition from gauche if charming girl to suffering woman.
Opera Magazine, Yehuda Shapiro, June 2019
Werther, Wuppertaler Bühnen
September 2018
First class were Tenor Sangmin Jeon and mezzo soprano Catriona Morison. Thanks to their viable and balanced voices in all respects, they brought the emotional state of Werther and Charlotte to bear fruitfully. Their arias and duets in the third and fourth act were electrifying and touching.
Westdeutsche Zeitung, Hartmut Sassenhausen, 9 September 2018
Recital Première in Edinburgh
January 2018
...with a wide range of material showcasing her gift of inhabiting a song and completely owning it in performance...Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn...perfectly suiting Morison’s strong, rich, earthy timbre, but each (movement) with an individuality that was well-crafted...Morison drawing us in by her changing dynamic...relishing the playful runs, her mischievous grin radiating warmth...
Five romantic poems from Brahms ended the first half...her voice was a study in control, holding us completely spellbound...demonstrating a generous vocal range and unleashing a sense of passion. She seemed to be especially enjoying this repertoire...demonstrating intelligent phrasing and extraordinary control...
Claire Liddell’s arrangement of Scots songs: “Scot’s Wha Hae”, “Comin Thro’ the Rye” and “Ye banks and braes o bonnie Doon” were delivered with sparkly panache.
Bachtrack, David Smyth, January 2018
Hänsel und Gretel, Opernhaus Wuppertal
December 2017
Catriona Morison is Hänsel with fresh well understandable Mezzo
IOCO Culture on the Net, Viktor Jarosch, December 2017
Catriona Morison (Hänsel) recently won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Her mezzo shines and shines. From this Octavian-flaming voice you might hear much more in the future.
Der Opernfreund, Christoph Zimmermann, December 2017
...and the great Catriona Morison turns the Hansel with a clear Mezzo into a boy on the cusp of adulthood.
Westfalenpost, Monika Willer, December 2017
Catriona Morison and Ralitsa Ralinova vocally and visually make a good sibling. Morison puts on the Hansel with a cheeky game that makes it very clear that he (still) finds girls "stupid", and obviously enjoys teasing Gretel. Morison Mezzo sounds warm and youthful....Ralinova's soprano and Morison's Mezzo find their enchanting intimacy during the "Evening Blessing"...
Online Musik Magazin, Thomas Molke, December 2017
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017
St. David's Hall, Cardiff, June 2017
To secure the prize, Ms. Morison sang selections from Rossini (“Tancredi”), Strauss (“Der Rosenkavalier”), Ravel (“L’Heure Espagnole”) and Purcell (“Dido and Aeneas”) with a silky, lightly smoky tone, easygoing dramatic flair and unflappable poise.
The New York Times, Zachary Woolfe, 19 June 2017
She’s a singer of much character, real musical intelligence
The Guardian, Rian Evans, 19 June 2017
...a rich sounds with some Dame Janet moments. She was at her most impressive in the Song Prize final of two nights earlier, when she shared first place. In Schoenberg and in Lieder, the depth of her engagement with both words and music held one in the moment.
Opera, Rian Evans, 19 June 2017
The Fairy Queen
Oper Wuppertal, January 2017
Amongst the six singers Catriona Morison stood out with wide range achieving a depth of vocal warmth and radiance that otherwise was lacking in the world of Aschemond.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, January 2017
The Love for Three Oranges
Opernhaus Wuppertal, October 2016
Simon Stricker as Leander and Catriona Morison as Complain Clarice give a well-coordinated pair of crooks on an excellent vocal level.
Opernnetz, Pedro Obiera, 29 October 2016
The mezzosopranos Catriona Morison (Clarice) and Chariklia Mavropoulou (Fata Morgana) convince with clear voices...
Westdeutsche Zeitung, Hartmut Sassenhausen, October 2016
Hoffmanns Erzählungen
Oper Wuppertal, September 2016
Catriona Morison is a great discovery, a singer with huge charisma and downright angelically guided mezzo soprano.
Concerti, Andreas Falentin, September 2016
The Scottish mezzo soprano Catriona Morison is justly celebrated as Nicklausse/Voice of Antonia’s mother (as an angel with only one wing), in particular delivering the Violin Aria with a beguiling warmth.
Online Merker, Christoph Zimmermann, September 2016.
Catriona Morison's Opera Repertoire
| BIZET | Carmen (Mèrcédes) |
|---|---|
| BRITTEN | A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia) |
| EVERS | Gold! (Jacob) |
| HUMPERDINK | Hänsel und Gretel (title) |
| MASSENET | Werther (Charlotte) |
| MONTEVERDI | L’incoronazione di Poppea (Nerone) |
| MOZART | Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella) |
| OFFENBACH | Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Nicklausse, La mère d’Antonia) |
| PROKOFIEV | The Love for Three Oranges (Princess Clarice) |
| R. STRAUSS | Rosenkavalier (Annina) |
| VERDI | Rigoletto (Maddalena) |
Roles marked with * are currently in preparation. |
Catriona Morison's Concert Repertoire
| BACH | Christmas Oratorio St Matthew Passion St John Passion Magnificat B Minor Mass |
|---|---|
| BEETHOVEN | Symphony No.9 |
| CHAUSSON | Poème de l'amour et de la mer |
| DURUFLE | Requiem |
| ELGAR | Sea Pictures |
| HANDEL | Dixit Dominus |
| HAYDN | Nelson Mass |
| E.T.A. HOFFMANN | Miserere |
| MAHLER | Des Knaben Wunderhorn Rückert-Lieder |
| MENDELSSOHN | Elijah |
| MOZART | Requiem |
| PERGOLESI | Stabat Mater |
| RAVEL | Shéhérazade |
| ROSSINI | Petite Messe Solennelle |
| SMYTH | Mass in D |
| VAUGHAN WILLIAMS | Serenade to Music |
| VIVALDI | Gloria |
