Allison Cook

Mezzo-soprano

Allison Cook is consolidating an impressive international reputation, with recent highlights including Angelina in Rossini’s La Cenerentola for Shanghai International Arts Center, Adalgisa in Norma in Holland, Baba the Turk in The Rakes’ Progress in Paris, and her critically-acclaimed creation of the role of Maria in Music Theatre Wales’ production of For You, a chamber opera by Michael Berkeley. Future engagements for this multi-facetted artist include the role of Melissa in Anthony Turnage’s new opera Anna Nicole, for the Royal Opera Covent Garden.

Ms Cook’s significant appearances have included the world premiere of Peter Eötvös’ Le Balcon at Aix-en-Provence, Sister Mathilde in Poulenc’s Les dialogues des Carmélites for Opéra National du Rhin, Esquire and Flowermaiden in Parsifal, and Garcias in Don Quichotte, both at L’Opéra de la Bastille Paris, Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos for Opéra National du Rhin, as well as the roles of Valetto and Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea in Aix-en-Provence, conducted by Marc Minkowski. Other appearances have included Vienna, Amsterdam, Toulouse, Opéra National de Paris, and Opéra de Nancy, where she appeared as Der Trommler in Der Kaiser von Atlantis. In addition, she sang the title role in L’incoronazione di Poppea for Aix en Provence, Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress in Portugal and France. With Glyndebourne on Tour, the mezzo appeared in the title role in Bizet’s Carmen and as Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Other appearances of note have included the title-role in John Browne’s Babette’s Feast and Kate Julian in Britten’s Owen Wingrave for the Linbury Studio of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

In 2009, Ms Cook sang the role of Amastre in Handel’s Serse for Opera Theatre Company, Ireland, in addition to covering the role of Countess Geschwitz for the Royal Opera’s production of Lulu, and a gala of Zarzuela with the Münchner Symphoniker. Her concert appearances have included the Savonnlinna Festival and BBC Proms, where she sang Vaughan-Williams’ Serenade to Music with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.