Biography
Biography
First-prize winner of the 2022 Concurso Tenor Viñas competition in Barcelona, rising star Soprano Gemma Summerfield has made a name for herself as one of the most exciting young artists of today. The 2024–2025 season sees Ms Summerfield make her role debut as Liù in Andrei Serban’s dazzling production of (Turandot, at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden). She also returns to Staatsoper Hamburg to reprise the role of Erste Dame in Jette Steckel’s production of (Die Zauberflöte).
With a love of concert performance, she has recently performed at Wigmore Hall and at the finals concert of the Concurso Tenor Viñas competition, returned to the Hallé for a concert performance of Elgar’s (The Kingdom) in Manchester, and made her debut with the Bergen Philharmonic performing and recording Delius’s (Mass of Life).
Recent opera performances have seen Ms Summerfield make role and house debuts as Erste Dame in (Die Zauberflöte at Staatsoper Hamburg), and as Ulana in a prize-winning staging of (Manru at Opéra National de Lorraine).
Highlights on the operatic stage include Fiordiligi in (Così fan Tutte at Opéra national du Rhin), Pamina in (The Magic Flute at Glyndebourne and Scottish Opera), Mimì in (La Bohème at Northern Ireland Opera), Nanetta in (Falstaff at Scottish Opera), Paula Jordan in (Dinner at Eight at Wexford Festival Opera) (European premiere), Gretel in (Hänsel und Gretel), Rosalinde in (Die Fledermaus), Ginevra in (Ariodante), Donna Elvira in (Don Giovanni), the title role in (Rodelinda (cover) at English National Opera), and Michal in (Saul (cover) at Glyndebourne Festival Opera).
Ms Summerfield consistently proves her capabilities on platforms around the world. In recent recitals, she has performed throughout the UK, as well as in Norway, Canada, and Denmark. Oratorio performances include Beethoven in Switzerland, Bach in Beirut, and Mozart at Westminster Abbey. She has enjoyed repeat performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozart Concert Orchestra, and in recital.
Ms Summerfield was awarded First Prize in the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino 2019, the Duo Prize with Sebastian Wybrew at the 2017 Wigmore Hall Song Competition, ‘swept the board’ at the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Awards, winning both First Prize and the Loveday Song Prize, and was the only British finalist in the inaugural Glyndebourne Cup and the 2018 Concours Musical International de Montréal.
Also a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, having been awarded the Silver Medal, Ms Summerfield holds the current Susan Chilcott Award, administered by the Royal Philharmonic Society, and is a Carne Scholar. She previously graduated from the Royal College of Music International Opera Studio, and continues to work closely with Rosa Mannion.
