Sarah Connolly

Career Trajectory

From her foundation in the BBC Singers and Glyndebourne Chorus, Sarah Connolly emerged as a solo artist of commanding presence, achieving breakthrough recognition with her portrayal of Xerxes in the 1998 English National Opera production of Handel's *Serse*. Over two decades, she has become the preeminent mezzo-soprano of her era, equally at home in baroque heroines, classical Mozart, and Wagnerian dramatic roles, performing at every major opera house from the Metropolitan Opera to Bayreuth. Her artistry—characterized by vocal purity, dramatic intelligence, and scholarly depth—culminated in her appointment as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2017, cementing her legacy as one of the finest singers of the 21st century.