Sophia
About
Sophia Grech is an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano with a career spanning three decades. She has been featured and reviewed in the world’s press including newspapers and magazines, having also given television and radio interviews. She has won great acclaim for her performances at leading concert halls, opera houses and international festivals worldwide, leading to regular invitations to give masterclasses around the world since graduating from the Royal College of Music in 1995. In 2015 Sophia was diagnosed with autism and is now an appointed Ambassador on behalf of associated organisations worldwide alongside her artistic career. Sophia's book, titled 'I Wish I Could Sing' (a singing guide for amateurs), was published by Olympia in 2020 and in 2023 was also published and launched in Malta by the Maltese Central Government - Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, for which Sophia has been appointed Ambassador for Autism.
Sophia is described by Decca Records as "an excellent artist with a lovely overall colour to her voice and a strong projection throughout a considerable range" and by The Sunday Times as "a singer who delivers without effort". Sophia is equally at home in opera and as a committed concert artist performing countless recitals internationally. She has given concerts and recitals at most of the UK's prestigious venues, from the Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall, to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Birmingham NEC; regularly collaborating with a number of exceptional artists including guitarist Milos Karadaglic, legendary baroque trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins, pianist Eleonora Bekova from the celebrated Bekova trio, award-winning pianist Sanja Stefanovic and renowned American trumpeter John Holt. Sophia has also appeared at leading opera houses including the Royal Opera House, Teatro Real Madrid, the Maltese National Teatru Manoel (Opera BOV), Lyon Opera House and others. Her operatic performances range from countless baroque to contemporary roles; with her favourite role being Carmen, The Sunday Times highlighted her performance as "fiery and elegant". Other roles, to name a few include, Il Gara in Charles Camilleri's opera Il Wheda, Sadie in Roxanna Panufnik's opera Timepiece, Charlotte in Werther, Mercedes in Carmen, Rosina in Il barbiere de Seviglia, Dejanira in Hercules, Dalila in Samson et Dalila, Cherubino in Le Nozze Di Figaro and Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte.
Recitals at international festivals include the English Music Festival (UK), Great Romantics Festival (Canada), Prague Spring Festival (Czech Republic), Barcelona International Festival, Malta National Festival, Victoria International Arts Festival (Gozo, Malta), Festival Europa Classica Toro Del Mar (Spain), Kolarac International Concert Series (Serbia), Manchester Midday Concerts (UK), Edinburgh International Festival, Oklahoma State Music Series (US), International Festival Villa De Nerja (Spain), South Bohemia International Festival (Czech Republic), Steinway Hall Recital Series Texas (US), Guilford International Festival (UK), Music in Qiuet Places concert series (UK), Malaga Arts Festival (Spain), L'Escala-Empuries International Music Festival (Spain), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Music Series (US), La Linea International Music Festival (Spain), East Oklahoma Music Series (US), Buckingham Summer Festival (UK), Granada Arts Festival (Spain), Girona Music Festival (Spain) and many more. Sophia has also been invited to give recitals at Embassies in London including the Canadian, Maltese, Spanish, Serbian and Venezuelan Embassies.
On the concert platform Sophia has performed a number of song cycles, her favourite works include Elgar's Sea Pictures and Berlioz Les nuits d'été; under the baton of conductors Nicholas Collon and Sir Neville Marriner, De Falla's Siete Canciones Populares Espanolas at the Purcell Room, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Bolivar Hall with guitarist Milos Karadaglic and Cantaloupe's Songs of the Auvergne at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, presented by actor Robert Powell. Sophia has also appeared as a soloist in many of choral works including, Vivaldi Gloria with the Oxford Harmonic Society at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and the Royal Albert Hall, Mozart's Coronation Mass with the Malta National Orchestra and Chorus at the National Theatre Malta, Mozart's Requiem at Hanover Square London, with the Orpheus Sinfonia conducted by Andrew Gourlay and introduced by Dame Judi Dench, Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Malaga Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Spain), Rossini's Petite Messe, with the Oxford Harmonic Society in Oxford and countless others.
"In Maltese, Sophia has managed to adapt herself so tactfully in delivering Maltese language songs with diction and clarity that few can emulate."
The Sunday Times
Sophia has Maltese roots and has given concerts as well as dozens of television and radio interviews in Malta since the successful release of her solo album Mal-Kant Tal-Bahar (Songs & Dances from Malta). Performances include the National Theatre, with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, which was broadcast on television, and recitals at the Malta International Arts Festival and Victoria International Festival with pianist Eleonora Bekova. Guest performances also include concerts at other major venues in Malta including the Mediterranean Conference Centre with the National Symphony Orchestra of Bulgaria (Alan Chircop). In 2005 Sophia was invited to give a concert for the President of Malta at San Anton Palace.
Sophia has recorded for numerous recording companies and has given dozens of international tours, TV appearances and interviews since the successful release of a number of recordings. Sophia has a strong interest in contemporary music and has recorded contemporary works for Crystal Records in the United States with trumpeter John Holt - "Sophia Grech gets to the core of the Emily Dickinson texts with rich tonal shading and a deep feeling for the poetic essence." - Fanfare Magazine US. Other recordings include her solo album The Masters of Song, (Air-Edel) with pianist Jesus Carrasco; released in Spain, the album was sponsored and promoted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Sophia gave dozens of tours across Spain performing songs from the album to great critical acclaim. Sophia's Maltese recording was written for her by the celebrated Maltese composer Charles Camilleri with lyrics by Joe Friggieri, the album launch took place in the presence of the Maltese Prime Minister and was released to coincide with Malta joining the European Union. Sophia's American album, Facets 4 was recorded in the United States with trumpeter John Holt. The CD was released with the International Trumpet Guild and features the contemporary song cycle To Cast a Shadow Again, by American composer Eric Ewazen - professor at the Juilliard School in New York.
"The voice of celebrated singer Sophia Grech filled the auditorium with expressive vocal power."
The Spectator Magazine
Sophia has also sung at London's annual charity event The Story of Christmas Appeal in Mayfair supported by Westminster Cathedral Choir and alongside a host of famous actors including Benedict Cumberbatch, Aled Jones, Dan Stevens, Lesley Phillips, Geoffrey Palmer, David Bamber and Freddie Fox.
In 2016 Sophia was invited to sing alongside 20 international pianists at the Peter Fauchtwanger memorial concert at Elztalmuseum concert series in Waldkirch, Germany.
In recent years, Sophia's favourite performances have been concerts with her closest colleagues, including the Belgrade International Chamber Music Series at Kolarac Concert Hall, with concert pianist Sanja Stefanovic, (broadcast on National Radio Serbia), Spanish song recital with guitarist Milos Karadaglic at Bolivar Concert Hall in London, recital tour in the United States with trumpeter John Holt (Texas, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Missouri), Elgar's Sea Pictures with the LFO at Hanover Square in London conducted by Nicholas Collon and introduced by actor Charles Dance, concerts with trumpeter Crispian Steele-Perkins and the City Chamber Ensemble in London, Mozart's Requiem with The London Classical Soloists Orchestra and the London Mozart Choir, Opera Gala in France with London Early Opera and Mozart's Solemn Vespers and Requiem with the Oxford Harmonic Society. Sophia also regularly gives concerts as a member of the Crispian Steele-Perkins Trio, along with pianist Leslie Pearson, including concerts in the United States and more recently the trio was invited to give a concert at Highgrove House, the home of Prince Charles. Other recent highlights include performances and television interviews in Malta, in addition to featuring in the national press including The Times of Malta, The Independent on Sunday, In-Nazzjon and The Sunday Times of Malta. Sophia has also recently given a considerable number of international press interviews, including British newspaper the Daily Mail, iconic French newspaper Le Monde and Swiss national newspaper Le Temps. In addition to her performances, Sophia has been collaborating with BIAAE, Berklee College of Music in the USA, including appearing as a guest host on the recent ABLE Voices Podcast; Sophia has also given a recital for the 2022 Berklee Summer Music Program with pianist Sanja Stefanovic. More recently in the USA Sophia was delighted to work with Opera Maine on their 2023 production of Rocking Horse Winner; she is also pleased to be recently appointed International Ambassador for America's new pioneering organisation Angels' Castle in Ohio.
2023 has certainly proved to be yet another busy year for Sophia, as well as performances and a considerable number of media interviews, Sophia has also enjoyed a new book launch in Malta.
Sophia's book titled 'I Wish I Could Sing' was published by Olympia in 2020 and in 2023 her book was launched and published in Malta by the Maltese Central Government (Ministry for Inclusion and Voluntary Organisations) and in the Maltese language; Nixtieq Naf Inkanta.
Highlights for 2024 include performances worldwide, masterclasses and workshops, media interviews and the beginning of another exciting new book journey!
Sophia was regularly coached by Robert Sutherland, former coach and pianist to Maria Callas.
Sophia's pianist is the renowned concert pianist Sanja Stefanovic.