Sian Winstanley was born in Cardiff and graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama with a B.Mus and an M.Mus.degree.
Her operatic performances include Queen of the Night and Papagena in The Magic Flute and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro for Opera A La Carte. She has also understudied the roles of Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress, Clorinda in La Cenerentola for Garsington Opera andMichel in Handel’s Saul at Buxton Festival Opera.
Sian has performed in several contemporary operasincluding Lead Child in John Hardy’s The Roswell Incident for Music Theatre Wales, Lead Child in the children’s opera The Raven King at The Gate Arts Centre in Cardiff and has understudied various roles in in Brian Irvine’s Postcards from Dumbworld for Bampton Classical Opera.
Concert highlights include Britten’s Les Illuminations in Granada with the Granada Symphony Orchestra conducted by Harry Christophers, a concert of music by Handel at the Brecon Baroque Festival, Bach Mass in B Minor with the English Symphony Orchestra and Elgar Chorale and Handel's Messiah with Cantemus.
Forthcoming plans include Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance for Scottish Opera.
Bach
Mass in B Minor
Bach
St John's Passion
Bach
St Matthew Passion
Bach
Jauchzett Gott
Beethoven
Choral Fantasie
Beethoven
Symphony No 9
Britten
Les Illuminations
Bruckner
Missa Solemnis
Elgar
The Kingdom
Fauré
Requiem
Handel
Messiah
Handel
Saeviat Tellis
Haydn
Creation
Haydn
Nelson Mass
Haydn
Harmonie Mass
Holst
The Yellow Wallpaper
Mendelssohn
Hor mein bitten
Mendelssohn
Elijah
Mozart
Mass in C
Mozart
Requiem
Mozart
Exultate Jubilate
Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Schubert
Mass in A flat
Verdi
Requiem
Vivaldi
Laudate Pueri
Vivaldi
Gloria
Beethoven
Choral Fantasie
Britten
Les Illuminations
Holst
The Yellow Wallpaper
Mendelssohn
Hor mein bitten
Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Burtch
The Raven KingLead Child
Handel
SaulMichel
Hardy
The Rosewell IncidentLead Child
Mozart
The Magic FluteQueen of the Night
Mozart
The Magic FlutePapagena
Mozart
Le Nozze di FigaroBarbarina
Mozart
Le Nozze di FigaroCountess
Rossini
La CenerentolaClorinda
Stravinsky
The Rake's ProgressAnne Trulove
Burtch
The Raven King
Lead Child
Hardy
The Rosewell Incident
Lead Child
Mozart
The Magic Flute
Queen of the Night
Mozart
The Magic Flute
Papagena
Mozart
Le Nozze di Figaro
Barbarina
Mozart
Le Nozze di Figaro
Countess
Rossini
La Cenerentola
Clorinda
Stravinsky
The Rake's Progress
Anne Trulove
Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute for Opera a la Carte
Classical Source
I was rather hoping that the matron Queen of the Night would turn out to be a Carry On-style gorgon, but any minor disappointment was annihilated by the thrilling voice and definitely non-gorgon presence of Sian Winstanley, who in her two arias delivered the goods in terms of range and pin-point clear coloratura.
Lunchtime concert at Chapel of Christ College with Baroque guitarist, Stephen Gordon
Early Music Magazine
"The featured young singer was the Welsh soprano Sian Winstanley who gave an outstanding lunchtime concert in the chilly mediaeval Chapel of Christ College with baroque guitarist Stephen Gordon and songs from Shakespeare by Morley, Dowland, Purcell and Arne. Although she is making her way on the opera circuit, her voice proved to be adept at this repertoire, producing a beautifully clean and focussed tone with perfect intonation, well-articulated runs, effective ornamentation (she is a rare example of a singer who can trill properly, rather than just wobbling) and with vibrato used, quite correctly, as an occasional ornamental device. She used subtle rhythmic inflexions most effectively, notably in the opening ‘It was a lover’, and also demonstrated her ability to sing at the extremes of her range with equal conviction. She also managed some beautiful low and soto voce endings to a couple of pieces, retaining both tone and timbre throughout – not easy to do. Alongside her impressive vocal qualities, she is also a consummate performer with an engaging stage presence, appearing relaxed and approachable in these rather exposed surroundings."
Handel’s Messiah at Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff
The Times
"wholly admirable"
Countess in The Marriage of Figaro for Opera’r Ddraig
Buzz
"Reaching high and powerful notes with apparent ease and control, she has completely captured the grace and condescending manner of the Countess"
Countess in The Marriage of Figaro for Opera’r Ddraig
The Arts Desk
"Sian Winstanley was a fine Countess, with a lovely top to her voice and a touching, dignified stage presence"
