Soprano Menna Cazel is from Pontypridd, South Wales and she graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she was taught by John Llewelyn Evans. She subsequently completed her Master’s degree in Operatic Studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater ‘Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in Leipzig, taught by Dr. Jeanette Favaro-Reuter. During 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, Menna was a member of the Young Artist Ensemble at the Dresden Semperoper. She has won many prizes including the inaugural ‘Voice of the Future’ competition at the 2013 Llangollen International Eisteddfod and the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2012. She won 2nd prize in the “Ton und Erklärung” des Kulturkreises der Deutschen Wirtschaft competition and has been a semi-finalist in the 37th International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Latvia, the 51st International Vocal Competition’s-Hertogenbosch and the Das Lied Competition.
This season, Menna made her role debut as Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer at Landesbuhnen Sächsen. Other recent engagements include Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte and Marie in Spoliansky‘s Wie Werd Ich Reich und Glücklich at the Semperoper in Dresden. In 2019, Menna made her house debut for Staatsoper Hamburg as Frasquita in Carmen. She has performed the roles of Hl. Katharina in Walter Braunfels's Szenen aus dem Leben der Heiligen Johanna and Iza in Offenbach’s La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein for Oper Köln having made her house and role début as Pousette in Massenet’s Manon in 2018 for the company. Other roles in Dresden include Frasquita in a new production of Carmen, Die Amme in Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse, Maddalena in Il viaggio a Reims, Atala in Offenbach’s Häuptling Abending, Prinzessin von Carignan in Friedrich Goldmann’s R. Hot bzw. Die Hitze, Ännchen in Der Freischütz and Slave in Salome. As a Young Ensemble Artist in Dresden , her roles included Berta in Il Barbiere di Sivilglia, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. Menna made her professional operatic début in 2014 as Erste Blumenmädchen in Parsifal at Oper Leipzig.
Concert highlights include Beethoven 9 Symphony with the Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Stéphane Denève, Mozart Requiem with the Orchestre de Bretagne in Rennes conducted by Grant Llewelyn, a St David’s Day Gala with Sir Bryn Terfel and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Gareth Jones at St David’s Hall, Cardiff and the ’Spirit of Unity’ concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod conducted by Anthony Gabriele (both concerts televi for S4C). She appeared as a guest soloist again with Sir Bryn Terfel at the Bristol Proms and she also performed a song recital with Eugene Asti at the Pontio Arts Centre in Bangor, North Wales. Menna was a guest soloist with Sir Bryn Terfel for his Christmas television programme for S4C in 2013.
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Bizet
CarmenFrasquita
Braunfels
Jeanne D'Arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen JohannaHl. Katharina
Friedrich Goldmann
R. Hot bzw. Die HitzePrinzessin von Carignan, Buhlerin
Gilbert & Sullivan
Trial by JuryThe Plaintiff
Humperdinck
Hänsel und GretelTaumännchen (Dew Fairy); Sandmännchen (Sandman)
Lortzing
UndineUndine
Mozart
Le nozze di FigaroBarbarina
Mozart
Die Zauberföte Pamina, Erste Dame (First Lady), Papagena
Offenbach
La Grande-Duchesse De GérolsteinIza
Puccini
Turandot Liu (studied)
Rossini
Il viaggio a ReimsMaddalena
Rossini
Il Barbiere di SivigliaBerta
Strauss, Richard
SalomeA Slave
Toch
Die Prinzessin auf der ErbseDie Amme
Verdi
Don CarloStimme von oben (A Voice from Heaven)
Wagner
ParsifalFirst Flower Maiden
Weber
Der FreischützÄnnchen
Braunfels
Jeanne D'Arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen Johanna
Hl. Katharina
Friedrich Goldmann
R. Hot bzw. Die Hitze
Prinzessin von Carignan, Buhlerin
Gilbert & Sullivan
Trial by Jury
The Plaintiff
Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel
Taumännchen (Dew Fairy); Sandmännchen (Sandman)
Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Barbarina
Mozart
Die Zauberföte
Pamina, Erste Dame (First Lady), Papagena
Offenbach
La Grande-Duchesse De Gérolstein
Iza
Puccini
Turandot
Liu (studied)
Rossini
Il viaggio a Reims
Maddalena
Rossini
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Berta
Strauss, Richard
Salome
A Slave
Toch
Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
Die Amme
Verdi
Don Carlo
Stimme von oben (A Voice from Heaven)
Wagner
Parsifal
First Flower Maiden
Weber
Der Freischütz
Ännchen
Opera
Undine
Undine in Undine for Hochscule für Musik und Theater, Leipzig, 2012
Leipziger Volkszeitung
The two main artists, delivered a real surprise with their remarkable understanding of their vocal mastery. The aria " So wise, dass in allen Elementen" is sung with such ease, clarity and security in the high register, that you would never believe that she is still only a student. She quite rightly received full applause for this scene.
Jeanne D'arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen Johanna
Holy Katharina in Jeanne D'arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen Johanna by Walter Braunfels for Oper Köln, June 2019
Das Opernglas
In particular, the voluptuous, charming and pithy soprano of Menna Cazel (Holy Katharina) stirs attention.
Jeanne D'arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen Johanna
Holy Katharina in Jeanne D'arc - Szenen Aus Dem Leben Der Heiligen Johanna by Walter Braunfels for Opera Köln, June 2019
ResMusica
... and even more noticeable is St Catherine, thanks to the flamboyant highs of Menna Cazel.
Manon
Pousette in Manon for Oper Köln, March 2018
bachtrack
The trio of ladies (Menna Cazel, Marta Wryk and Dara Savinova) were vocally tight
Manon
Pousette in Manon for Oper Köln, March 2018
klassik.com
Convincing also the lively performance of Menna Cazel, Marta Wryk and Dara Savinova as prostitutes of the Parisian luxury life.
Le nozze di Figaro
Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro with Semperoper Dresden, April 2016
Opera Lounge
Ungewöhnlich ist die derb-dralle Barbarina von Menna Cazel, doch überrascht das Mitglied Junges Ensemble Semperoper mit feinem Sopran und trägt ihre “Nadel”- Arie mit reizenden Nuancen vor. (The tough boxum Barbarina, presented by Menna Cazel (a member of the Junges Ensemble) surprises with fine soprano and presents her “Nadel”- Arie with lovely nuances.)
R. Hot bzw die Hitze (The Hot)
Prinzessin von Carignan/Buhlerin in R. Hot bzw die Hitze with Semperoper Dresden, December 2015
NMZ online
Menna Cazel nimmt die Aufschwünge und Linien als Prinzessin mit konditionierten Linienbögen und legt in ihrem Kurzauftritt als Buhlerin absichtlich charakterisierende Schärfen.
R. Hot bzw die Hitze (The Hot)
Prinzessin von Carignan/Buhlerin in R. Hot bzw die Hitze with Semperoper Dresden, December 2015
Mehrlich. Musik Kultur
Die Britin Menna Cazel (Junges Ensemble der Semperoper) glänzt mit idealisiertem Mädchen-Pink, aber auch mit bezirzender Stimmkunst. (The Briton Menna Cazel (Junges Ensemble of Semperoper) shines with idealized girly pink but also with a lovely vocal performance.)
R. Hot bzw die Hitze (The Hot)
Prinzessin von Carignan/Buhlerin in R. Hot bzw die Hitze with Semperoper Dresden, December 2015
Die Tageszeitung Junge
Tenor Martin Koch meisterte die stimmlich geradezu waghalsigen Passagen seiner Rolle als Robert Hot auf bewundernswerte Weise. Auf Augenhöhe begegnete ihm als selbstsichere, zielstrebige Prinzessin die Britin Menna Cazel, die ihre Partie mit leuchtendem Sopran und wendigem Spiel differenziert gestaltete".
(Self-confident, determined princess, Briton Menna Cazel counters him [Martin Kock] in an equivalent way and shaped her role with shiny soprano and agile play.
R. Hot bzw die Hitze (The Hot)
Prinzessin von Carignan/Buhlerin in R. Hot bzw die Hitze with Semperoper Dresden, December 2015
Musik in Dresden
Die aus einer Vision hervorwachsende Prinzessin aus dem Aus-Land (mit der Britin Menna Cazel vorzüglich besetzt). (Growing from a vision the princess from abroad (excellent manned with the Briton Menna Cazel)).
Competitions
Thelma King Award for Singers: Bath, March 2013
The Bath Chronicle
The winner of the £250 Art Song prize was soprano Menna Cazel Davies from South Wales with a sumptuous rendering of Schubert’s Heib mich nicht redden, legato and beautifully tender, in contrast to a lively extrovert Mendelssohn song and a dramatic Mozart aria, Come Scoglio from Cosi, bursting with dramatic intensity. Great singing.
Winner of Young Musician of the Year, November 2007
Wales Online
Musical Menna is right on song