Lesley Garrett

Current Role

Lesley Garret is currently set to star in the high profile revival of the classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical Carousel. As one of the most respected and best-loved sopranos in the world, Garrett commands quite a following amongst theatre goers and opera buffs alike and is fast becoming one of the most famous and bankable names in the business. Since her career began in opera and musical theatre nearly 30 years ago, Garrett now has a blossoming career on television and has released many popular and critically acclaimed musical recordings. She will play the pivotal role of 'Nettie' in Carousel which is set to premiere at The Savoy Theatre in London on the 22nd November.

Early Life

Garrett was born in the town of Thorne in South Yorkshire. Coming from very musical stock, one of Lesley's grandfathers was a classical pianist whilst the other had his own skiffle group. "I just knew", she later recalled, "that I had to sing." Enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music after completing her A Levels, Lesley graduated and was awarded the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Prize in 1981. This prestigious accolade obviously helped launch her career and she appeared in a string of celebrated opera productions including Serse, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and Die Feldmaus by Johann Strauss.

Clearly an immensely talented soprano, Lesley Garrett's career quickly took off and it wasn't long before she was booked to perform at venues throughout Europe, the United States and all over the world, appearing in productions in as far afield as Russia, South Korea and Brazil.

Career Highlights

For years Lesley Garrett has been one of the most successful sopranos in the world. Celebrated turns in some of the most famous operas and musicals of all time, Garrett can truly be described as being one of the most pre-eminent performers of her generation.

Garrett has performed alongside popstars like Bryan Ferry and The Eurythmics. On New Year's Eve, 1999, she performed in the grounds of the Royal Observatory with Mick Hucknell and his band Simply Red.

Lesley played 'Hanna Glawari' in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the UK in 2005 to great acclaim. In November 2006 Garrett took on the role of 'Mother Abbess' in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.

Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for her services to music.

Interesting Facts

• Took make ends meet one summer when she was 19, Lesley worked in the officers' mess at RAF Lindholme. She received two marriage proposals.
• She trained at the Royal Academy of Music with Eurthymics vocalist Annie Lennox/
• Garrett is a regular on C4's flagship quiz show Countdown in Dictionary Corner. She was once even considered for the role of guest presenter but the idea was scrapped in favour of booking full time host Des Lynam.

Awards

Lesley has one many awards in her much decorated career. The most prestigious include:

• The Decca Prize of the Kathleen Ferrier Award in 1979
• The CBE for her services to music