Gail Pearson

Gail Pearson made her professional debut as Gilda in Rigoletto for Welsh National Opera at the age of twenty-three. She has since sung many roles for the company, including Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Musetta in La bohème, Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Despina in Così fan tutte and Frasquita in Carmen.
At the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, her numerous roles include Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Pernille in Maskarade and Jano in Jenůfa.

Gail has been a regular principal at English National Opera, performing a wide range of roles in operas from Purcell and Handel to David Sawer. She created the role of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin in the world premiere of Sally Beamish’s Monster for Scottish Opera, a company for whom she has also sung Pamina in The Magic Flute and Asteria in Tamerlano.
Other UK engagements include Lisette in La rondine for Opera North; Agilea in Teseo and Sophie in Werther for English Touring Opera; and Woglinde and Waldvogel in Longborough Festival Opera’s Ring Cycle.

Gail enjoys performing on the recital platform and has had the pleasure of collaborating with Gerald Martin Moore, Michael Pollock, Phillip Thomas, Christopher Williams and Llŷr Williams. Alongside her performing career, she has taught singing and given masterclasses for many years.

She has been a vocal tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama for over twenty years, a role she enjoys immensely. She is vocal coach to the BBC National Chorus of Wales and is also an experienced adjudicator.

Highlights of her international work include Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress for Nantes-Angers Opéra; Arbate in Mitridate at the Théâtre du Châtelet; Erste Knappe and Blumenmädchen in Parsifal at the Opéra de Paris (Bastille); Jano at the Opéra de Lyon; and Oberto in Alcina for Opernhaus Zürich.

Her extensive concert work includes performances with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, BBC NOW and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of conductors including Sir Charles Mackerras, Richard Hickox and Wolfgang Sawallisch.

Gail’s recordings include Iris and Semele (Christian Curnyn), Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos (Sir Richard Armstrong), and Jano (Sir Bernard Haitink).