From Darkness to Light

Elizabeth Watts

Elizabeth Watts was a chorister at Norwich Cathedral and studied archaeology at Sheffield University before studying singing at the Royal College of Music in London.

25/26 highlights show her wide concert repertoire, ranging from Telemann Cantatas at the Wigmore Hall, Strauss Vier Letzte Lieder in Newbury, Brahms Requiem in Swansea with Thomas Zehetmair, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in London with Tan Dun, to performances of a new James MacMillan commission in Italy and London.

Elizabeth made her London sing-direct debut with the Britten Sinfonia in the 23/24 season with Songs of Nadia Anjuman by Richard Blackford, prompting Richard Morrison to write in The Times: “It was superbly performed by the Britten Sinfonia and Elizabeth Watts, who not only sang the solo part with flawless musicality and extraordinary passion, but somehow also managed to conduct the players as well”.

Elizabeth regularly appears at the BBC Proms, most recently with Sakari Oromo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the 2025 Proms singing Bliss Beatitude, with past appearances including Mahler Symphony No. 2, also with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo; Ravel L’enfant et les sortilèges with the LSO and Simon Rattle; Schubert songs with the BBC Philharmonic and John Storgårds and Beethoven arias with the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrew Manze.