Toad Lane Concerts: Zoë Soleil Vallée coloratura soprano

Zoë Soleil Vallée soprano, Tim Kennedy piano

Zoë Vallée is a Canadian coloratura soprano who graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland and is currently completing a Master’s at the RNCM.

She is an experienced dance educator of seven years and began her career in musical theatre, starting in chorus/movement roles in shows. At Memorial University Zoë discovered her classical voice and opera and found that this is where she really flourished.

Her recent credits include Gretel in Humperdink’s Hansel und Gretel with MUN Opera Workshop, the Controller in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, and Zerbinetta in Ariadne Auf Naxos at the RNCM. Zoë is excited to be preparing for upcoming auditions this fall, and her first performance of Handel’s Messiah at Lancaster Priory.

Her accompaniment was in the safe hands of Tim Kennedy, who studied music at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, but has been a freelance musician based in Manchester for over 15 years. As well as being a piano accompanist at the RNCM, he also works as a professional singer, vocal coach, organist, and accompanist for Festivals, and the Tatton Singers in Knutsford.

The programme consisted of No, no, no, che non sei capace (No, how you are not capable of courtesy, of honour) by Mozart. Then came Romance and La Romance d’Ariel by Debussy. Following these sophisticated recital works came extracts from musical theatre, Will he like me? and Vanilla Ice-cream from ‘She Loves Me’ by Jerry Bock. These provided bookends to a modern one-woman opera scene by Jake Heggie called, At the Statue of Venus.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson