Toad Lane Concerts: ‘Opera for the people’ Nicola Mills soprano

Nicola Mills

Fresh from her latest project, a tribute to Julie Andrews, Nicola Mills is a soprano on a mission.

Her enthusiasm is infectious. She exudes a love of singing. Her story unfolded between the items during her performance at Toad Lane on 25 January, which were chosen by the audience during the concert and backed by sophisticated equipment.

Originally an Oldham lass, Nicola studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama for 6 years. Then after singing around Europe for 10 years, she became somewhat disillusioned with international opera houses preferring more direct engagement with communities.

As Nicola puts it: "Whilst I was living in Belgium, I started my own initiative calling myself ‘The Down to Earth Diva’ which eventually became ‘Opera for the People’."

During Covid lockdowns, using the busking experience she gained in New York and elsewhere, she found that al fresco performances helped her to engage better with a wider range of the public – ‘the Maria Callas’ of Covid, perhaps?

Mozart’s charming Voi che sapete, Puccini’s emotionally charged O mio babbino caro, Bellini’s Casta Diva with beautifully articulated florid passages, and Verdi’s ‘Brindisi’ (Drinking Song) demonstrated that Nicola is a top-notch classical soprano with panache who would grace any stage. From coloratura to crossover, songs such as Imagine and I Got Rhythm showed that she also has a popular touch. Added to this some characterful Gilbert & Sullivan and I Dreamed a Dream, and you have a great all-round vocal entertainer. Concerns about winter illnesses were quickly dispelled and clearly she was back in the game!

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