Since moving to the Netherlands, award-winning Canadian soprano Elisabeth Hetherington has established herself as a standout artist and interpreter of early, contemporary and modern repertoire across Europe. Elisabeth is praised for her “… fearless and powerful personality, as well as her flawless technique and breathtaking presentation (NRC, 2020)”, and “… virtuoso grace, refined dynamics and subtle colors, beautifully lyrical, somewhat fragile timbre… ” (Place de l ‘Opera Magazine, 2020).
Elisabeth’s passion for multidisciplinary performance, rooted in her background as a modern dancer, has led to collaborations with composers and choreographers, resulting in innovative works that merge the physical and the musical. Her collaboration with dance company LeineRoebana has produced projects such as SOLAS and SONUS MOTUS, where her seamless integration of song and movement enchants the audience. Her skills were quickly noticed by critics: “Hetherington operates on three different levels: exclusively singing, exclusively dancing and in a combination of both, providing her sung musical phrases with a dancing idiom. Her body coincides with her instrument…” (Theaterkant, 2022) and “she shows how moving and singing go together for her.” (Theatre newspaper, 2019).
Elisabeth has created memorable roles with major opera companies in the Netherlands, receiving rave reviews for her impressive stage presence and pure soprano voice. Notable performances include Lopachin (The Cherry Orchard, Holland Opera, 2023), Susanna (Divorce of Figaro, Holland Opera 2022), Senta (De Vliegende Hollander, Holland Opera 2021), Theodora (Theodora, MusicStages 2021) and Cordelia (King Lear, Holland Opera 2019). She received rave reviews for these roles: “Hetherington seizes the opportunities offered with both hands. Both acting and singing, she manages to place herself at the center of the action for the majority of the performance, demanding all the attention.” (Placedel’Opera Magazine, 2022) and “with a clean, pure soprano voice. She is the star of the evening and rightly receives the most applause afterwards.” (Theatre newspaper, 2019).
In addition to her vibrant career as an artist, Elisabeth is a respected researcher in the field of Original Pronunciation of Elizabethan English. Her expertise has made her a sought-after researcher and speaker, giving master classes and lectures at conservatories in Canada and Europe, and at institutions such as the Utrecht Early Music Festival.
In recognition of her excellent work in her various fields, Elisabeth will receive the most prestigious prize for classical music in the Netherlands in October 2024: the Dutch Music Prize. In 2020, Elisabeth received the Dutch Classical Talent Award after participating in the annual competition and tour. She recorded her debut album via AVROTROS and can still be seen regularly on various Dutch television and radio stations.
Elisabeth has a bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, and then graduated cum laude from the Conservatory of Amsterdam, where she obtained her master’s degree in the Early Music Vocal program with Xenia Meijer.
