Lyric Coloratura Soprano
Imogen Thirlwall is a versatile lyric coloratura soprano. Imogen returned to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021 to cover the principal role of Susanna and perform Barbarina in New Zealand Opera’s new production of Le nozze di Figaro as the inaugural 2021 Freemasons Guest Artist. Imogen also jumped in for semi-staged scenes as Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte in concert at the Auckland Town Hall.
Based in Germany, Imogen was engaged to cover the role of Sophie in Werther at Meininger Staastheater in the 20/21 season; this production was subsequently cancelled due to COVID-19. During 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, Imogen was recorded by the television station Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk Fernsehen singing coloratura in the forest to showcase a #lied4mgn and sung soprano in a quartet for Südthüringer Regionalfernsehen sharing Christmas music from around the world. As a fundraiser for Black Visions Collective and Broadway for Racial Justice, Imogen joined an international line up of musical theater artists for Miscast Musicals, a gender-bending live stream revue by Berlin Musicals.
Imogen performed Yvette and un cantore in Pucinni La Rondine at Meininger Staatstheater and Landestheater Eisenach, and Helferin I in the scenic premiere of the new version (Venzago / Micieli) of Schoeck Das Schloss Dürande at Meininger Staatstheater. Imogen sung the role of Micaëla in an abridged version of Bizet Carmen for the opera outreach project ‘L’amour de Carmen’ for Meininger Staatstheater Junges Theater and Musetta in Puccini La bohème with Berlin Italian Opera at Theater Morgenstern.
As a 2017 Resident Artist with New Zealand Opera, Imogen understudied the roles of Frasquita in Carmen and Papagena and Zweite Knabe in Die Zauberflöte. As an accomplished character actor, Imogen’s opera fundamentals were built upon the clever maids of Mozart. Imogen performed Despina in Cosi fan tutte in productions with Operagasmic, Days Bay Opera and Wanderlust Opera, as well as Auretta in L’oca del Cairo for Days Bay Opera. Performed roles also include Linfea in Cavalli La Calisto, Mercedes in Bizet Carmen, Annina in Strauss Der Rosenkavalier, and Hermia in Britten A Midsummer Nights Dream.
In Concert
soprano soloist with orchestra
Imogen has often performed as a soprano soloist with choir and orchestra. Adventurous modern works include singing Minnehaha for the southern hemisphere premiere of Hanson’s epic oratorio Hiawatha, and Will Todd’s jazz setting of the latin mass featuring soprano, choir and jazz combo: Mass in Blue.
Performed works include: Bach Weihnachtsoratorium, Faure Requiem, Finzi In Terra Pax, Hanson Hiawatha, Haydn Nelson Mass, Mozart Mass in D Major, Mozart Requiem Mass, Mozart Vesperae solennes de confessore, Mendelssohn Symphony No. 2 Hymn of Praise, Saint-Saën Oratorio de Noël, Schubert Mass in C Minor and Todd Mass in Blue.
In the 2019/20 season, Imogen performed as the soprano soloist for Meininger Staatstheater’s Weihnachtskonzert. Her engagement as a soprano soloist for Bachfest 2020 in Leipzig, Germany was cancelled due to Covid-19.
In Recital
concert repertoire
Art song, particularly German lied, is a passion for Imogen. Performed song cycles include Schoenberg Das Buch der hängenden Gärten, Korngold Abschiedslieder, Berg Sieben frühe Lieder, Strauss Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Wolf Reinick-Lieder and Grosz Kinderlieder.
Imogen is alumna of the prestigious lied programme in Kunst der Interpretation ‘Das Lied von Beethoven bis Berg’ at the Franz Schubert Institut in Austria. In 2019, Imogen worked with tutors such as Birgid Steinberger, Julius Drake, Roger Vignoles, Wolfram Rieger, Helmut Deutsch, Gabriele Fontana, Andreas Schmidt, Robert Holl and Richard Stokes alongside her duo partner, pianist Dr. Fangfei Chen, in eighteen masterclasses.
Imogen’s final performance before the spring COVID-19 lockdown was for 2020 International Women’s Day. In collaboration with pianist Tamara Lorenzo Gabeiras, soprano Dorothea Gerber and moderator Savina Kationi, this concert programme celebrated twelve female composers spanning 330 years. Mädchenblumen, a solo recital at Meinginer Staatstheater in collaboration with pianist Lorenzo Gabeiras, was cancelled due to theater closures.
In 2019, Imogen and Dr. Fangfei Chen collaborated with Dorothea Gerber to present a concert Träumereien: Lieder und Geschichten zur Nacht at Meininger Staatstheater.
Chorus Soprano
Germany
In March 2022, Imogen joined the second sopranos in the award-winning Staatsopernchor of Staatsoper Stuttgart, voted ‘opera chorus of the year’ thirteen times by Opernwelt. Staatsoper Stuttgart (Oper, Ballet & Schauspiel) is described as the larged three-vision theater in Europe.
Repertoire in the 2021/22 - 23/24 seasons include: Adams Nixon in China, Bellini La Sonnambula, Bellini Norma, Bizet Carmen, Donizetti L’elisir d’amore, Dvorák Rusalka, Janáček Jenůfa, Kjartansson/Sveinsson Der Klang der Offenbarung des Göttlichen, Messiaen Saint François d’Assise, Mozart Die Zauberflöte, Mozart Don Giovanni, Mozart Le nozze di Figaro - as one of the solo bridesmaids - , Mussorgski/Newski Boris, Puccini Tosca, Rameau Platée, Strauss Die Frau ohne Schatten, Strauss Elektra, Verdi Don Carlos, Verdi Falstaff, Verdi Il trovatore, Wagner Götterdämmerung, Weill Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny.
Additional performances include La Fest (a baroque highlights ‘celebration of life’ by dancer Eric Gauthier) at the Staatsoper, Puccini Tosca in the Schlossfestival Bruchsal, and Schumann Szenen aus Goethes Faust at Schlosspark Ludwigsburg. Symphony Concerts include Strawinsky Psalmensinfonie für Chor und Orchester, Mahler Symphonie 2 and Mahler Symphonie 3 in the Liederhalle Staatgart (Beethovensaal).
Between May 2018 and February 2022, Imogen worked for Meininger Staatstheater in Thüringen, Germany as a fest chorus soprano with soloist commitments. Imogen performed in more than 180 shows across opera, operette and musical theater at Meininger Staatstheater, Eisenach Landestheater, Schlosstheater Fulda, Stadttheater Fürth, Stadtheater Ingolstadt and Wartburg Castle in Eisenach.
Productions include: Bizet Carmen, Gilbert & Sullivan Piraten von Penzance, Herzog Ernst II Santa Chiara, Jessel Schwarzwaldmädel, Leigh Der Mann von La Mancha, Mozart Cosi fan tutte, Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Puccini La Boheme, Puccini La Rondine, Puccini Tosca, Orff Carmina Burana, Rodgers and Hammerstein The Sound of Music, Schoeck Das Schloß Dürande, Wagner Der fliegende Holländer, Wagner Tannhäuser and Webber Evita.
aotearoa new zealand
For New Zealand Opera, Imogen performed in the nationally cast New Zealand Opera Ensemble for touring productions of Gilbert & Sullivan The Mikado and Sondheim Sweeney Todd, directed by Stuart Maunder AM.
As a member of the New Zealand Opera Chorus for five years, productions include: Bizet Carmen, Golijov Ainadamar, Mozart Don Giovanni, Puccini Madame Butterfly, Puccini Tosca, Smetana The Bartered Bride, Verdi La Traviata, and Wagner Der fliegende Holländer. Additional chorus work includes Bernstein Candide, Handel Alcina, Handel Semele, and Rossini Il viaggo a Reims.
Choral Experience
berliner philharmonie kammermusiksaal
Imogen made her European debut at the Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal, Germany in January 2018. Imogen joined an ensemble led by Donna Brown to form the Soul of Berlin Jazz Orchestra and Singers, performing jazz-infused excerpts from Wynton Marsalis The Abyssinian Mass.
orchestral choral experience
Imogen has performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington and Wellington Brass Band. Performed choral works include: Beethoven Ninth Symphony, Holst The Planets, Mahler Third Symphony, Mahler Eighth Symphony, Psathas Orpheus in Rarohenga, and Verdi Requiem.
Imogen was involved in a commemoration concert for the Pike River 29, joining Orpheus Choir of Wellington for Dobbyn This Love, McCarthy 17 Days, and Harris If Blood be the Price.
National choirs of aotearoa new zealand
Aotearoa New Zealand has a rich history of choral music under internationally acclaimed musical directors such as Dr. Karen Grylls and Elise Bradley. Imogen is alumna of the New Zealand Youth Choir performing in China, Korea, Singapore and Australia, and as a soloist in live broadcasts on ABC Classic FM and Radio New Zealand Concert.
Imogen was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir (NZSSC), competing in the Hong Kong International Youth & Children’s Festival where it took the top award and won the title “The World’s Choir”. In Xiamen, China, NZSSC competed in the World Choir Games alongside 148 choirs and was named Champion of the Mixed Voice Youth Choir section.
Creative Explorations
children’s book Author and illustrator
Imogen is author and illustrator of the children’s book, Butterfly and Snail Chase The Sun, published on Amazon Kindle. All revenue from eBook sales is donated to Shakti Community Council, a non-profit organisation working with ethnic families to end violence and discrimination against women and children.
Butterfly & Snail Chase The Sun is a story about two friends on an adventure to find their way home. Encountering curious obstacles, they discover lessons of compromise, moral support and kindness, and learn that there is no set path to navigate life's twists and turns.
A warm and inclusive bedtime story written in rhyme, without gender binary or reference to fixed family structures, the reading age is 6-8 years; although, this story is thoroughly suitable for adventurous adults.
jazz trumpet player
Playing trumpet for 18 years, Imogen studied classical trumpet at university alongside orchestral conducting as a ‘second instrument’ (to voice). With jazz of particular interest and aptitude, Imogen is a former member of New Zealand’s premier big band, The Rodger Fox Big Band. Imogen has played on the following big band albums: Concerti, Michael Houston with the Rodger Fox Big Band (nominated for the 2016 New Zealand Jazz Album of the Year); X, The Rodger Fox Big Band Plays New Zealand; I Wish; Midnight Voyage; Funk City Ola; and the 2009 New Zealand Jazz Album of the Year, Run for Cover.
living languages blogger
Imogen has been a featured Living Languages writer for the Goethe Institute, co-authoring the blog series Tuning In.
Conference presenter
Imogen was invited to present papers on her research for national Musicological Society Conferences in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Imogen’s academic research explores a curious connection of freedoms: performing atonal music, experiences of disciplining bodies, and feminist critical theory. Imogen also presented a music education paper at the 2022 South East Asia Music Academy Online Conference on ‘Cultivating Stage Presence’.
Executive assistant and office manager
To self-fund her relocation to Europe, Imogen spent several years working for a strategy and operations management consultancy while simultaneously building a freelance music career in Aotearoa New Zealand.