This season, British born Bulgarian/Turkish mezzo-soprano Annabella-Vesela Ellis will be covering in La Traviata the role of Annina with English National Opera. Conducted by Richard Farnes, director Peter Konwitschny and revival director Ruth Knight. With much anticipation Annabella will be returning in the role of New Ofglen at English National Opera alongside Kate Lindsay in the highly acclaimed and award nominated production of The Handmaid’s Tale. Directed by ENO’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon, conducted by the ENO Mackerras alumni fellow Joana Carneiro and movement by Imogen Knight. Furthermore, later this season Annabella-Vesela will be making her solo debut in the Verdi Requiem with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Last season Annabella-Vesela made her debut at Wexford Festival Opera as the principle female lead Constance Fenimore Woolson in the world premiere of The Master. The storyline of the opera is centred on the book of the same title written by Colm Tóibín, multiple award winning and Laureate of Irish Fiction, and focusses on the prolific life of Henry James and his friendship with Constance Fenimore Woolson. Music written by the Italian composer Alberto Caruso and directed by the multi-faceted artist Conor Hanratty who has a vast array of skills from opera and theatre directing to podcast creator and writing. Annabella competed in the Finals Round of the prestigious Tenor Viñas competition in Barcelona, understudied the role of Neferneferuaten (daughter 5) in Phelim McDermott’s Olivier Award-winning production of Philip Glass’s Akhnaten at English National Opera and performed alto solo in Bach’s St John Passion with under the baton of Gavin Carr, one of Europe’s leading conductors specialising in choral-orchestral repertoire. Annabella also competed in the quarter-finals of the Elizabeth Connell Prize.

In the 2021/22 season Annabella-Vesela Ellis made two house debuts, the first with English National Opera as New Ofglen in the The Handmaid’s Tale. This was followed by Annabella’s debut as a soloist in an adapted version of Aida at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, directed by Philipp Himmelmann and conducted by the festivals’ artistic director Ville Matvejeff. Meanwhile, Annabella was also a finalist in the 2022 Rita Gorr International Competition, Belgium. 

During the 2019/20 season Annabella returned to Opéra de Nice making her debut as Ankhesenpaaten (and cover Nefertiti) in their award winning opera production of Akhnaten, directed by Lucinda Childs, conducted by Léo Warynski and choreographed by Eric Oberdorff. Previously Annabella had covered Despina in their 2020 production of Così fan Tutte directed by Daniel Benoin and conducted by Roland Böer. At the brink of the Covid outbreak Annabella performed a recital both with the Leeds Lieder Festival and launched the Norfolk County Music Festival.

In other previous seasons Miss Ellis performed Rosina (Barber of Seville) and Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus) in several venues across Europe. Companies Annabella has performed with include Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Longbrough Festival Opera, British Youth Opera, Dorset Opera, Regents Opera, Swansea City Opera, Devon Opera and Orquesta Reino de Aragón. Annabella-Vesela Ellis has also performed Mercédès (Carmen), Suzuki (Madame Butterfly), Tonina (Prima la Musica), Mrs Coyle in (Owen Wingrave) and has covered Carmen, Dorabella (Cosi fan Tutti), La Mère/Mezzo 2 (Le Vin Herbé), Le Loup (Les Malheurs d’Orphée).

Annabella is an alumni member of the The Alexander Gibson Opera Studio (Royal Conservatoire Scotland), the Royal Academy of Music where she completed her Masters and Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she completed her honory Undergraduate studies. Miss Ellis appeared as an alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and C Minor Mass, Bach’s B Minor Mass and his Christmas Oratorio. Concert venues and festivals include Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Grande Halle aux Grains Toulouse, Royal Albert Hall, Le Nouveau Siècle, Laeiszhalle, Auditiorium-Orchestre National de Lyon, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Sighisoara Music Festival and Britten 100 Festival.

Annabella was a finalist in the Maureen Lehane competition, Wigmore Hall, and the Royal Overseas League competition. Whilst partaking her masters at The Royal Academy of Music, Miss Ellis won second prize both in the Isabella Jay Aria competition and the English Lied (Ivor Gurney) competition. Annabella is a winner of the Norfolk Young Musician competition and won second prize in the Ljuba Welitsch Vocal International Competition, Vienna.

2023/24 update.