Vanessa Woodward

Cast Members > Vanessa Woodward
Vanessa Woodward

Vanessa Woodward

Contralto / Artistic Director & Co-founder

Accomplished Classical Singer and Versatile Performer

Vanessa originally studied music at Colchester Institute and later gained an advanced postgraduate diploma (voice) from Trinity College of Music, where she was awarded the Wilfred Greenhouse prize for Oratorio and Cantata. Vanessa studies singing with Quentin Hayes. Her early professional career was as a singer/guitarist in rock and folk bands, before resuming her classical singing career. She is experienced as an oratorio soloist and also enjoys Lieder and 20th century British Song. With Opera Anywhere, Vanessa has performed in some unusual situations, including performing ‘soap opera scenes’ on ITV’s ‘This Morning’! Operatic roles include Nireno / Giulio Cesare (Handel Opera Company), Princess / Suor Angelica, Popova / The Bear by Walton (‘In Tune’, BBC Radio 3), Baba / The Medium, Miss Baggot / The Little Sweep, Miss Todd / The Old Maid and the Thief and 3rd lady/3rd boy / The Magic Flute.

What Our Audience Say

Anthony Pinching, Director, Pinner Music Festival

After the second half, people were in tears or close, and visibly moved by their engagement with the opera, which mirrored the total engagement of Megan and the whole cast – each one a star! People will remember this production for a very long time.

Nicola

Superb Hansel and Gretel by Opera Anywhere this evening. Brilliant cast and imaginative direction. Go see!

Audience Member

We are all absolutely delighted, deeply impressed and profoundly moved by Opera’s Heroines & Sister Angelica.

Nicola Harvey

What a performance it was! Even in its cleverly adapted and shorter form, with a trio of instrumentalists (cello, flute and piano) replacing the orchestra, everything that makes The Magic Flute so wonderful was there… All in all, this performance of The Magic Flute will be remembered and talked about by our family and the friends who came with us for a very long time.

Michael

The final 10 minutes of the first half of Hansel and Gretel caught me in the throat and heart. The tears were equally shared in the final part of the second half. I found it very moving. One of those rare moments when, despite all that was going on, I could hear a pin drop in my heart.

Audience Member

Came to see it, thought it was absolutely fabulous, and a young child in the front row entranced.

Audience Member

I think I can safely say that thanks to Opera Anywhere everyone went away last night with a spring in their step and a smile on their face.

Haldi

Thanks SO MUCH for giving our group access to your gem of a performance! Congratulations to all the cast.

Michael and Sally Phillips

We had the great pleasure of attending the Menotti Double Bill at the Thame Players Theatre in Thame in January. It was the second time we’ve seen it, and we think it's our favourite amongst all that you do. The characters of Amahl and his mother are superbly portrayed and yet again brought tears to my eyes. Well done!

Judith

Thoroughly enjoyed Amahl at Thame. Brought back memories! Took a friend, her first opera, and she thought it was wonderful.