helen maree cooper

Mezzo-soprano Helen Maree Cooper recently performed the role of La suora infermiera in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with Wexford Festival Opera. She also starred in the premiere of Buxton International Festival and Norwich Theatre’s new musical The Land of Might-Have-Been, playing Debutant / swing / cover Shirley & Stella. Other recent roles include Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel as a Westminster Opera Emerging Artist, and Second Witch and Spirit in If Opera’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. 

In 2024, Helen will be returning to Buxton Internation Festival to perform the role of Don Ettore in Haydn's La Canterina, alongside chorus in Verdi’s Ernani and in Carlos Acosta's 'On Before'.

Helen trained at the Royal College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Roles while training included Dritter Knabe Die Zauberflöte, Dorabella Così fan tutte, Hermia A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Ruggiero Alcina, Tisbe & Cenerentola La Cenerentola, Radamisto Radamisto, Lel The Snow Maiden, Mrs Segstrom A Little Night Music, Sœur Mathilde Dialogues des Carmélites, Mercedes Carmen and La Libellule L’enfant et les sortilèges. She created the role of Louise for the premiere of Michael Wolter’s Ava’s Wedding in 2015. She currently studies with Tim Evans-Jones.

Helen is an experienced dancer, having trained at the North London Dance Studio from the age of five and competing in the All England Dance Festivals. This training led her to dance the role of Tinkerbell’s animation silhouette in the world premiere Welsh National Opera production of Richard Ayres’ Peter Pan, directed by Keith Warner.

She has worked with internationally-renowned conductors including Adrian Kelly, Iwan Davies, Oliver Gooch, Christopher Bucknall and Michael Rosewell. Other coaches include Johnathan Lemalu, Sophie Bevan, Stephen Varcoe, Richard Jackson and Isabel Leonard.

Helen’s solo oratorio repertoire includes Bach’s Johannes-Passion and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Vespers, Duruflé’s Requiem, and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes. She has performed with contemporary music ensemble Festival Voices, the CBSO, and toured and broadcast across Europe as a member of the Philharmonia Chorus. Other professional engagements include contracts as a soloist and ensemble member with the Thursford Christmas Spectacular in 2015 and touring internationally with the Ida Girls.