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Mimi's aria: 'Donde lieta uscì..' Act 3 - La bohème Puccini February 2019 |
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Blanche de la Force's aria: 'Mon père. il n'est pas..' Act 1 - Les Dialogues des Carmélites Poulenc November 2018 |
Nimue's Aria - Merlin (world premiere) Composer: Keith Beal Orchestra: Hastings Philharmonic Conductor: Marcio da Silva St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, October 2018 |
Audience reactions
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'A perfect choral piece followed, with Haydn’s 'Nelson Mass', or its correct name: Missa in Angustiis. This piece is brimming with delicious chorus numbers and some true highlights for soprano soloist. Helen May does a supreme job with the soprano role.' Art scene in Wales. |
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'As Nerone and Poppea, Helen May and Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada are superb. It is a real triumph to conjure up a passionate affair out of 400 year old words and music... May nicely catches the difficult balance between autocratic emperor and lovestruck suitor and, in a role that would probably have originally been sung by a castrato, she makes a convincing male hero... The famous final duet between the two of them is spell binding.' L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Ensemble Orquesta, Cockpit Theatre. Plays to See. |
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'Greatly promising... a well integrated tone of alluring quality.' Professor Mark Wildman, David Clover Festival of Singing |
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'Cosi has some of the most dazzling music Mozart ever wrote and the challenge is always to manage to hold on to the emotional undertow of the music whatever the follies of the plot. This was accomplished with sure direction, and great charm and panache by the young performers.
It's hard to single anyone out, but Helen May's Despina was outstanding... A name to watch.' Cosi fan tutte, Woodhouse Opera Festival. Surrey Gazette, |
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'…the ever-impressive Helen May. May drew out the disguised princess’s anger, shame and angst to perfection. …She blazes out among the sober Persians…' Xerse, Ensemble OrQuesta, Grimeborn Festival. The Idle Woman Blog. |
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'Soprano Helen May filled the building with richly glowing tone, the top of the voice thrilling as it floated above the choir.' Hastings Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Schubert, Mass in G, Holst, Two Psalms. Lark Reviews |
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'May's.... terrifically bolshy, punky, cocksure performance as Valletto... an amusing caricature of a roosterish teenage boy.' L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera. The Idle Woman Blog |
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'It’s difficult to pinpoint a standout performance as every person involved demonstrated a high level of vocal and acting skills. However, the scenes and duets between Poppea and Nerone must be mentioned for their intensity and passion, excellently delivered by Kathleen Nic Dhiarmada and Helen May'.
Nerone, L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Ensemble OrQuesta. thespyinthestalls.com |
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'Helen May was superb as one of the Three Little Maids at the last Simonsbath Festival’s @Opera Anywhere's production of The Mikado'. @Simonsbath Festival Twitter. |
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'….there was some impressive singing, notably from Helen May (Diane) ….. demonstrating excellent fluidity in (her) ornaments, and .. having the rare ability to sing a proper trill…' Hippolyte et Aricie, Woodhouse Opera/Ensemble Orquesta. Early Music Reviews |
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'In something of an operatic caucus race, each of the 11 soloists deserved a prize... Amastre's status as an outsider was emphasized by the plangency of Helen May's timbre.' Xerse, Grimeborn, 2018. Opera Magazine (November 2018). |
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'May, whose passionate acting leading up to the seduction scene with Damigella (Conner) is more than credible and convincing.. the almost acrobatic dance sequences among the lovers, employed throughout the opera, is also especially captivating.' L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera. Plays To See |
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'Helen May's big, open soprano is not conventionally 'Baroque', but she made an affecting Galatea.' Acis and Galatea, Ensemble OrQuesta Opera in Britain, Opera Magazine (June 2018) |
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'Helen May was very effective in the small role of Mélisse'. Armide, Grimeborn Festival Plays To See |
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'The audience will be able to welcome back the beautiful soprano voice of Helen May to sing with the choir..' Hastings Philharmonic Choir, November 2017. Rye News |
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