"...SHE IS ALL CRYSTALLINE TONE AND SPINE-TINGLING HIGH NOTES”
—TIM ASHLEY, THE GUARDIAN
EXCITING AND ACCLAIMED YOUNG BRITISH SOPRANO
DIARY
British-Iranian soprano Soraya Mafi is fast becoming one of the most sought-after lyric coloratura sopranos of her generation. Renowned for her dazzling technique, radiant stage presence, and expressive musicality, she has garnered critical acclaim across major international opera houses and festivals.
“The 2024/25 season saw Soraya make a series of major role debuts, including **Pamina in *Die Zauberflöte* (Opera North)** and **Gilda in *Rigoletto* (Welsh National Opera and Irish National Opera)** in two new productions. Her portrayal of Gilda was widely lauded, with David Nice (*The Arts Desk*) hailing it as “the operatic performance of the year… breathtaking,” while *The Spectator* described her interpretation as “fearless, impulsive, and vulnerable, but always glowing.” *The Irish Times* praised her “incredible comfort and sweetness” in Verdi’s demanding vocal writing. She concludes the season with her role debut as Michal at **Glyndebourne Festival debut in Barrie Kosky’s renowned production of Handel’s *Saul***.
© Glyndebourne
“A BUDDING HANDELIAN OF THE HIGHEST CALIBRE”
—THE SUNDAY TIMES
DISCOGRAPHY
Barber: The Complete Songs Label: Resonus Release date: 4 May 2022 Fleur Barron (mezzo-soprano) Mary Bevan (soprano) Samantha Clarke (soprano) Jess Dandy (contralto) Louise Kemény (soprano) Soraya Mafi (soprano) Julien Van Mellaerts (baritone) Dominic Sedgewick (bass) Nicky Spence (tenor) William Thomas (bass) Navarra String Quartet Dylan Perez (piano) https://www.resonusclassics.com/products/samuel-barber-the-complete-songs
Gilbert & Cellier: The Mountebanks & Suite Symphonique World Premiere Recordings Soraya Mafi (Teresa), Thomas Elwin (Alfredo), James Cleverton (Arrostino), Sharon Carty (Minestra), John-Colyn Gyeantey (Risotto), Catherine Carby (Nita), John Savournin (Bartolo), Geoffrey Dolton (Pietro), Madeleine Shaw (Ultrice), Martin Lamb (Elvino) BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Singers
Decades: A Century of Song Vol. 3 1830 - 1840 John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Lorna Anderson (soprano), Alexey Gusev (bass-baritone), Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo), Soraya Mafi (soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano)
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (Edinburgh International Festival) – Gantner, Röschmann, Gantner, Quasthoff, Huskinson, Manu, Morison, Redpath, Butt Philip, Barnett-Jones, McGovern, Sprague, Huskinson, Mafi, Hopkins, Brenda Rae, Manu, Dladla, Röschmann, Rea, Bronder (soloists), Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Lothar Koenigs. Released 2021. Label: Linn Records. CKD689[58]
![Dibdin & Garrick: The Jubilee – Simon Butteriss (Artist), Stephen Higgins (Artist), Soraya Mafi (Artist), Heather Shipp (Artist), Robert Murray (Artist). Released 2019. Label: Retrospect Opera. RO006[56]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62960064bbd09b750b76ff06/88cc4aa9-368f-4091-81f5-b3b5dfc8d196/Jubilee_front_cover-600x539.jpeg)
Dibdin & Garrick: The Jubilee – Simon Butteriss (Artist), Stephen Higgins (Artist), Soraya Mafi (Artist), Heather Shipp (Artist), Robert Murray (Artist). Released 2019. Label: Retrospect Opera. RO006[56]
Ruhr Piano Festival Edition Vol. 37: Vive La France! Debussy & Saint-Saëns Sergei Redkin (soloist), Jamina Gerl (soloist), Mao Fujita (soloist), Inga Fiolia (soloist), Juan Carlos Fernández-Nieto (soloist), Graham Johnson (soloist), Soraya Mafi (soloist), François le Roux (soloist), Sarah Fox (soloist), Victor Julien-Laffarière (soloist), Théo Fouchenneret (soloist), Mi-Sa...
![Mozart
Il sogno di Scipione, K126 – Dramatic Serenade to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio [performed using Bärenreiter’s New Mozart Edition; sung in Italian]
Scipione – Stuart Jackson
Costanza – Klara Ek
Fortuna– Soraya Mafi
Publio – Krystian Adam
Em](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62960064bbd09b750b76ff06/7b297dbf-076c-4501-8e5b-f81203c24d13/15120_1-768x767.jpeg)
Mozart Il sogno di Scipione, K126 – Dramatic Serenade to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio [performed using Bärenreiter’s New Mozart Edition; sung in Italian] Scipione – Stuart Jackson Costanza – Klara Ek Fortuna– Soraya Mafi Publio – Krystian Adam Emilio – Robert Murray Licenza – Chiara Skerath Choir & Orchestra of Classical Opera Ian Page Recorded 16-19 October 2016 in the Church of St Augustine, Kilburn, London
![Menotti: The Telephone (Edinburgh International Festival) – Soraya Mafi (Lucy), Jonathan McGovern (Ben), The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Stuart Stratford. Released 2020. Label: Linn Records. CKD670[57]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/62960064bbd09b750b76ff06/5cd9052f-80fe-4a1a-a413-cf0303af9aa3/cover-CKD670.jpeg)
Menotti: The Telephone (Edinburgh International Festival) – Soraya Mafi (Lucy), Jonathan McGovern (Ben), The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, Stuart Stratford. Released 2020. Label: Linn Records. CKD670[57]
