The Australian soprano has wowed audiences and critics alike in London, singing the title role in Bellini’s ‘Norma’.

In London you can be sure of two things: there’ll be ravens at the Tower and if an opera singer calls in sick, a young Aussie star in the making will be there to step in. The latest Australian-born London-based cover, in what has become something of a tradition in the London opera scene in recent years, is Katrina Sheppeard, whose debut in a principal operatic role in London has been a long time coming. After being on stand-by to cover six major roles at English National Opera over the past eight years, Sheppeard has finally gone on at the Coliseum Theatre, standing in for American soprano Marjorie Owens in the title role of Bellini’s Norma. 

Sheppeard, who studied at the Western Australian Conservatorium of Music, cut her opera-singing teeth Down Under as part of Opera Australia’s ensemble between 2002 and 2007. She sang a number of major roles for the company, including the Beggar Woman in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovani. She was also a Young Artist with Opera Queensland in 2007, before moving to London in 2008 to join ENO.

As principal roles for dramatic sopranos go, Norma is one of the most demanding in the bel canto tradition. However, Sheppeard wowed audiences and critics alike during her career-making ENO performance. One reviewer, Dave Snowden, wrote: “Rather than dashing for a train that would have got me home before midnight, I chose a ninety minute delay to applaud what was a magnificent effort in which [Sheppeard] took control of the stage,” adding, “The night belonged to Katrina Sheppeard… it was worth having to take the 2330 from Paddington, populated by an interesting mix of drunks and theatergoers.” 

Sheppeard has been overwhelmed by the response to her Norma debut. “I’m still getting feedback – it’s been amazing,” she shared. “I only had a week of rehearsals, but it was truly an incredible experience and I’ve had an amazing reaction from the audience and the company.”

A number of young Australian opera talents have come to the rescue in London over the past year. These include Samuel Sakker, who performed the role of Alfredo Germont in the Royal Opera’s La Traviata in January and Siobhan Stagg, who made her Covent Garden debut covering the title role in Rossi’s Orpheus last November. Kiandra Howarth made her principal role debut at Covent Garden to cover the role of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d-amore in December 2014, opposite Welsh baritone megastar Bryn Terfel.