SorayaMafi
Representation
About Soraya
Soraya Mafi studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music and is a former Harewood Artist at the English National Opera.
In the 2024/25 season she will sing Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto for both Welsh National Opera and Irish National Opera and Pamina in Die Zauberfloete for Opera North. Following a great success as Valencienne in Glyndebourne's The Merry Widow conducted by John Wilson, she returns to the festival for Michal in Barrie Kosky's renowned production of Handel's Saul. In concert she sings Bach's Christmas Oratorio with the RIAS Kammerchor on tour in Europe, Viennese concerts with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Handel arias with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen.
In the last two seasons she has sung Tytania A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Glyndebourne Festival and Opéra de Rouen; Susanna Le nozze di Figaro for Glyndebourne on Tour, and Ismene Mitridate, re di Ponto for Garsington Opera.
Elsewhere she has sung Tytania, Musetta La bohème, Despina Così fan tutte, Mabel The Pirates of Penzance and Yum Yum The Mikado for English National Opera, Susanna and Gilda Rigoletto for the Seattle Opera, Susanna for Welsh National Opera, Morgana Alcina and Anne Trulove The Rake’s Progress for Glyndebourne, Nanetta Falstaff for Garsington Opera, Gretel Hänsel und Gretel for Grange Park Opera and Echo Ariadne auf Naxos at the Edinburgh International Festival.
An accomplished recitalist, she has delighted audiences on tour in the UK with her programmes including Persian songs, reflecting her Iranian heritage.
Representation
Season Highlights
Video
Soraya Mafi sings 'Deh Vieni' from The Marriage of Figaro
Credit: Seattle Opera
PlayingSoraya Mafi sing 'Credete al mio dolore' from Alcina
Credit: Glyndebourne
PlayingSoraya Mafi sings 'Tornami a vagheggiar' from Alcina
Credit: Glyndebourne
PlayingSoraya Mafi sings 'Sul fil d'un soffio etesio' from Falstaff
Credit: Garsington Opera
Playing
Audio
- Mendelssohn Die Mainacht
- Mendelssohn Wanderlied
- Strauss Frühlingsstimmen Waltz
Photos
Selected Repertoire
| Jenkins | The Peacemakers • The Armed Man |
|---|
Press
Verdi Rigoletto
Welsh National OperaSep 2024But really, it was Mafi’s night. She’s long been an excellent singers; but as Gilda she hit new heights – fearless, impulsive and vulnerable, but always glowing. As a foil for Luis de Vicente, Mafi was desperately moving; she lit the Act Three quartet from above and in ‘Caro nome’ she spun delicate, tumbling vocal lacework that glinted and shone against the drama’s thunderous skies.
- Richard Bratby, Spectator
- 28 September 2024
British soprano Soraya Mafi, meanwhile, personifies Gilda to perfection, her aria, Caro Nome not just flawlessly voiced, but exemplifying Gilda’s perilous innocence. She stops the show.
- George Hall, The Stage
- 23 September 2024
As Gilda, Mafi was perfectly cast, her soprano stunningly beautiful, silvery with pin-point precision, everything immaculately delivered, and looking as young as she needs to be to portray her vulnerability, delirious with love.
- Rian Evans, The Guardian
- 22 September 2024
Vocally, the honours go to Soraya Mafi who sings Gilda with exquisite sweetness, and plays her convincingly as a naively infatuated young girl.
- Richard Morrison, The Times
- 23 September 2024
