A vibrant young talent, Elizabeth Stannard is quickly becoming a major voice of her generation. In August 2009, she earned critical acclaim as Leonore in Opera Australia’s production of Fidelio. “Stannard is excellent as Leonore and impressively stepped into the role on opening night only 24 hours after arriving in Sydney,” says The Daily Telegraph in the U.K. Central Magazine in Sydney agrees stating, “her rich [soprano] was admirable for its warmth and passion throughout. Her intensity crystallized during the great second-act duet that sees Leonore finally reunited with her beloved Florestan.”

In July 2009, she received tremendous praise for her portrayal as Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Victorian Opera in Melbourne. “She's making quite a name for herself internationally in dramatic soprano repertoire,” says Prima la Musica, “She was a glorious Ariadne, with all the dignity, expansive sound and Straussian style you could hope for, not to mention an excellent sense of pacing, which allowed her to start strong and finish even stronger: a convincing journey to divine bliss.”

Over the past few seasons, she has taken part in several productions with the Canadian Opera Company performing the role of Ortlinde and covering the roles Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer, Brunnhilde in Die Walküre and Siegfried, Mimi in La Bohème, and Leonore in Fidelio, as well as taking part in their 2006 full production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, marking the opening of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

In addition, she recently performed Gerhilde and covered Brunnhilde at the State Opera of South Australia for their premiere of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen under Maestro Asher Fisch, which was recorded and released on Melba Recordings. Next, she makes her Opera Carolina debut as Dorabella in Così Fan Tutte.

Ms. Stannard was a full time company member of Opera Australia through 2002 taking part in over 200 performances. Her major engagements with O.A. included Liu in Turandot with Michael Sylvester and Leona Mitchell, Alice Ford in Falstaff with Brynn Terfel (covering Yvonne Kenny), Musetta in La Bohème, Leila in Les Pêcheurs des Perles under Maestro Richard Bonynge, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte and the ‘Wagner Spectacular’ conducted by Simone Young, among other performances.