Annabelle Chaffey

Soprano

Sydney born Annabelle Chaffey graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium with a Bachelor of Music & a Diploma of Opera. During her studies Annabelle was awarded the Bud Brown Vocal Scholarship & the Barbara Edgarton Scholarship.

Annabelle began working for Opera Australia in 1998 and joined the fulltime chorus in 2000 working also as a Principal Artist and Understudy. She became a Senior Chorister in 2013.

Her roles for Opera Australia include Violetta (La Traviata – National Tour), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni – National Tour), Papagena (The Magic Flute), The High Priestess (Aida), Giannetta (L’elisir D’amore), Barena (Jenufa), Helen/Phaedra (Love of the Nightingale), Cassilda/Fiametta (The Gondoliers), Peep-Bo (The Mikado), Javotte (Manon), The Girl (Lulu), The Mother (The Nose), Lady/Newspaper Seller (Death in Venice), Novice (Suor Angelica), Orphan (Der Rosenkavalier), Bridesmaid (Der Freischutz), First Bridesmaid (Le Nozze di Figaro), Handmaiden (Turandot) & the Soprano Solo in King Roger & The Chichester Psalms.

Some of the roles Annabelle has understudied for Opera Australia include Violetta (La Traviata), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), Donna Elvira & Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gerhilde (Die Walkure, Das Rheingold), Freia (Gotterdammerung, Das Rheingold), The Woodbird (Siegfried, Das Rheingold), Cunegonde (Candide), Musetta (La Boheme), Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Valencienne (The Merry Widow), Frasquita (Carmen), Siebel (Faust), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi) & Ellen (Lakme).

Annabelle has also performed Helen/Phaedra in Love of the Nightingale for West Australian Opera, Queensland Opera & Victorian Opera, Pamina in Die Zauberflote for Pacific Opera, Marenka in The Bartered Bride and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music & also The Servant Girl in Elektra for The Sydney Festival.

Annabelle’s performance experience encompasses opera, recital, oratorio, jazz and pop. Her solo oratorio performances include the Verdi Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th, the Faure Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate & Laudate Dominum & Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. She has appeared in recital for ABC Classic FM, Opera Australia, The NSW Art Gallery, The Opera Foundation & Opera Friends.

Annabelle’s solo concert engagements include James Morrison and the Australian Pops Orchestra, Opera in the Arboreum, Opera under the Stars, Darwin’s Opera on the Beach and with Michael Bolton in Concert. Annabelle also appears in multiple recordings for Opera Australia.