‘Pocket diva’ makes debut in home city after 25 years

A HULL-born opera singer who has supported legends like Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland in the recording studio, had starring roles at the Proms and performed at leading opera houses across Europe will make her debut in her home city on Saturday.

Soprano Sarah Rhodes, a former pupil at Malet Lambert secondary school, will appear with Hull Philharmonic Orchestra at Hull City Hall, and will be the soloist in Gustav Mahler’s fourth symphony, singing Das Himmlische Leben, a child’s vision of heaven.

Known as the “pocket diva”, she has enjoyed a 25-year career at the top of her profession. After starting with the Welsh National Opera she has sung for English National Opera, Scottish Opera, RTE Dublin, and Nuremburg and Prague opera companies.

Ms Rhodes is now back in Hull focusing on passing on her skills to others, including being a singing teacher at Hull University of Hull and working with Yorkshire Young Musicians.

“It’s good to perform in Hull after all my years away and I hope there will be more to come,” said Ms Rhodes, whose next stage appearance will be in a festival in Italy in July. “Performance is still very important although I now get huge satisfaction from seeing the progress of my pupils.”

Call the box office on 01482 300300 for more details.