Victoria Simmonds

june 2026 - alice’s adventures in wonderland

First seen al fresco in 2012, Will Todd and Maggie Gottlieb’s free-wheeling, tongue-twisting adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s surreal classic for Opera Holland Park gives voice to the curious and curioser characters of the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, the Dormouse, Humpty Dumpty, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee, and a positively terrifying Queen of Hearts in music that darts from a coloratura showpiece for a singing Bottle to the smoky blues of a Caterpillar with no work ethic. 

With designs adapted by Ceci Calf from Leslie Travers’s original sets, and lighting by Jacob Gowler, Martin Duncan directs a new production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland devised for the main stage of the theatre. Dominic Ellis-Peckham conducts a cast led by Alys Mererid Roberts (A Christmas Carol 2025) as Alice, while James Cleverton, Robert Burt (Itch 2023 and 2025) and Victoria Simmonds (Itch 2023 and 2025) return to the roles they created in 2013 as the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and Mad Hatter. Further info can be found here.

March 2026 - Beethoven summit london

For it’s closing concert of this prestigious summit, the ICCM presents Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, with soloists Elin Pritchard, Victoria Simmonds, Andrés Presno and Darren Jeffery, Covent Garden Chorus and The Hanover Band conducted by Zvonimir Hačko. More details can be found here.

March 2026 - Community opera for barnes festival

Barnes Music Festival’s opening concert for 2026 will be Noyes Fludde, a piece which involves community singing at its heart. Victoria will be singing Mrs Noye in a role debut, with Gareth Brynmore John as Noye, James Day - conductor, Oscar Simms - director and Lucy Ruff - designer. More details can be found here.

December 2025 - a christmas carol by will todd

At Rackley’s Barn in the Chilterns, and at Sinfonia Smith Square in the heart of Westminster, relive the magic of this timeless story, retold through this wonderful interpretation by Will Todd and David Simpatico.

October 2025 - suzuki for celebrate voice festival in salisbury

Victoria made her role debut as Suzuki for Celebrate Voice festival in Salisbury.

“Victoria Simmonds brings a gentle gravitas to the role of Suzuki, another of those who can see the inescapable conclusion and can only cherish and wait.” - Fine Times Recorder Review

november 2025 - the dream of gerontius

In the beautiful surroundings of Tewkesbury Abbey, with Stroud Choral Society and The Bristol Ensemble, with Ed Lyon and Darren Jeffery, conducted by Simon Bell.

october 2025 - the dream of gerontius

For the Elysian Singers and Players, with Sam Laughton conducting for his 25th anniversary as conductor of the choir. At Sinfonia Smith Square, with Tom Elwin and Gareth Brynmore John.

august 2025 - dvorak stabat mater

Performed in the iconic Dartington Hall with Sophie Bevan, Gwilym Bowen and James Platt, conducted by Gavin Carr with Lada Valesova (piano).

august 2025 - recital in dartington hall

Victoria and Lada Valesova perform “Songs of the Seasons” in the magnificent medieval hall in Dartington.

July 2025 - taj mahal for grange park opera

“Victoria Simmonds is vibrant as the manipulative Nur Jahan, consort to Jahangir, and in a scene with Sitkovetsky as Mumtaz and a female chorus, charms in a song about jewels, one of the opera’s musical highlights.” Inge Kjemtrup - The Stage

june 2025 - itch for opera holland park

Victoria returned to Opera Holland Park to reprise the role premered in 2023 in this explosive opera by Jonathan Dove and Alisdair Middleton based on the books by Simon Mayo.

“Victoria Simmonds was the eminently sensible Watkins, Itch and Jack's teacher, a regular and practical figure whose presence balanced the more highly coloured villains. Simmonds sang her with sympathy and a high degree of communicability so she never felt like a cypher.” - Planet Hugill

april 2025 - recital in edinburgh

With Anna Tilbrook for the New Club in Edinburgh, presenting With Much Love… The Music and Letters of Kathleen Ferrier.

april 2025 - messiah in st albans

For St Alban’s Bach choir with Charlotte Bowden, Gwilym Bowen, and Felix Kemp, conducted by William Fox.

March 2025 - saint-saëns requiem

With Questors Choir in Ealing, conducted by Paul Ayres.

february 2025 - festen at rbo

Covering the role of Else in this astonishing piece’s world premiere, conducted by Ed Gardner and directed by Richard Jones.

december 2024 - a christmas carol

Reviving this fabulous adaptation of Dicken’s classic tale with handbells and carol singing. In Guildford and St John’s Smith Square.

november 2024 - messiah

At Sinfonia Smith Square, in Westminster, London.

september 2024 - beethoven 9

In Dubai Opera House, with Rachel Nichols, Jeffrey-Lloyd Roberts and Matthew Brook, conducted by Patrick Fournillier. Polish National Opera Orchestra and the Dubai Festival Choir, celebrating the 200th anniversary of its premiere.

august 2024 - recital

Victoria with Lada Valesova perform A Woman’s Life and Loves recital programme in Dartington Medieval Hall, with songs by Schumann, Dove, Britten, Sondheim, Yeston.

june 2024 - the dream of gerontius

In Christchurch Abbey with Colin Judson and Julian Empett as part of the Christchurch Music and Arts Festival.

june 2024 - across the whinny moore - Community project in Yorkshire

Victoria recently travelled up to Pickering in North Yorkshire to work with some very young singers for the Richard Shephard Music Foundation. She will return later in June to perform in a pre-festival event for Ryedale Festival celebrating the famous Lyke-Wake Walk. https://ryedalefestival.com/view-the-2024-brochure/

march 2024 - pieta - blackford

For Benson Choral Society with Jonathan Swinard conducting the West Forest Sinfonia in Dorchester Abbey.

march 2024 - messiah

Returning to York Minster for Messiah.

new Jonathan Dove/alasdair middleton opera

Summer 2023 saw Victoria in the world premiere of Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton’s latest piece, Itch. Based on the brilliant series of books by Simon Mayo, this exciting commission was performed at Opera Holland Park in a production directed by Stephen Barlow, and conducted by Jessica Cottis.

UK premiere of little women

Victoria took part in a wonderful run as Alma March (the Marmee of the novel) of this UK premiere production of Mark Adamo’s Little Women at Opera Holland Park. Originally commissioned and performed by Houston Grand Opera in 1998, there have since been numerous different productions across the world.

BACK IN BUSINESS

This summer Victoria performed her first Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Holland Park. She also stepped into the breach at the eleventh hour to sing from the pit for an indisposed colleague in their production of L’Amico Fritz - a rare gem by Mascagni. See her reviews here.

Lockdown life

Like so many of her colleagues, Victoria has been continuing to make music as best she can whilst in Lockdown in London. She has taken part in “virtual concerts”, and donated video performances to Bitesize Proms, which is raising money for Help Musicians UK.

Ain’t life a dream? (cancelled)

Returning to Scotland is always a pleasure, not only to perform for Scottish Opera once more, or for the warm welcome one always feels there, but also to see family, as Victoria’s brother and his family live there. When not catching up with them, she’ll be performing Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Written on Skin - Paris and Vienna

In February Victoria reprised her role in George Benjamin’s multi award winning piece in Paris and Vienna.

white flame keeps burning

Following the successful premiere of David Matthews’ song cycle celebrating the centenary of Muriel Spark last October, Victoria revisited the piece for it’s Scottish premiere at the end of January. Commissioned and performed by the Nash Ensemble. For more details please click here.

handel in spain

December saw Victoria return to the Messiah under the baton of Eamonn Dougan in concerts in Bilbao and Seville.

another first this november

Victoria is really excited to be visiting Liverpool for the first time this November to perform Britten’s Spring Symphony for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. She will be joining colleagues Elizabeth Watts and Allan Clayton, along with Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir.

Written on skin at venice bienniale

This September Victoria reprised her role in this phenomenal 21st Century masterpiece at the iconic Venice Bienniale, where composer George Benjamin received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award.

fresh challenges - Role debuts

2019 has been an exciting year of role learning with Victoria moving into new repertoire, with concert performances of Witch/Mother - Hansel and Gretel, and Brangäne - Tristan und Isolde. Next year she performs Hippolyta in Scottish Opera’s new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert

Recorded in November with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Richard Farnes, listen to Victoria singing a beautiful aria from Moses in Egypt at 1:53 here and Una Voce Poco Fa at 57 mins here (available till mid March 2019).

Written on skin beijing premiere

This phenomenal work received it’s Asian Premiere at the Beijing Festival in October 2018, shortly followed by a second performance in Shanghai.

David Matthews world premiere - white flame

In October 2018 the Purcell Room was the location for the world premiere performance of this song cycle with piano quintet, commissioned by the Nash Ensemble to commemorate the centenary of Muriel Spark.

Five star falstaff at Garsington - 2018

Victoria spent a wonderful summer back at Garsington revisiting the comic role of Meg Page in Bruno Ravella’s new 5 star production of Falstaff, starring Henry Waddington and conducted by Richard Farnes. For production pics click here.

FLIGHT takes off again - scottish opera

Straight after returning home on Jan 1st from Beethoven 9 in Xi'an, China, Victoria headed north to reprise her role of Minskwoman in Stephen Barlow's production of Flight by Jonathan Dove. Originally staged in Opera Holland Park in 2015, the production was revived and reimagined for it's new spaces in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The production gained great 4 and 5 star reviews across the board, and in spite of the terrible snowstorms from the "Beast from the East", and the cancellation of one show, the final show went ahead with Piano accompaniment only, the audience appreciating the sterling efforts of pianist Jonathan Swinnard with a standing ovation at the end. 

Silver Birch - Garsington Opera - international opera awards nomination

To complete her summer season 2017, Victoria returned to Garsington for a brand new commissioned piece by Roxanna Panufnik, with Libretto by Jessica Duchen.  Victoria is pleased the project  has been nominated in the International Opera Awards 2018.

Don Giovanni - Opera Holland Park

Victoria made another role debut last summer with Opera Holland Park, this time as Donna Elvira in a new production by Olly Platt and Neil Irish, with Dane Lan conducting. 

Written on Skin - Royal Opera House & Bolshoi

A busy 2017 opened with the return of George Benjamin's wonderful opera to the ROH in January, with Victoria reprising the roles of Marie/Angel 2.  The show played the Bolshoi in Moscow in April for two shows only.

La Cenerentola  - Opera Holland Park and beyond

In July 2016 Victoria made her role debut as Angelina in a new production for Opera Holland Park.  She also performed the role the following autumn in the revival for Danish National Opera, which was nominated for Opera of the Year by the Reumert Prize.  Whilst at Opera Holland Park she also reprised her roles of Alice's Mum/Mad Hatter in Will Todd's charming children's opera, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The new CD of Alice reached No.1 in the Specialist Classical Chart in it's first week of release.  

WRITTEN ON SKIN - LINCOLN CENTRE & EUROPEAN TOUR

George Benjamin's opera and Victoria made their debuts in New York in August 2015 to critical acclaim. In March 2016 the Mahler Chamber Orchestra took the piece on a European Tour, culminating in a concert at the Barbican.

Written on Skin DVD wins Gramophone Award

As well as having won a SkyArts award and numerous others around the world, George Benjamin's "Written on Skin" has scooped a Gramophone award in the Contemporary category for the Opus Arte DVD on which Victoria appears.

Verdi Requiem in Birmingham

Victoria returned to the Midlands, where she grew up, in June to perform this wonderful piece in the closing concert at Adrian Boult Hall at Birmingham Conservatoire, conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong, and broadcast on BBC radio.