In Conversation with Claire Lees: The Voice of an Angel
As Sheffield Chamber Orchestra brings Haydn’s monumental oratorio The Creation to life, the spotlight falls on the soprano soloist tasked with bridging the divine and the human.
For Claire Lees, this production offers a rare and exhilarating challenge: the opportunity to portray two distinct facets of existence within a single performance.
In Haydn’s masterpiece, the soprano is called upon to perform a dual role—first as the Archangel Gabriel, a celestial witness to the dawn of time, and later as Eve, the first woman. It is a transition that Claire finds particularly rewarding.
"The soprano sings two roles within The Creation: The Archangel Gabriel and Eve," Claire explains. "Gabriel at the beginning has more of a narrator role—a witness to the creation of the world, excelling in the new existence of birds and fish and the heavens. Eve, however, is a character; she embodies purity and sings of her love for Adam. So, the soprano part gets the best of both worlds; she gets to sing both as a narrator and as a character."
A Masterclass in Musical Painting
Haydn’s The Creation is celebrated for its vivid "word painting," where the orchestra and voice collaborate to mimic the natural world. For a singer, this requires not just technical precision but an almost child-like sense of wonder.
Claire points to the celebrated aria "On mighty pens" as the pinnacle of this technique. "Haydn is a gift of a composer for singers," she says. "‘On mighty pens’ is a perfect, vivid example of word painting and sounds that mimic birds—the dove cooing, the merry lark with its high trilling, as well as representations of the eagle and a nightingale duetting with the flute. Haydn does the hard work for you with the setting of his text and the way the voice weaves with the orchestra."
From Chaos to Order: A Message for Today
While The Creation was composed in the late 18th century, its themes of environmental harmony and the emergence of order from chaos feel strikingly relevant today. Claire believes the work offers a necessary tonic for the modern age.
"I think we need Haydn’s Creation more than ever," she reflects. "We are living in turbulent times, and the piece is very much about the transition from chaos to order. It’s a reminder that we have to cherish and protect our world. It is a bright, optimistic piece, full of joy and love, and I hope audiences can leave feeling inspired and hopeful to protect and love our beautiful world."
Telling a story
Claire Lees’ appearance with Sheffield Chamber Orchestra follows a string of high-profile successes on the operatic and concert stages. A graduate of both the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she has established herself as one of the most versatile sopranos of her generation.
Her career highlights include her critically acclaimed role debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at Garsington Opera—described by Opera Today as "naturally inspiring confidence"—and performances with Opera North as Pamina in The Magic Flute and Lisette in La Rondine. A Samling Artist and winner of the 2019 Wil Keune Mozart Prize, Claire has graced the stages of the Barbican Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Whether she is performing a Mozart heroine or a Baroque angel, Claire’s approach remains rooted in the power of the narrative. "I always have to tell myself that I’m here to tell a story," she says of her mental preparation. "That helps with nerves and focus. Serving the text and music is all we need to do. I always try to enjoy each performance; it is such a privilege to share such wonderful works, be they oratorios, operas, or songs."
As she takes the stage today, Claire invites us to look at the world through the eyes of Gabriel and Eve—to hear the birdsong in the flute and the majesty of the heavens in the strings—and to remember the fragile beauty of the world we share.