Mezzo soprano Alexandra Mathew has built a varied career as oratorio soloist, opera singer, and recitalist across Australia, Asia and the UK. Recently, Alexandra performed the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola Isabella in L’italiana in Algeri, Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther, and chorus in Opera Australia’s productions of Magic Flute, Lohengrin and Aida. She also appeared as mezzo soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Sydney; premiered Andrew Anderson’s song cycle Songs of Sleep at the Pilgrim Church in Adelaide; Hugh Crosthwaite’s song cycle Metamorphoses at the Melbourne Recital Centre; performed with the Melbourne Pops Orchestra in BBC Planet Earth II at the Melbourne Convention Centre; and participated in the Melbourne International Festival of Lieder and Art Song, for which she performed alongside pianist Dr Graham Johnson OBE. Other recent highlights include appearances as soloist in Ola Gjeilo’s Dreamweaver (Australian premiere), Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Reinhard Keiser’s Weihnachtsoratorium; and a tour of China with the Australian International Opera Company.
Other premiere performances include Andrew Anderson’s song cycle In Black Ink; the roles of ‘Sister Teresa’ in Luke Cummins’s opera Timor and ‘Toy sailor’ in Na’ama Zisser’s opera Black Sand; and Joel M. Baldwin’s Bow and Baleno at the National Gallery, London. Alexandra’s recording of In Black Ink was nominated as one of the best classical CDs of 2018 at Readings. In 2022 Alexandra was runner-up in the 16th RMP Aria competition, and in 2016 was awarded an inaugural scholarship to sing with the Melbourne Bach Choir. Additionally, she has been the recipient of scholarships from the Opus 50 Trust and prize winner at the Diamond Valley, Warragul, and B’nai B’rith eisteddfods.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and a Master of Music (Musicology) from the University of Melbourne, and has completed studies in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music, London. Alexandra’s writing has appeared in Australian Book Review, Context musicological journal, Limelight, CutCommon, and Collections magazine.
