Reviews

  • A rare treat to see an accomplished, self-accompanied classical singer.

    A rare treat to see an accomplished, self-accompanied classical singer.

    Lucy Farrimond is a British lyric soprano who first appeared at St Mary in the Baum as an RNCM student

    in 2020 and is clearly fulfilling the considerable promise she showed then. It is great that Rochdale’s

    generous audiences at Toad Lane Concerts are helping such talent to hone their performing skills. What

    is more, her latest album was to be presented the following day in Manchester.

    At just 21, Lucy made her BBC Proms solo debut with Haydn’s The Creation at the Royal Albert Hall with

    the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and she has featured on BBC and ITV and on BBC Radio.

    It takes a special singer to dare to be self-accompanied. Issues arise: assuming you are competent in

    both sets of skills, (which Lucy clearly was), on the one hand you can dispense with an unsympathetic or

    incompetent pianist, but you could miss the shared interpretation and combined nuances of two

    individual musicians. You can keep control of your personal interpretation yet focus on the score could

    limit your rapport with the audience ... and so on. Lucy coped with these issues remarkably well.

    Her determination to develop this as her USP (unique selling point) is reminiscent of the late, great,

    twentieth century singer, pianist and composer Professor Michael Head FRAM who gave his first public

    recital as a self-accompanied singer at Wigmore Hall in 1929. For over fifty years he was a pillar of the

    profession as an examiner, festival adjudicator and recitalist.

    In Lucy we had a gifted performer with a captivating manner; she introduced and delivered her varied

    programme with charm and panache. Twentieth century British traditional songs and settings by Britten,

    plus songs by Quilter, Vaughan Williams and Coates were all beautifully executed.

    A well-earned breather allowed her full use of her pianistic skills with Wagner’s Album - Leaf. The high

    spot of her interpretation, Sure On This Shining Night by Samuel Barber was an American ‘interloper’ that

    required all her skill and technique in both voice and piano. She finished gently with the perennial

    standards, We'll Gather Lilacs by Novello and the evergreen, I'll Walk Beside You.

    Like Head, Lucy is also a composer. having studied composition at Chetham’s and the RNCM. In 2016,

    she won First Prize in Chetham’s Biennial Carol Competition which was premiered at Manchester

    Cathedral and later broadcast on the BBC. Her works span orchestral, chamber, brass band and choral

    repertoire. Her choral work ‘HER VOICE’, commissioned by Voices of Women in 2023, was performed at

    EMPOWER (Manchester, 2024).

    Originally from Standish, Wigan, Lucy is passionate about promoting and representing music in the North

    of England and is a proud trustee of Wigan Music Society. As with Michael Head in the last century, Lucy’s

    self-accompanied recitals could be an accessible way of keeping our rich heritage repertoire alive and

    enjoyed in this one.

    Dr Joe Dawson (April 2026)

  • "Our church in Edinburgh was treated to a very varied programme from classical operatic arias to English and Scottish folk songs to which we were invited to join in. Opera is not a genre that appeals to everyone but Lucy made it all so approachable by chatting informally between self-accompanied songs. Even during the interval she stayed with us discussing music and answering questions over a cup of tea. The evening was a real treat and irrespective of one's musical tastes, Lucy has the ability to make professional quality singing appeal to a wide range of ages and musical experience. This is the first time we have had a professional singer who makes her work accessible to such a wide non-expert audience. Well done and thanks for helping us open the door of classical operatic singing for the first time in our church."

    Donald Cameron  (October 2025)

    BLACKHALL ST COLUMBA'S EDINBURGH

  • "Rosa, here performed by English soprano Lucy Farrimond, was equally both exquisite in voice and convincingly sincere in her actions. She has a sweet, caressing clarion voice, crystal clear with wonderful diction. Her ‘Humble Moth’ duet with Bénédict in the third act was enchanting, but her duet with Hélène ‘O Virgin Mother’, was exquisite with both sopranos blending beautifully" .

    Mike Hardy  (June 2025)

    OPERAWIRE MAGAZINE

  • "Lucy Farrimond brought charm and personality to Bénédict's fiancée, Rosa".

    George Hall  (August 2025)

    OPERA MAGAZINE

  • "Soprano Lucy Farrimond is a remarkable singer who displays a reliable and exceptional talent. With a voice that mesmerises audiences, she effortlessly navigates through a variety of classical genres with grace and precision. Her performances showcase her impeccable vocal range and control, leaving a lasting impression with her powerful and emotive performances".

    John Cullen (April 2024)

    ALL SAINTS CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA LONDON

  • "I first encountered Lucy in 2019, when I was Assistant Conductor to the BBC Proms Youth Academy and BBC Philharmonic. Lucy was selected for her BBC Proms Solo Debut in Haydn's 'The Creation' at The Royal Albert Hall, a performance which earned her a glowing review in ‘The Guardian’. Her career has flourished since and I have been impressed with her musical creativity and vocal brilliance she brings to a wide range of repertoire. I personally chose Lucy to sing Mahler's Fourth Symphony recently with Stockport Symphony Orchestra. She is always outstandingly prepared, is totally professional in all of her communications and people love playing with her. She understands the importance of connecting to new audiences through her powerful social media platforms. On stage, she has an incredible stage presence and she captures the essence of the music through her love of the music which shines through for the audience to witness. She is a true artist." .

    Robert Guy  (April 2024)

    AD - NEW SINFONIA
    DIRECTOR - CHORAL PROGRAMMES, ENSEMBLES & CONDUCTING (UOM)

  • "What a BEAUTIFUL performance to end the year 🎉🎄 The feedback we had from our guests was outstanding! A huge thank you to both Lucy and Henry 🎉"New List Item

    (December 2022)

    C. BECHSTEIN CENTRE MANCHESTER

  • "Lucy gave a wonderfully controlled performance and a delightful vocal quality throughout. Her story telling was beautifully understated and her top note towards the end was heavenly - it reached the angels".

    Matt Baker (April 2022)

    CHESTER COMPETITIVE FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS