HAMILTON born, and in-demand opera soprano, Siobhan Stagg, has been described as one of the most outstanding artists to emerge from Australia in recent years.

Although the Melbourne university graduate now calls Berlin home, she is currently on a solo recital tour across Australia including performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Critics have praised her voice as “absolutely stunning and powerful … coupled with her undeniably magnetic stage presence” and as “one of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard.”

Although the 36-year-old left Hamilton with her teaching parents when she was just 14 months old, the singing sensation said she feels a strong affinity with the country having grown up in Mildura.

“I moved from Hamilton when I was quite young, so I don’t have such strong memories of the town, but my parents and older brother always spoke fondly of their time there,” Ms Stagg said.

“We returned a few times when I was a child for family holidays in the Grampians.

“I grew up in Mildura, which is also a rural area, and while I spend most of my time in the world’s capital cities these days, growing up in country Victoria certainly shaped the person I am today.”

Ms Stagg said that while singing has taken her to some amazing places around the world, she’s never forgotten where she comes from.

“It’s always lovely to come back and sing for my home crowd in Australia,” she said.

“We’ve performed “Echoed Voices” in Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Mildura and the Sydney Opera House so far, and the audience reactions have been so moving.

“It was particularly special to be acknowledged as recipient of the Key to the City of Mildura, which was presented by Mildura Rural City Councillor Helen Healy after my concert in Mildura on Sunday night.

Her numerous performances and residencies include six years as a principal soloist at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, singing Tytania in the premiere of Ted Huffman’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten, the Salzburg Festival for Mozart Matinees, a debut at Festival Aix-en-Provence in Romeo Castellucci’s staging of Mozart’s Requiem, and the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall.

“I’ve performed at the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall twice now, as well as attending many Proms concerts as a spectator,” Ms Stagg said.

“There’s an incredible atmosphere every time, no matter which side of the podium you are.

“The buzz of the 5000 strong crowd, many standing in the ‘mosh pit’ at the front of the stage... it’s well worth a visit if you find yourself in London during Proms season.

“Many of the concerts are recorded for radio and TV, so you can also watch and listen at home in Hamilton.”

Among the numerous accolades she has received for her singing, Ms Stagg was recognised with a 2019 Green Room Award for Best Female Lead in an Opera for her “triumphant” Australian operatic debut as Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande for Victorian Opera.

In 2014 she won the Richard Strauss Prize at the International Mozart Competition.

Ms Stagg’s recent performance at the Sydney Opera House received rave reviews.

‘Love was in the air for the two-hour performance. At the beginning of the second half, an older gentleman in the audience called out “You are beautiful and you sing beautifully”.’

‘A masterclass in recital presentation, this fascinating concert by Siobhan Stagg and Nico de Villiers at the beginning of their National tour offered not only an evening of ravishing singing from Australian soprano, Siobhan Stagg, but also for many, an absorbing introduction to the music of little-known composer, Richard Hageman.’

Parents Lloyd and Helen Stagg now live in Adelaide and are understandably proud of their daughter’s many accomplishments in music and have often travelled overseas to see her sing.

“We went to see her perform in the Magic Flute in London at Covent Garden – she played Pamina,” Mrs Stagg said.

“We also went to see her perform in the lead role as Cendrillon (Cinderella) in Chicago USA and have been to see her sing in Berlin where she lives a few times.”

Although leaving Hamilton 35 years ago, the Stagg family still have nostalgic ties to the area.

“We moved away from Hamilton in 1989 but still have connections with people in the town,” Mrs Stagg said.

“We were there for 10 years and both worked as teachers.

“Lloyd taught at Casterton High School and also Hamilton Technical School (now Baimbridge College).

“I did some relief teaching at the Hamilton High School and also taught at Monivae College. So as a young couple, we were quite involved in the town - we had a lot of friends there at the time.

“I really missed the community when we moved away.”

Mrs Stagg said her daughter’s current tour was a great opportunity for locals who wanted to experience the higher echelons of musical prowess.

“The Melbourne concert on September 1, Siobhan is singing with baritone Roderick Williams – he performed with her in the Magic Flute in London … I think it’s not too far for people to travel if they’re interested in that sort of thing.”

Ms Stagg and her accompaniment de Villiers have released an album of 25 of Hageman’s songs, Voices.

To hear her voice in all its glory, take a listen to her new album Debussy & Strauss recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra; both are available on streaming platforms.

More information on tour dates is available on the Lewis Holland Artist Management Facebook page.