Lisa Rijmer is a truly international soprano. Born in Nigeria to Japanese and Dutch parents, she was brought up in Nigeria, Indonesia and Kenya.
She studied Medical Biochemistry at King’s College London, and MSc. in Biomedical Research from Imperial College. During her studies she was a part-time student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, learning with Sarah Pring. She subsequently went to study for an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Voice graduating with Distinction from Trinity College of Music (TCM) studying with Linda Hirst, and Eugene Asti. She is now under the tutelage of Noelle Barker and Audrey Hyland.
In 2009 she was selected to take part in the Wigmore Hall International Singing Competition, and in 2006 she was finalist in the Handel Singing Competition and semi finalist in the Aarhus Someropera International Competition for Young Singers (Denmark).
Most recently Lisa sang the role of Nitrocris (Belshazzar) and Messiah with Laurence Cummings. Other collaborations include recitals with the eminent trumpeter Crispian-Steele Perkins performing Purcell and Handel. She is a regular soloist with the Orpheus Sinfonia performing a selection of Mozart arias with the conductor Achim Holub. Lisa has worked with harpsichordist Julian Perkins, and recent highlights include a recital to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Thomas Arne, singing the cantata The Lover’s Recantatation and the Handel cantata Crudel Tiranno Amor.
Her concert work includes the role of Filia in Jephte’s Carrissimi for English Touring Opera (ETO) and Lisa has covered the role of Aldimira (Erismena), 1st witch (Dido and Aeneas) for ETO. She has performed in various venues such as the National Portrait Gallery, Rose Theatre Kingston, the Purcell room, St George’s Hanover Square, the Handel House Museum and St. James Piccadilly London.
Lisa has taken masterclasses with Graham Johnson, Philip Langridge, Rosalind Plowright, and Roger Vignoles. She has sung for Barbara Bonney, Lady Solti and Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Julius Drake. Her concert work includes Bach’s Magnificat with the Randers Orchestra in Aarhus Denmark, the world premiere of My Kingdom by Deidre Gribbin, Les Illuminations, Messiah, Mass in C Mozart, Brahms Requiem, Fauré Requiem, The Creation, Nelson Mass, Otcenáš, and Hugo Wolf’s Italienisches Liederbuch with Eugene Asti.
Future engagements include further collaborations with the Orpheus Sinfonia, Les Illuminations and Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 recitals in Brazil, Opera Gala Evenings around the UK, and Handel Recitals with harpsichordist Robert Aldwinckle in the UK. Lisa is very grateful for the support of Roger Frost.
