experience
Born in London of Greek-Cypriot heritage, Louisa Petais (mezzo-soprano) began her musical studies aged 9 with the pianoforte and while at school studied as a pianist until she began to focus on singing. After school she completed a BA (Hons) degree in Classics at King's College, London, during which time she took voice lessons with Jenny Lilleystone.
In her time at King's, Louisa honed her performance skills on the stage as an actress during the annual London Festival of Greek Drama taking up the roles of Clytemnestra (The Libation Bearers), Antigone and Agave (The Bacchae) all performed in the original Greek. She also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as the Chorus Leader in Aristophanes’ Clouds, a role which was adapted with music composed for her voice.
In 2003 she was accepted by the department of Vocal Studies at Trinity College of Music, London from where she graduated with a BMus (Hons) degree in July 2007. While at Trinity she trained with Wendy Eathorne and was coached by Rianka Bouwmeester. She has performed as a soloist in numerous concerts of operatic arias and classical songs and is also an experienced oratorio singer.
Louisa has sung with New Youth Opera, Southgate Opera, and Suffolk Opera for which she has recently undertaken the role of Carmen (Carmen - Bizet).
In October 2007 Louisa was accepted onto the L.T.L (Laboratorio Toscano per la Lirica) Opera Studio programme for young opera singers. She has performed in the ensemble and as a soloist in their production of Paride ed Elena by Gluck at the opera houses in Pisa, Livorno and Lucca in February 2008 and at the Opèra Royal de Wallonie in Belgium in October 2008.
Louisa's voice has been described as 'full and rich' and 'dramatic'. Dark overtones produce a depth of sound which matches the physical presence and stagecraft of the singer. Her forte is in the dramatic interpretation of operatic arias which she does with a combination of imagination, sensitivity and technical ability.
Louisa sings confidently in English, Italian, German, French, Greek and Spanish.
In addition to English she speaks Italian and Greek.
She now studies with mezzo-soprano Bianca Maria Casoni in Milan and divides her time between London and Brussels.
