Music Matters: Anna-Helena Maclachlan

The latest instalment of Music Matters features mezzo soprano Anna-Helena Maclachlan from Delvin. Earlier this year Anna-Helena was one of two recipients of the 2024 Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Bursary, which supports exceptional talent. She also recently graduated with a first-class honours from the BMus Vocal Performance degree at Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM).

What is your favourite album?

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Amazing lyrics and music, I could listen to it over and over again.

What song do you wish you had written?

Schubert’s Ave Maria – what a stunning piece.

Which band from any era would you love to have been a member of?

Queen! They seem like they had great craic and made such fun and innovative music.

What song are you most proud of?

I don’t write music being an opera singer, but I think the song I’m most proud of performing would be Pensa alla Patria from Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri.

Guiltiest musical pleasure?

Rocky Horror Picture Show – great soundtrack for pretending you’re in a music video… we’ve all been there.

Most memorable gig you’ve ever been to?

Would have to be Turandot at Deutsche Oper Berlin. It was an incredible staging and production and made me think about the opera in a completely new way.

Most memorable gig you’ve ever played?

Getting to play the Roman Emperor Nero in Monteverdi’s La Coronazione dI Poppea. He was a notoriously nasty piece of work and I had way too much fun playing the villain.

Biggest musical inspiration?

Anne Murray – another Irish mezzo-soprano who is just phenomenal! Her technique is second to none and I always enjoy her characterisation. I love listening to her recordings!

Who is Westmeath’s greatest ever musician?

It has to be Joe Dolan!

If you could only listen to five songs for the rest of your life what would they be?

To Zion – Lauryn Hill

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy – Queen

American Pie – Don McClean

Ave Maria – Schubert

Morgen – Strauss