One of the new generation of British Mezzo-sopranos, Allison Cook is beginning to develop an impressive international reputation, with recent highlights including repertoire as diverse as a critically-acclaimed world premiere of Michael Berkeley’s For you with Music Theatre Wales, the title role in L’incoronazione di Poppea in Aix en Provence, Baba the Turk The Rake’s Progress in Portugal, and the title role in Bizet’s Carmen for Glyndebourne. She sang the role of Amastre in Handel’s Serse for Opera Theatre Company, Ireland, the role of Geschwitz for the Royal Opera’s 2009 production of Lulu, and a gala of Zarzuela with the Münchner Symphoniker this summer.

Her European success has been built on performances such as the world premiere of Peter Eötvös’ Le Balcon at Aix-en-Provence, Soeur Mathilde Les dialogues des Carmélites in Opéra National du Rhin, and appearances at the Savonnlinna Festival and BBC Proms. She sang the role of Orlofsky Die Fledermaus for Glyndebourne, and the title-role in John Browne’s Babette’s Feast and Kate Julian Owen Wingrave for the Linbury Studio of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Her international appearances have included Knappe and Blumenmädchen Parsifal, and Garcias Don Quichotte, both at L’Opéra de la Bastille, Paris, conducted by James Conlon, Der Komponist Ariadne auf Naxos for Opéra National du Rhin, as well as the roles of Valetto and Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea in Aix-en-Provence, conducted by Marc Minkowski. Other appearances have included Vienna, Amsterdam, Toulouse, Opéra National de Paris, and Opéra de Nancy, where she appeared as Der Trommler Der Kaiser von Atlantis.

Allison made a welcome return to the podium of the BBC Proms in 2008, as part of the Vaughan-Williams 50th Anniversary celebrations, in his Serenade to Music with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.