BIOGRAPHY

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French conductor Ben-Santamaria is fast becoming one of the UK's most sought after up-and-coming opera conductors.

 

Ben-Santamaria has this season joined Opera North as their first female conductor associate.

In June 2019,  she made her UK debut conducting Un ballo in maschera at Opera Holland Park. 

 

Sonia was one of the six women conductors selected worldwide for the 2018 The Dallas Opera Hart Institute

as well as becoming that same year the first female conductor chosen to be

Link artist associate of the Royal Opera House Jette Parker Young Artist scheme.

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Ben-Santamaria was a trainee repetiteur at the English National Opera 2011/2012 and the National Opera Studio 2010 after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, London and the Conservatoire National de Toulouse, France.

CURRICULUM VITAE

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ORCHESTRE DE LA CITÉ D'INGRES 2021

Concert

 

GIANNI SCHICCHI 

Mediterranean Opera Studio Festival 2021

 

OPERA NORTH

Assistant Associate Conductor 2019/2020

Green Eggs and Ham tour

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UN BALLO IN MASCHERA

Opera Holland Park,  June 2019

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THE DALLAS OPERA

Hart Institute Gala, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Oct-Nov 2018

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ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, COVENT GARDEN

Jette Parkers Scheme Link Artist, 2018 - 2019

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CARMEN CARMEN CARMEN

An insight into Georges Bizet's Carmen

in support of Dress for Success, September 2018 

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BETWEEN CONSTELLATION by Ruth Chan

Grimborn Festival, August 2018

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SWAP'RA GALA  

Le Nozze di Figaro & Madama Butterfly (scenes)

Opera Holland Park,  July 2018

 

CHAUSSON'S CONCERTO Op 21

soloists Vasko Vassilev & Serge Rybin

Royal Opera House,  March 2018 

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MONSTROUS CHILD by G.Higgins 

Royal Opera House, run through & presentation,  Jan-Feb 2018

 

DON GIOVANNI  

HeadFirst Productions,  Sept-Oct 2017

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TO HIMSELF, ALONE by J.Cabon 

Tête à Tête Opera Festival,  Aug 2017

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DIE FLEDERMAUS  

Opera Integra, March 2017 

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DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE   

Chelmsford City Opera & Orchestra 2013

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TOSCA BACKSTAGE CONDUCTING  
English National Opera  2011-2012

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SELECTED WORK

 

FRENCH LANGUAGE COACH

Jette Parker Young Artists, 2018 - ongoing

 

LA TRAVIATA 

Longborough Opera Festival, May-June 2018

(Chorus master & Assistant conductor)

 

CARMEN

Royal Opera House - Youth Company

(Rehearsal Conductor) Nov-Dec 2017 Jan & May 2018 

 

EUGENE ONEGIN

Opera Up Close, Nov-Dec 2017

(Musical Director)

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SUKANYA

Royal Opera House and Curve Leicester, Apr-May 2017

(Chief Repetiteur & Assistant conductor)

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NATIONAL OPERA STUDIO

Short courses,  2013 - ongoing

(Vocal Coach & Repetiteur)

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THAIS & NABUCCO

Chelsea Opera Group, 2017 & 2018

(Chorus master)


MACBETH & DIE FLEDERMAUS

Opera Integra,  2016 - 2017

(Musical director & Chorus master)

 

 

 

REPETITEUR WORK

 

Royal Opera House  JPYA 2018

LA TRAVIATA Longborough Opera 2018

LA CLEMENZA DI TITO Opera de Bauge 2017

SUKANIYA  Royal Opera House 2017

LA BOHEME, LAKME Opera Holland Park  2015 - 2016 
FIGARO GETS A DIVORCE  presentation with Sir David Pountney for Welsh National Opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden 2015
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER  Welsh National Opera  2014 
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR  Winslow Hall Opera  2014 
SALOME  Wexford Festival Opera  2014 

MADAMA BUTTERFLY YA Opera Holland Park 2013

LA TRAVIATA, IL TROVATORE, TOSCA  Dorset Festival Opera  2011-2013
THE PASSENGER, TOSCA  English National Opera  2011-2012

FIGARO covers cast English National Opera 2011

DON GIOVANNI YA  Mid Wales Opera  2012
LA TRAVIATA, L’ELISIR D’AMORE, AIDA  Riverside Opera  2009-2011

 

 

 

AWARDS

 

Leonard Hancock Memorial Trust Prize National Opera Studio 2010

Musicians’ Benevolent Fund Award for Repetiteur 2010

Major Van Someren-Godfrey Memorial Prize for Accompaniment in English Song 2006

Elsie Prater Award and Royal Academy of Music Power Biggs Award 2005