Helen's sweet starring role in Suor Angelica.

A group of fellow members from Llangollen Operatic Society travelled to Bangor on Sunday evening to watch Helen Belton take the principal role in Puccini’s one-act opera Suor Angelica.

Helen, who is studying for a Masters degree in Solo Performance as a part-time student at Bangor University, was thrilled to be cast in the role, which was very demanding and required a more mature voice.
In Helen’s words it was one of the few times where “age was a bonus.” 

The opera was performed on two evenings at two venues - Bangor’s Prichard Jones Hall and Ucheldre Centre in Holyhead.

Though originally in Italian, this production was trilingual (Italian, English and Welsh) and incorporated students of the university, singers from the local community and the university orchestra.

Helen told us that she felt very privileged to be able to sing the role and that it had been a fantastic experience, though a far cry from her last role as Sybil in the Twenty Club’s production of Fawlty Towers last November.
 
Operatic Society member Louisa Jones, who was one of those who saw it in Bangor, said:  "The production was very well done indeed and the performers, directors and crew should be commended.

"Helen’s performance was excellent; dramatic, heartfelt, and left many of the audience moved to tears.

"Her friends who attended felt extremely proud to witness what we hope will be the first of many opera performances for Helen."