Biography

French-Canadian soprano Hélène Guilmette made her Royal Opera debut in the 2015/16 Season as Princesse Laoula (L’Étoile).
Guilmette grew up in Québec and studied music education and piano at the Université Laval and singing with Marlena Kleinman Malas in New York. She went on to win third prize in the Voix Nouvelles Competition in Paris and second prize in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Competition. Her appearances in France include Sophie (Werther) for Paris Opéra and in Strasbourgh under Emmanuel Plasson, Blanche de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande) for Opéra de Lyon, Andromède (Lully’s Persée) for Théatre des Champs-Elysées and in Metz and Versailles, Sister Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites) in Nice, Thérèse (Les Mamelles de Tirésias) for the Paris Opéra-Comique and Opéra de Lyon, Hélène (Le Timbre d’argent) for Opéra-Comique, Euridice (Orfeo et Euridice) for Angers-Nantes Opéra, Télaïre (Castor et Pollux) and Hébe/Phani/Fatima (Les Indes galantes) for Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) for Opéra de Montpéllier and in Lille.
International engagements include Princesses Laoula for Dutch National Opera, Sister Constance for Bavarian State Opera and in Toronto, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) and Sophie in Brussels, Susanna and Zerlina (Don Giovanni) in Montréal, Musetta (La bohème) in Québec and Mélisande (Pelléas et Mélisande) in concert with Kent Nagano and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. She has sung in concert and recital in Europe, Istanbul and Buenos Aires, in repertory including Handel’s Messiah, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater (with Andreas Scholl), Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation and Poulenc’s Stabat Mater. Her recordings include a French song recital for Analekta, Handel cantatas with Scholl and the Accademia Bizantina and Dixit Dominus/Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne for Harmonia Mundi.
News and features
Watch: Mark Elder explores the music of L’Étoile — 'It's quite extraordinary'
The conductor explored the music of relatively unknown composer Emmanuel Chabrier with the help of two principal cast members.
Photos
Francois Piolino as Prince Herisson de Porc, Julie Boulianne as Aloes, Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula, Aimery Lefevre as Tapioca in L’Étoile

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula and Julie Boulianne as Aloes

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula, Kate Lindsey as Lazuli and Julie Boulianne as Aloes

Mark Elder and Hélène Guilmette as Laoula in rehearsal for L'Étoile, The Royal Opera

Hélène Guilmette

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula in L’Étoile

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula in L’Étoile

Hélène Guilmette as Laoula and François Piolino as Hérisson de Porc-Epic in rehearsal for L'Étoile, The Royal Opera

Julie Boulianne as Aloès and Hélène Guilmette as Princess Laoula in L'Étoile, The Royal Opera

Hélène Guilmette as Princess Laoula in L'Étoile, The Royal Opera

Francois Piolino as Prince Herisson de Porc, Julie Boulianne as Aloes, Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula, Aimery Lefevre as Tapioca in L’Étoile

Hélène Guilmette as Laoula and Kate Lindsey as Lazuli in rehearsal for L'Étoile, The Royal Opera

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula and the Chorus of the Royal Opera House

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula, Kate Lindsey as Lazuli and Julie Boulianne as Aloes

Helene Guilmette as Princesse Laoula, Kate Lindsey as Lazuli and Julie Boulianne as Aloes

Simon Bailey as Siroco, Christophe Mortagne as King Ouf I and Hélène Guilmette as Laoula in rehearsal for L'Étoile, The Royal Opera
