Julia Mariko – Soprano

Biography

English-Japanese soprano Julia Mariko was born in the North East of England, and is now based in London. In 2023 she recorded Musetta in a new feature of Robin Norton-Hale’s Olivier award-winning production of La bohème and performed Virtue, covering Poppea/Drusilla, The Coronation of Poppea (English Touring Opera) and Shirley and Stella, covering Vera, The Land of Might Have Been (Buxton International Festival). In 2024 she covered Anne Truelove The Rake’s Progress and performed Lamplighter Manon Lescaut for ETO, alongside Learning and Participation projects for ETO, ENO and Opera North. In 2025 she performs Cathleen Riders to the Sea by Vaughan Williams with OperaUpClose.

In 2022, Julia performed the riole of The Linnet in John Barber’s The Selfish Giant with Opera North, Gianetta L’elisir d’amore with Scherzo Ensemble and Gretel in excerpts with English National Opera Engage. Previous highlights include performing the roles of Barbarina The Marriage of Figaro (Opera North), Gretel Hansel and Gretel (Waterperry Opera Festival), Fredrika A Little Night Music (Buxton Opera Festival), Soeur Constance Dialogues des Carmélites (RNCM Opera), Gianetta The Gondoliers and Kate The Yeomen of the Guard (The National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company), Ellie Man in the Moon, (Charles Court Opera), covered Amore Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (Opera North/BBC Radio 3), Fairy Godmother  Cinderella (Opera North Whistle Stop Opera) and Princess Hrothmund in Off-West End award-winning production Beowulf (Charles Court Opera).

Julia formerly trained at the Royal Northern College of Music and appeared on the recital stage as a Momentum Artist as part of 2021 Leeds Lieder Festival with Dame Sarah Connolly. She is now under the tutelage of Janis Kelly.

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Video

YouTube playlist includes:

  • No word from Tom, The Rake’s Progress, Stravinsky
  • Pleurs d’or, Gabriel Fauré (recorded with Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton as part of the 2021 Leeds Lieder Festival)
  • Be kind and courteous, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Britten
  • Wo Bin Ich?Hänsel und Gretel, Humperdinck 
  • Prendi, per me sei libero, L’elisir d’amore, Donizetti
  • The Cricket’s AriaThe Adventures of Pinocchio, Dove 
  • Grazie ai numi parti… Nel Grave Tormento, Mitridate, re di Ponto, Mozart
  • Epheu, No. 3 Mädchenblumen Op.22, Richard Strauss
  • Ariel, a character profile of Ariel from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, Jonathan Dove
  • Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella extract

Reviews

“Julia Mariko did double duty as both Virtue and a pitch perfect Drusilla. The soprano was one of several artists who from their first notes made the listener sit bolt upright”

Bachtrack

“Julia Mariko was mesmerising as a feisty, mischievous but vulnerable Gretel. Her singing must be commended too, particularly in the song when they are praying in the woods at night.”

Daily Info

“Julia Mariko is the tirelessly bubbly Fairy Godmother, her white tights straight out of panto, encouraging her apprentices—the audience—to brandish their magic wands.”

Opera Magazine

“Julia Mariko’s captivating Fairy Godmother introduces the scene in rhyming couplets and the audience at home is greeted as Cinderella’s visitors are encouraged to help with a spell.”

The Reviews Hub

“Julia Mariko’s Kate was notable for the bell-like clarity of her voice.”

Opera Magazine

“The final words must go to Carrell as Blanche and Mariko as Constance. Their skill as singers and talent as actors was astounding.”

Northern Soul

Photos

Credit: Craig Fuller
Credit: Sofia Yang Martinez