Lady Bragg over and out - what a lovely team to have created the premiere of new opera "Rosalind" with 🧬

Curtain call at the premiere of Rosalind, an opera about the work of Rosalind Franklin on the discovery of DNA, in the chapel of King's College London; it was at King's that she undertook her DNA research.

Trying to look fabulous on your dinner break but it's giving Dinner Ladies 💁‍♀️

Dress rehearsal today for "Rosalind" 🧬

Here's part of the double-helix inspired set, very near the labs where Franklin took the famous Photograph 51.

Fantastic to put it together with the London Mozart Players and hear the full score - and such a lovely team to work with over the last few weeks.

...and CONCERT:

🎹 6 May
Letters from Scandinavia
Trinity College, Cambridge
with Sholto Kynoch (piano)

🎻 16 May
VIVALDI Gloria
Mountain Ash Choral Society

🎭 21, 22, 24 May, 4 Jun, 29 Aug, 5 Sep
Wild Arts Opera Evenings

🌳 21 Jun
SongPath at Durham Botanic Gardens

www.joannaharries.com/diary-2026

Some spring/summer things:
OPERA

🧬 21 & 22 Apr
WHITE Rosalind (Alice Bragg)
London Mozart Players & Helix Music

🎵 19 Jul
JANÁČEK Katya Kabanova (Varvara)
New Palace Opera

🍬 30 Jul, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 Aug
HUMPERDINCK Hänsel & Gretel (Hänsel)
Longborough Festival Opera

www.joannaharries.com/diary-2026

It was a joy to be a part of "First Thought, Best Thought" at @poetry.plays festival last night: an entirely improvised evening with 3 dancers, painter, pianist, guitarist, spoken word artist and me responding to lines of poetry on the spot. Playful, moving, funny & beautiful in turn 🥰

Opera requires many skillsets and my latest is learning how to tie a bowtie onstage whilst singing (and not throttling the bass-baritone). The way to practice is apparently on your leg. Sartorial tips welcome 🎀

Meanwhile exciting to see the set and costume designs for "Rosalind" this morning 🧬

So looking forward to joining Poetry Plays and this incredible line-up for a special event of multidisciplinary improvisation with poetry, music, dance, art & spoken word
💃🎸🎨🎭🎹🕺✏️📖

📍 The Cockpit, Marylebone
🗓️ Saturday 11th April, 7:30pm

www.poetryplays.com/poetry-plays-2026

An Opera Explores the Story of Rosalind Franklin and the Discovery of DNA Betrayal, ambition and the double helix: turning Rosalind Franklin’s story and the discovery of the structure of DNA into an opera

It's also featured in a Lost Women of Science podcast episode:

🎙️ www.scientificamerican.com/article/an-opera-explores-the-story-of-rosalind-franklin-and-the-discovery-of-dna/

Next week we start rehearsals for "Rosalind", a new opera about Rosalind Franklin and the discovery of DNA with Helix Music & the London Mozart Players 🧬

Tickets are sold out but you can apply for the waiting list (21 & 22 April)

🎟️ www.londonmozartplayers.com/event/helix-music-rosalind/

Is there anything as satisfying as fresh stationery? My scores are shivering in anticipation ✏️📑

Good! Hopefully the beer made up for it. I was home and in pyjamas by 10pm - luxury!!

Oh no, did you make it home?? 😬

What a great programme and lovely audience tonight. So lucky to have fantastic soloists @joannaharries.bsky.social and @susannafairbairn.bsys.social with our amazing Musical Director @jkaconductor.bsky.social. This is why we rehearse every week!

I love a good Vivaldi "Gloria" - you can't help but feel joyful when you hear the orchestra begin!🎻

Lovely concert tonight with @harpendenchoral & @kingschamberorchestra on fine form, with @jkaconductor.bsky.social at the helm & @susannafairbairn also singing a beautiful Mozart "Exultate Jubilate"🎵

Paris in the spring on a fleeting visit earlier this week 🇫🇷🥖🌞

Thank you ☺️

Looking forward to ringing in the Spring Equinox with some Vivaldi tomorrow with @jkaconductor.bsky.social @susannafairbairn @harpendenchoral & @kingschamberorchestra 🎶 🌷

Looking forward to singing this wonderful music at our concert on Saturday 21st March with @jkaconductor.bsky.social and soloists Susanna Fairbairn and @joannaharries.bsky.social. Tickets available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/harpendencho.... We hope to see you there!

Public booking is open for Longborough Festival Opera Hansel & Gretel this summer!

Hansel -me 🍭
Gretel -Rosalind Dobson
Witch/Mother -Lee Bisset
Father -Darren Jeffery
Dew Fairy -Kelli-Ann Masterson
Sandman -Laura Fleur
Conductor -Karen Kamensek
Director -Lucy Bailey

lfo.org.uk/opera/hansel...

New copies of "Letters from Scandinavia" CDs arrived because I'd sold all my others🥰

So proud of this album with Sholto Kynoch, Peter Facer & CRD Records.

You can listen on Spotify/Apple Music etc, but if you really want to make a musician's day you can buy a copy - DM & I'll post your very own! 📮

You can now register for our summer SongPath at Durham Botanic Garden on Sunday 21 June!🌳

Join me & Jess Dandy for an uplifting blend of music, nature & wellbeing under the trees🌻
pay.durham.ac.uk/event-durham...

Meanwhile here's a throwback to our autumn SongPath at Brighton Early Music Festival🍎

Who doesn't love Vivaldi? 🎻 The Gloria is always one of my favourite oratorios to perform. This time next month I'm singing it with @jkaconductor.bsky.social Susanna Fairbairn, Harpenden Choral Society & Kings Sinfonietta - and you will also want to come for Susanna's firecracker Mozart 🎵

On the music stand today is new opera "Rosalind", about Rosalind Franklin and the discovery of DNA.

It premieres in April with the London Mozart Players & Helix Music in the chapel of Kings College London, where Franklin made the famous Photograph 51 🧬

www.londonmozartplayers.com/whatson-even...

This really is the most glorious music 🎵🍭

This morning I'm prepping for a coaching tomorrow on Hansel and reflecting on how lucky I am to sing this dream role at Longborough Festival Opera this summer!

Public booking opens 2 March. But 18-35 tickets open now!
www.lfo.org.uk/opera/hansel-and-gretel

What a lovely concert last night with Ensemble Augelletti in the beautiful Great Hall at Barts North Wing - the culmination of my time as a Musician in Residence there 🎻🪈🎵

We've also made a sound installation, available to all on the Barts Heritage website soon!

www.bartsnorthwing.org.uk

Join us in the candlelit Great Hall of London's oldest working hospital for an evening of 18th century music and readings.

🎵 Monday 12 January, 7pm
🕯️ Great Hall, Bart's North Wing
🎻 £10/£8

www.bartsnorthwing.org.uk

Trying to stay warm in these icy temperatures with thoughts of the summer ⛱️

I have some delicious music to look forward to, including singing dream role Hansel at @longboroughfestivalopera in July & August 🍭

30 July, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 August 2026
Longborough Festival Opera

lfo.org.uk/opera/hansel...

It's conflicting sharing Spotify wrapped posts, given the dire state of streaming for musicians.

However, I am grateful to all those who have listened to "Letters from Scandinavia" since September. And if you want to listen without streaming you can even buy a CD 😉
joannaharries.com/letters-from...