Helen was born in St. Albans and trained in music and dance. She studied voice with Raymond Connell (GSMD), also worked with Yvonne Kenny and is coached by Christopher Gould and Linnhe Robertson (GSMD). Helen enjoys a very busy and successful schedule, performing principal roles with many Opera companies. She has a wide-ranging repertoire and has worked with many directors in contrasting venues and theatres, large and small.

Her extensive repertoire encompasses the major Mozart, Puccini and Verdi roles and regular concert work. Following the success of her concert performances with full orchestra as Violetta (La Traviata), Helen was invited back to sing Mimi (in Italian) at the Battersea Music Festival.

Helen is also an experienced soloist in Oratorio. Recent engagements have included Handel’s Messiah (St. James’, Piccadilly), Faure’s Requiem (St. Mary-le-Bow) and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (Temple Church).

Since 2000, she has performed the following roles: Micaela (Carmen), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas), Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera), Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Countess Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Marenka (The Bartered Bride) , Mimi (La Boheme) in two separate productions, including a UK tour, culminating in an invitation to perform at The Meeting House Theatre, Helmsley, Yorkshire; Angelica (Suor Angelica), Pamina (The Magic Flute) and Antonia (The Tales of Hoffmann) at Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Highgate, London; and Butterfly (Madam Butterfly) at The Lyric, Hammersmith and at The Minack Theatre, Cornwall and again, in a new production in London (2005). In 2004, her performances included another Amelia and the title role in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda.

In 2005, Helen returned to the Minack Theatre and The Epsom Playhouse as Mimi in a new production of La Boheme and performed Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) on the Isles of Scilly. Helen was engaged to sing another Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) for Opera London at the Shaw Theatre in 2008.

Since 2007 Helen has been principal soprano for Rhapsody opera and has been seen as Fiordiligi (Cosi Fan Tutte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) and Violetta (La Traviata), all performed at the Arts Depot theatre in North Finchley. She is also regularly engaged in corporate events for the company. Earlier this year she sang Leonora Verdi’s (Il Trovatore), a role she will be repeating at the Camden festival for Opera London later this year. Future engagements include the title role in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena and Rosalinde in a new production of Die Fledermaus and various operatic concerts.

Reviews

‘A glorious voice and a great emotionally charged performance… Helen brought a dignity to the role, even in her hopelessness. A marvellous interpretation’ (Elvira)

‘A most opulent sound’ (Mimi)

‘The mellifluous and stunning voice of Helen-Julie Johnson… great presence and characterisation as Cio-Cio-San’ (Butterfly)