Llio Evans

soprano

Highlights in recent seasons include Celia Iolanthe for English National Opera; Elsie Maynard The Yeomen of the Guard, Rose Maybud Ruddigore and Josephine HMS Pinafore for Opera Holland Park; Iris Semele for Garsington Opera; Melanto Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and Zerlina Don Giovanni for Longborough Festival Opera; Modestina Il viaggo a Reims and Cilla Waxwings for English Touring Opera; Fairy Godmother Little Listeners: Cinderella and Countess Whistle Stop Opera: The Marriage of Figaro for Opera North.Llio has also performed and developed many contemporary works over the years, including Beatrice in the UK premier of Three Decembers (Jake Heggie) for Opera Della Luna at Wiltons Music Hall; The Little One in the UK premiere of The Golden Dragon (Peter Eötvös) for Music Theatre Wales; Gwen Shoulder to Shoulder (Lenny Sayers) for Swansea City Opera; Leader of the Council The Wish Thief (Leighton Jones) Royal Ballet and Opera Youth Opera. She has recorded Y Fon in Stephen McNeff and Gruff Rhys' new Welsh language opera 2117/Hedd Wyn for Welsh National Opera produced by Tŷ Cerdd. She has also worked with many more composers and librettists through Music Theatre Wales' Make an aria project and Tŷ Cerdd's Tuag Opera scheme.Other notable appearances include Almirena Rinaldo (Grimeborne Festival); Musetta La Bohème (Putney Festival); Clorinda La Cenerentola (HighTime Opera); Blonde Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Pop-Up Opera); Yum-Yum The Mikado, Gretel Hansel and Gretel (Co-Opera Co.) and Susanna The Marriage of Figaro and Pamina The Magic Flute (Opera’r Ddraig). Roles covered include Nuria Ainadamar (Scottish Opera); Despina Così fan tutte and Mimi Vert-Vert (Garsington Opera); and Ilia Idomeneo (English Touring Opera). Llio sings the role of Barbe on the Chandos studio recording of Arthur Sullivan's, The Beauty Stone, with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Rory Macdonald.Equally in demand as a concert artist, Llio has appeared on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and S4C. Her performances with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales include soprano solo in Janáček The Danube, conducted by Otto Tausk, for BBC Radio 3; soloist and presenter for BBC NOW's Christmas Classics From Around The World conducted by Adrian Partington for BBC Radio Wales; and Arwel Hughes' Gweddi conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes for BBC Radio 3.Other concert highlights include Mendelssohn Elijah at St John's Smith Square for the Three Choirs Festival and also for the North Wales International Music Festival; Schubert Der Hirt auf dem Felsen for Leicester International Music Festival with Mark Simpson and Katya Apekisheva; Bach Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht with Ensemble Cymru, conducted by Adrian Partington; soloist for The 26th London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall. Llio is an accomplished recitalist having performed recitals for Garsington Opera, Cardiff Music Festival, Swansea Music Festival, Llandeilo Music Festival Conwy Classical Music Festival, and Ensemble Cymru. She curated and performed a recital at Cardiff University entitled Etifeddiaeth/Legacy with pianist Jâms Coleman celebrating Welsh composers linked to the University, and she also sings and programmes an annual recital series at Capel Curig, Mountain Lieder, for Head on Out with pianist Charlotte Forrest.During lockdown Llio shared some of her parodies of songs on social media to try and spread some joy. Since then has been invited to write more parodies (in English and Welsh), translations of songs as well as original songs for the National Eisteddfod, Noson Lawen, Gŵyl Gerdd Dant, Charles Court Opera, Shakespeare Schools Foundation and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. Llio also works as an animateur and has run workshops for Music Theatre Wales' Future Directions project, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and Welsh National Opera.Please contact Steven Swales for an up to date biography.

Upcoming performances

29/11/2026
The Messiah, Handel
North Wales Choral Union
Mynydd Chapel, Abergele12/12/2026
Viennese Christmas Spectacular
London Concertante
Paisley Abbey19/12/2026
Lauda per la Natività del Signore, Respighi
The Holy Birth, Wadely
St Asaph Cathedral02/01/2026
Viennese Christmas Spectacular
London Concertante
Winchester Cathedral30/01/2026
The Creation, Haydn
Undeb Gorawl Gogledd Cymru
Capel Tegid, Bala15-20/03/2026
Yum-Yum, The Mikado, Sullivan
Charles Court Opera
Wiltons Music Hall, London26/03/2027
St Matthew Passion, Bach
Tremeirchion Bach Choir
St Mary’s Church, Denbigh

Recordings