Catriona Hewitson
Named as one of Opera Now’s 2022 Hot List Young Artists, Edinburgh-born soprano Catriona Hewitson won the 2018 Kathleen Ferrier Loveday Song Prize and was a Scottish Opera Emerging Artist.
While working with Scottish Opera, Catriona has performed in their five star productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Tytania and The Makropulos Affair directed by Olivia Fuchs and conducted by Martyn Brabbins as Kristina. She also appeared as Gretel Hansel and Gretel, Casilda in The Gondoliers which was recorded for BBC iPlayer, Erste Magd Daphne, as well as Adina and Despina for Scottish Opera On Screen.
She recently made her role and company debut as Micaela with Waterperry Opera Festival in Carmen and returned to Opera Holland Park to work on the premiere performances of Itch by Jonathan Dove. Other recent highlights include performing multiple roles in the Lammermuir Festival Community Opera’s world premiere of Catriona and the Dragon. Other operatic roles performed include Mabel Pirates of Penzance (Charles Court Opera and Celebrate Voice Festival); Patience Patience (Charles Court Opera); Cis Albert Herring (The Grange Festival); Elsbeth Fantasio (Garsington Festival Opera); Iphise Dardanus (ETO); Susanna Le nozze di Figaro, directed by Sir Thomas Allen. Catriona has also worked with English Touring Opera and Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera. At the end of 2025 she made her debut at English National Opera, covering and singing the title role in Handel’s Partenope and will return in 2026/27. This year also sees her back with Sottosh Opera in Missy Mazzoli’s new opera, The Galloping Cure which also is produced at Norrlandsoperan, marking Catriona’s Scandinavian debut.
In 2022 she sang in recital with Malcolm Martineau for BBC Radio 3. She recently made her home concert hall debut to great acclaim at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh performing Messiah conducted by Sir James MacMillan and made her solo debut at the Edinburgh International Festival with James Baillieu in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle. Other highlights on the concert platform include performing St John’s Smith Square, St Martin-in-the- Fields, Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall and touring with the Ulster Orchestra. Catriona has also performed at the Bridgewater Hall, Cadogan Hall, The Queen’s Hall and Lammermuir Festival.
Working with Retrospect Opera, she will appears on their recording of The Seal Woman as the Seal Sister and she also appeared on the album of Utopia Limited as Princess Nekaya recorded by Scottish Opera and conducted by Derek Clark. Catriona won second prize in the inaugural Ashburnham English Song Awards and was a finalist in the Belvedere Singing Competition, the Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards and the Royal Over-Seas League Vocal Category.
She is a Samling Artist and a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal College of Music Opera Studio. She attended the City of Edinburgh Music School all through her schooling and was a member of English National Opera Opera Works programme.
“Catriona Hewitson’s playful coloratura soprano brought out the cheekiness of the chambermaid Despina – and the necessary vocal disguises when she has to play a doctor and a notary.” BACHTRACK
“And their daughter Casilda, performed by Scottish Opera emerging artist Catriona Hewitson is a delight and fully capable of controlling the stage both solo and with love interest Luiz.” REVIEWS HUB
“Musically this was finely sung throughout…while Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Catriona Hewitson’s Tytania dramatically seized Britten’s tricky sweeping coloratura.” BACHTRACK
“The standout performances….well met here by Catriona Hewitson’s ethereal and otherworldly fairy queen Tytania.” GUARDIAN
“Catriona Hewitson and Sioned Gwen Davies are superb as the younger sisters, simpering and sniggering, their voices well-matched for their duets” THE OPERA CRITIC
“Catriona Hewitson catches the despair of Kristina, overwhelmed by the skill of a more experienced professional.” THE OPERA CRITIC
“Vitek’s daughter and want-to-be opera star, Kristina, was given a sympathetic portrayal by the young soprano Catriona Hewitson. She possesses a fresh, attractive and expressive voice, which she used to successfully develop a nuanced relationship with her father, express her romantic feelings for Janak and adoration for Marty. Based on this performance, she is certainly a singer with a bright future.” OPERAWIRE
“…and Catriona Hewitson as his opera-singer daughter, Kristina, draw the audience into the tale with their characterful performances, and the young soprano is a crucial presence throughout, even in scenes where she has little to sing.” GUARDIAN
“Catriona Hewitson’s Kristina was marvellous both vocally and in characterisation, presenting the personality of the young singer who wants to emulate the famous opera singer Emilia Marty.” SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
“Catriona Hewiston softens the mix with her glowing tenderness as budding opera singer Kristina.” VOX CARNYX
“…as was the often hilarious role of Casilda of Catriona Hewitson especially in her reproducing the manner of speech adopted by members of the royal family. As singer and actor, she proves that she is a fine prospect.” SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
“The singing is pretty good, too, particularly Catriona Hewitson’s haughty yet coquettish Casilda, whose black and sliver costume, with eye patch, make her look as if she has come straight from the role of Princess Eboli in a production of Verdi’s Don Carlos” GUARDIAN