Janet Shell
Artist Reviews
"Exceptional was Janet Shell, the guest soloist in Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer. Hers is a rich mezzo soprano voice with a wide palette of vocal colours to draw from and she has an immediately appealing flare for dramatic representation."
"The choir were fortunate to combine with such an accomplished orchestra and with the mezzo soloist, Janet Shell, whose performance matched her distinguished pedigree. Her clear and vibrant voice effortlessly spanned an extremely wide range, extending from orthodox Latin oratorio to Arabic incantations which for a moment transformed St Martin’s into a temple in the Holy Land. "
"Janet Shell was a magnificent Angel, her fine voice rising to the heights of the cathedral vaults, in soothing smoothly-shaped phrases"
"…As was the mezzo soloist, Janet Shell. I shall long remember her delivery of "Thou hast forestalled the agony, and so for thee bitterness of death is passed”."
"The velvet-like quality of Janet Shell’s lower register opened the Pie Jesu and blended perfectly with the violas and cellos of the orchestra"
"Janet Shell sang with great feeling and golden tone. Her account of O Rest in the Lord was ravishing."
"Particularly moving was the stillness and radiance that Janet Shell brought to her aria Woe unto them. "
"Glamorous mezzo soprano Janet Shell, wearing a sparkling, figure hugging gown, had a beautiful voice, her Agnus Dei being one of those tearful moments. Her Traviata-like Lux Aeterna was wonderful."
"Janet Shell, called “mezzo” on the programme, sang as a warm-toned, old-style alto might. Her voice proved so expressively shaded and intimate Tidings to Zion, you yearned for its return. This finely cultured singing seemed a gift as ready and as natural as speech."
"Janet Shell gave an outstanding and highly moving account of the Agnus Dei... so soul searching and yet musically precise that one was moved to contritional tears."
"Mezzo soprano Janet Shell's deep and resonant tones in Mahler's song cycle, Songs of a Wayfarer, were truly inspiring. Her sensitive awareness of the dynamic changes showed a rare vocal ability. Her thrilling voice pervaded the whole building."
“Janet Shell sang with great feeling and golden tone. Particularly moving was the stillness and radiance that she brought to her aria Woe unto them and her account of O Rest in the Lord was ravishing”.
Biography
Distinguished mezzo soprano Janet Shell is an alumnus of Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a prize winner of several competitions for recital. She made history as the first singer to perform live in a recital on Classic FM, just two days after its launch and has appeared on ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ for BBC.
Although she has collaborated with opera companies such as Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Opera de chambre d'Aix en Provence, English National Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Janet is most renowned for her oratorio and recital performances.
Over a long career, she has also participated in numerous opera gala concerts for distinguished and celebrated guests and Royalty, and was asked to sing at the wedding of Lord Frederic Windsor and Sophie Winkelman at Hampton Court Palace.
Her oratorio and concert repertoire is extensive and has included Elgar Dream of Gerontius; The Apostles; Sea Pictures; Music Makers ; and The Kingdom; Mendelssohn Elijah; Verdi Requiem; Bach St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, Christmas Oratorio and B minor mass; Mahler symphonies 2 & 8 and Lieder eines Fahrenden gesellen, and Beethoven Missa Solemnis amongst many others. Her recording of Duruflé Requiem with Guildford Cathedral Choir is available on spotify. From 2025, Janet has created a shorter, more focused oratorio list which includes the masses of Haydn, Mendelssohn Elijah, Handel Messiah and Duruflé Requiem.
Away from singing, Janet teaches singing at Eton College and operates a busy private practice. Additionally, she coaches classroom teachers on vocal health and voice use. She is in demand as an adjudicator and choir animateur and has written two books, one for classroom teachers and the other an account of life in the iconic village of Port Sunlight where she grew up. During lockdown she trained as a celebrant and now offers her services for both weddings and funerals.
May 2025
For Oratorio and Concert repertoire please scroll down:
| Composer | Work |
| Bach. J.S | B Minor Mass |
| Magnificat | |
| St John Passion | |
| St Matthew Passion | |
| Beethoven | Missa Solemnis |
| Bliss | Pastorale |
| Brahms | Requiem |
| Alto Rhapsody | |
| Britten | Spring Symphony |
| Cantata Academica | |
| Bruckner | Mass in F |
| Charpentier | Te Deum |
| Copland | In the Beginning |
| Durufle | Requiem |
| Dvorak | Requiem |
| Elgar | Dream of Gerontius |
| Coronation Ode | |
| Mass in C | |
| Music Makers | |
| Sea Pictures | |
| The Apostles | |
| The Kingdom | |
| Honegger | King David |
| Handel | Messiah |
| Judas Maccabeus | |
| Samson | |
| Haydn | Harmony Mass |
| Maria Theresa Mass | |
| Nelson Mass | |
| Paukenmesse | |
| St Nicholas Mass | |
| Jenkins | Stabat Mater |
| The Armed Man | |
| Mahler | Symphony no 2 |
| *Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen | |
| Symphony no 8 – 1st alto | |
| Mendelssohn | Elijah |
| Hymn of Praise | |
| St Paul | |
| Mozart | Coronation Mass |
| Requiem | |
| Solemn vespers | |
| Rachmaninov | Vespers |
| Ravel | *Sheherazade |
| Rossini | Petite Messe Solenelle |
| Rutter | Feel the Spirit |
| Schubert | various masses |
| Spohr | The Last Judgement |
| Tippett | A Child in our Time |
| Vaughan-Williams | Serenade to Music |
| Mass in G | |
| Verdi | Requiem |
| Vivaldi | Gloria |