Biography

Training

Sophie began her artistic career by studying Dramatic Art with M.Mansouri at the Ecole Nationale du Val Maubuée in Noisiel (up to 3rd cycle) and by studying the Celtic harp in the oral tradition with D.Donon.
Thanks to a European Union grant, she studied in London and obtained her Bachelor degree with honors in June 2006 at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London in L.Sarti’s singing class. Sophie will do an Erasmus exchange in 2004 at the Universität der Künste in Berlin in A.Eggers’ class. On her return to Paris, Sophie joined U. Reineman’s Perfectionnement class on Lied interpretation. She then continued her vocal training with C.Mathias and perfected her skills with L.Sarrazin.

An international career

Sophie performs in Europe, Asia and the United States. Her knowledge of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and contemporary repertoires stems from her experience, talent and open-mindedness. She will be heard in oratorios such as J.S.Bach’s Cantata BWV 125 for viola or G.Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, as well as in the operatic repertoire, performing the roles of Orfeo inC.W.Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice in a UDK production in Berlin, and Penelope in C.Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria at London’s GSMD. She played Marcellina in W.A.Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro conducted by A.du Closel with the Romanian Radio Orchestra at Château de Rochambeau in 2008. In 2010, she played the title role in J.Offenbach’s La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein in Paris. In spring 2015, she sang the role of Candelas in M.D.Falla’s El Amor Brujo with the Orchestre de Mayenne under the direction of M.Levy-Thiebault, then the following year, she played Candelas again at the Théâtre de Vitry sur Seine, conducted by J.G. Novales.

In 2016, she sang the roles of Jacqueline in Le Médecin malgré lui by C.Gounod at the Opéra de Saint-Etienne, directed by L.Touche and staged by A.Terrat, Carmen in Carmen by G.Bizet at theSaigon Opera in Vietnam in September 2015, directed by P.Souillot, then the title role in La Périchole by J.Offenbach. Then she was invited back to sing the title role of Frédégonde by C.Saint-Saëns at the Saïgon Opera House in October 2017. She then sang excerpts from Carmen with the IOSO orchestra at the Langtang festival on Reunion Island. She then returned to the role of Carmen in the show Carmen Flamenco with the cies Influenscènes and Flamenco Vivo, touring various national theaters (Palais des Congrès du Mans, Festival d’Avignon, Théâtre de Thalie, Théâtres de Saint-Lo, Liffré, Abbaye de Sylvanes, etc.)….)
In August 2023, she sang the role of Ulrica for the first time in G.Verdi’s opera Un Ballo in Maschera at theTeatro Mancinelli in Orvieto, Italy, directed by S.Torboli, and staged by G.Ravazzi.
In March 2024, she will perform E .Chausson ‘s La chanson Perpétuelle in concert with the Ars Nova ensemble, followed by J.BrahmsRapsodie pour alto and F.Schubert ‘s Ständchen at the Histoires de Chœurs festival in June.

His interest in creation

With a keen interest in contemporary repertoire and creation, she works with numerous composers. She created the roles of Galathée and Bergère in the world premiere of G.Pesson’s opera Pastorale, conducted by J.Y.Ossonce and directed by P.Sorin at the Théâtre du Châtelet in June 2009. In 2011, she sang Berio’s Folksongs and Berberian’s Stripsody as part of the Musique Libre Festival.
She was invited to perform the solo part in Re-Walden, a creation by J.F.Peyret and A.Markeas, at EMPAC-Harvard University in New York in March 2012. In April 2012, alongside J.Anderson and S.Jo, she sang the role of Nancy Tang in J.Adams’ Nixon in China at the Théâtre du Châtelet, directed by A.Briger and staged by C.Chi-zheng. Then, in July 2012, she was invited by the ensemble Le Balcon to perform the role of Alejandra in the world premiere of the opera L’Enfer Musical by M.Suarez-Cifuentes, conducted by M.Pascal. In spring 2015, she created the role of Philandre in B.Attahir’s opera Pastorale d’Issy.
A member of Ensemble Links since its inception, directed by R.Durupt, Sophie sings in works by S.Reich (Music for 18, Drumming, Music for Mallet instruments, voices & organ…), touring a number of national venues: Philharmonie de Paris, Ferme du Buisson, Maison de Musique de Nanterre, Arsenal de Metz, Théâtre de l’Archipel de Perpignan, scène nationale d’Evreux-Louviers, Opéra de Massy, Nuits sonores à Lyon, Opéra de Rouen, Channel in Calais, Folles Journées in Nantes, Wiesbaden Opera, Staatstheater Darmstadt, Lux in Valence, Filature in Mulhouse, Theater Basel, Freiburg Theater, Radio France, Lieu Unique in Nantes, etc…
In March 2023, she premiered her own work Solstice – Chant à la lune at the Philharmonie de Paris, which commissioned her for the first time with the Multilatérale ensemble. Named Laureate of the Territoires en création program, the Ars Nova ensemble commissioned her to create Sur l’étoffe de mon âme, which she will perform alongside them at the Electrosession festival in Saint-Palais sur Mer in March 2024.

In March 2025, she sings and plays the harp in Amos Gitaï’s creation “Golem” at the Théâtre National de la Colline , before touring to the Pompeii Festival in June, the Naples Festival in October 2025 and the Etats du Monde Festival in Charleroi in February 2026.

Early music

During her studies at GSMD London, she developed a passion for early music and trained withE.Kirkby, P.Esswood and G.Lesne. She has set up an ensemble called L’oeil ou la lune with which she performs programs of English music (J.Dowland, H.Purcell and G.F.Haendel) and early 17th-century Italian music (G. Caccini, C.Monteverdi, M.Marini, B.Strozzi, L.Rossi.Caccini, C.Monteverdi, M.Marini, B.Strozzi, L.Rossi…).
In November 2012, she sang with Ensemble Sagittarius conducted by M.Laplénie in a program of J.H.Schein, H.Schütz and G.P.Telemann in Bordeaux. Then Sophie sings in a series of concerts a program of amorous and furious Baroque arias called Métamorphoses with the ensemble La Fidelissima conducted by M.Maldonado at the Festival Nits d’Eus in August 2018. In September 2018, in duo with M.Horvat, ensemble Faenza, she will perform a program of 17th-century Italian songs, accompanying her singing on her harp as part of the Heritage Days at Sarlat-la-Canéda Cathedral and the Royal Abbey of Saint-Jean d’Angély. In June 2019, she has been invited to sing and play on harp a program of Sephardic melodies with Le Baroque Nomade, conducted by J.C.Frisch, at the La Folia festival in Rougemont, Switzerland, then solo at the Harfentreffen festival in Lauterbach, Germany.

Entertainment contractor
live

Artistic director of the Des Lieux & Des Êtres company, Sophie creates shows around the voice, offering different aesthetics, mixing repertoire and creation.
In 2013, the company won acclaim at the Avignon Festival for their creation of Je suis comme je suis, a lyrical show based on the melodies of K.Weill and J.Prévert/J.Kosma.
Sophie creates a program of Sephardic melodies that she arranges on the harp: De Femmes en Femmes as part of the duo Racines that she forms with percussionist A.Morineau. This program has been performed at numerous venues and festivals: festival de Saint-Gilles, festival International de Harpe de Dinan, festival de Harpe d’Arles, festival des Musiques Juives de Carpentras, festival Andalou d’Avignon, Mini Festival des Musiques Juives en Alsace, festival des Nits d’Eus à Perpignan, festival des Murs à Pêches, festival des Rares Talents à Montreuil, Les Musicales de Montreuil, center culturel de Sarlat, Les Musicales de Gourdon, Domme, etc…
In November 2021, Sophie will release a new album of her Sephardic melodies program: De Femmes en Femmes, distributed by Absilone.
In 2019, she is creating a musical show with Circassienne L.Lastella: En-Vie, in collaboration with theEspace Périphérique de la Villette-Paris, the Plus Petit Cirque du Monde and the Ferme du Buisson – Scène Nationale, with scenography by C.Grévy.
In 2023, she created a solo program Le feu & l’eau, presenting songs by women composers across the ages and aesthetics, which she accompanies on harp. She has been invited to the Musicales de Sarlat, Bussy-Saint-Martin, Les Journées du Matrimoine de Montreuil, and to La Coruña in Spain as part of the OFF Womex. In May 2024, she was invited to the Harfentreffen festival in Freusburg Castle, Germany, and to the Présence Compositrices festival.

In 2025, Sophie will perform her program of Sephardic melodies and duet creations with Marti Uibo at Lille Cathedral, the Al-Andalous festival in Montpellier, the Les Ballades extraordinaires festival and the Gargilesse harp festival.

Agenda

Sophie Leleu will be back on stage soon.

10/04/2025

Tournée “De Femmes en Femmes” Festival Al-Andalus de Montpellier

Tournée dans le Sud :

10 avril 2025 - Festival Al-Andalus à Montpellier

11 Avril 2025 - Le Diablotin à Saint-Jean de Fos

12 Avril 2025 - L'atelier du port à Marseille

08/03/2025

Concert “De Femmes en Femmes” au Pavillon de Romainville

Concert "De femmes en femmes" en duo avec Marti Uibo au Pavillon de Romainville Pour la journée des droits des femmes à 18h00

03/03/2025

Résidence cie Les Vagabondes

Résidence de création pour le septuor vocal féminin Les Vagabondes au théâtre Triatis à Paris