D I I P T I F I R M S T O N E Soprano
BIOGRAPHY
Australian Soprano Diipti Firmstone is a gifted artist currently based in Berlin. Diipti is living the life she has always dreamed of. Collaborating with local musicians, conductors and directors in various endeavours from Opera to Cabaret, Jazz to Operetta, Diipti enjoys performing a wide range of musical styles especially repertoire that fulfils all her dramatic desires.
Highlights in Diipti's career include singing Mimi in The Berlin Opera Group’s La Boheme (2016); staring in a one woman show ‘Interdependency’ at the English Theatre Berlin (2015); Solo lieder recital as part of the Bundesgartenschau ‘BUGA 2015’; Musical Theatre Gala Concert in Hamburg (2013); English Theatre Berlin’s Cabaret Festival (2013) presenting excerpts from Pierre Luniere (Schonberg); Frasquita (Carmen) in Potsdams Stadtwerkefest (2012); Gala concerts in Berlin - Aria Abend (2012) & Lieder Abend (2012); Yearly Advents concerts in Berlin Brandenburg 2012 - 2018; performed the role ‘Wife’ in the Australian premier of The Juniper Tree at The Abbotsford Convent Opera Festival (2011); soprano soloist in Dvorak's Stabat Mater - St John’s Southgate Melbourne (2011); Soprano soloist for the Shandong China Tour Gala concert tour in Jinan, China (2008).
Upon completing her formal studies in 2009, Diipti was immediately taken into the Melbourne Opera Studio’s Young Artist program where she performed the roles of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Miss Pinkerton in The Old Maid and the Thief; Geraldine in A Hand of Bridge; Mother in Hansel & Gretel, and understudied Galatea in Händels Acic and Galatea. ‘The Age’ Melbourne reviewed Don Giovanni and noted that Diipti “Sang memorably in the role of Donna Anna, including a particularly fine ‘Non mi dir’. During her time as Young Artist she also appeared on Melbourne Radio 3MBS performing live singing Mimi, Donna Anna & Norina arias and duets and on Melbourne TV performing the Collingwood Football Anthem on Channel 10 TV special.
Diipti has had success in several major singing competitions, most recently as a semi finalist in the 2014 Elizabeth Connell Prize for Aspiring Dramatic Soprano’s. She was a semi finalist in 2011 and 2012 MTO German-Australia Opera Award, a semi finalist in the prestigious Australian Lieder Competition ‘Mietta Song Recital Award’ (2008), awarded second place in the South East Queensland Aria & Concerto Competition (2007), won the Senior Operatic Aria Music Teachers Association QLD (2007).
Diipti graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honors) Performance and Pedagogy (2006) and Graduate Certificate in Music (2007) before earning her Graduate Diploma in Opera Performance (2009). She also studied privately in London with esteemed singing teacher Laura Sarti, in Berlin with Gundola Hintz, in Melbourne with Roxane Hislop and Rosamund Illing, in Brisbane with Jason Barry Smith and Prof Janet Del Pratt AM. During her studies she was generously supported by scholarships including Amy Alice McDonald Award International Study Grant (2013), Opus 50 Scholarship International Musical Study Grant (2012), Hans Henkell Scholarship Recipient (2010), Dr Francesco Castellano Operatic Italian Award (2008), Linda Edith Ellen Postgraduate Prize Operatic Scholarship (2007).