She sang in
Gilbert and Sullivan productions for the
Redcar Operatic Society and studied after her marriage in 1939 at the
Royal College of Music where she was encouraged by
George Dyson. After graduating, she joined
Sadler's Wells Opera where she sang Esmeralda in
The Bartered Bride opposite
Peter Pears. Other leading roles at Sadler's Wells were in
The Marriage of Figaro,
Il tabarro, and Gretel in
Hansel and Gretel. In 1947, Sorrell became the principal
soprano for the
Intimate Opera Company. During
World War II she toured with the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA), the precursor of the
Arts Council of Great Britain, and in 1950 she toured North America with Intimate Opera. ==Career as an actress==