Paula Murrihy

Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy enjoys a busy career working at the highest level in both Europe and the U.S. Previously a member of Oper Frankfurt’s acclaimed ensemble, her many roles in Frankfurt included Dido in Dido and Aeneas; Lazuli in L’étoile; Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier; Medoro in Orlando Furioso; and creating the role of Carmen in Barrie Kosky’s iconic production, which she also reprised in Frankfurt for their 2020 revival. Paula received her Bachelor of Music from DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin before continuing her studies in North America at the New England Conservatory. She also participated in the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, and as an apprentice at Santa Fe Opera. The performances of the Mozart Requiem on September 17 and 18 mark her debut with Music of the Baroque.

Paula Murrihy opened her 2022-23 season with a return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to sing the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, directed by Kasper Holten, followed by the title role Carmen for her company debut at the Det Kongelige Teater Copenhagen. Further season highlights include singing the role of Countess of Essex for English National Opera’s Platinum Jubilee concert performance of Britten’s Gloriana; joining Irish National Opera as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier; the Santa Fe Opera as Messaggeria in Monteverdi’s Orfeo; and a return to Oper Frankfurt for her debut as Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules in a new production by Barrie Kosky, conducted by Laurence Cummings. In concert, Paula Murrihy can be heard singing Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston; a New Year’s concert with the Tiroler Festspiele Erl; Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra; and the role of Didon in Berlioz’ Les Troyens with the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.

On the concert stage, Paula Murrihy enjoys a close relationship with MusicAeterna and Teodor Currentzis. Performances include Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, Purcell’s Indian Queen, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, Hindemith’s Die Junge Magd and Das Knaben Wunderhorn at the Mariinsky Theatre and on a tour of Europe. More recently, she joined Baroque ensemble The English Concert Orchestra to sing Micah in a performance of Handel’s Samson in London, Ruggiero in Alcina in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and as Arsamene in Serse for a tour of Spain and the US. Additional concert highlights include a European tour of St. John Passion with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl, her debut at the BBC Proms in 2016 in Haydn’s Paukenmesse, performing works by Tommaso Traetta with La Nuova Musica and David Bates at the Wigmore Hall, the role of Sara in Myslivecek's oratorio Abramo ed Isacco alongside Collegium 1704 at the Salzburg Festival, and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Sir Mark Elder and the Britten Sinfonia.

An accomplished recitalist, Paula Murrihy has given performances at the Wigmore Hall with both Malcolm Martineau and Sholto Kynoch, the Aldeburgh Festival, the Oxford Lieder Festival, the Shannon International Music Festival, the Chancellor’s Concert at the University of Limerick, in Frankfurt, and at the Diaghilev Festival in Perm. Last season she released her debut solo album with American pianist Tanya Blaich on Orchid Classics. Titled I will walk with my love, the disc explores folk-inspired songs and myths and features works by Brahms, Mahler, Debussy, and Grieg, as well as traditional Irish folksong.