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 Murrihy 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. She last appeared with Music of the Baroque in September 2023.

Recent and upcoming engagements include her role and company debut as Prince Charmant in Cendrillon at the Opéra de Paris, a return to Santa Fe Opera as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and the role of Dejanira in Barrie Kosky’s _Hercule_s at the Komische Oper Berlin, following her highly praised performance in the production premiere at Oper Frankfurt last season. Her concert appearances include Sandström’s The High Mass with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Ryan Bancroft, and Marguerite in a concert performance of Le Damnation de Faust with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performs solo recitals, both at Oper Frankfurt alongside pianist and long-time collaborator Tanya Blaich, and at the Wigmore Hall, London.

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.