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Niamh O’Sullivan

Mezzo-soprano

  • Praised as being ‘the owner of one of the most sheerly beautiful lyric mezzos in some time' (Opera Traveller), Irish mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan is rapidly establishing herself on the international opera and concert stage, continuing to make a series of high-profile debuts across the globe.

    Highlights of the 2026/27 season include house and role debuts as Irene in Handel’s Theodora for Grand Théâtre de Genève and Lola in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana with La Monnaie. O’Sullivan will return to Irish National Opera as the title role in Bizet’s Carmen and makes her role debut as the title role in Handel’s Serse at Garsington Opera. On the concert platform, she will make her debut with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble on tour across Norway (Peter Whelan), alongside Berlioz’s Nuits d’ete with the Ulster Orchestra (Chloe van Soeterstede), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Oxford Philharmonic and return to the Fantasia Orchestra with her ‘From Mahler to Manhattan’ programme with Proms at St Jude’s. Her recital work includes Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben at La Monnaie and appearances across the UK and Ireland with duo partners Garry Beecher and Julius Drake.

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  • Recent seasons have seen a series of high-profile house and role debuts, including a highly acclaimed role debut as Octavian in Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier for Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, her performance described by Bachtrack as ‘a discovery, bring[ing] to mind Brigitte Fassbaender’. Elsewhere O’Sullivan made her role debut in the title role of Bizet's Carmen for English National Opera, her US debut as Offred in Ruders' The Handmaid’s Tale for Detroit Opera, Octavian Der Rosenkavalier for Garsington Opera, Wellgunde in Wagner's Das Rheingold for the Royal Ballet and Opera, Rossweisse in Wagner's Die Walküre at Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Wellgunde in Wagner's Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung, Mercédès in Carmen and Meg Page in Verdi's Falstaff all for Opernhaus Zürich, as well as Ino in Handel's Semele for Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and the Royal Ballet and Opera.

    O’Sullivan’s close association with Irish National Opera has seen her sing Charlotte in Massenet's Werther, Mercédès in Carmen, Tisbe in Rossini's La Cenerentola, Third Maid in Strauss' Elektra, Asteria in Vivaldi's Bajazet, Alva in the world premiere of Dennehy's The First Child and Maddalena Rigoletto for the company.

    Highlights on the concert platform include her BBC Proms debut as Sonyetka in Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with the BBC Philharmonic (John Storgårds) the Page in Strauss' Salome in her London Symphony Orchestra debut (Sir Antonio Pappano), a return to Festival d'Aix-en-Provence for Ninette in Verdi's Les Vêpres siciliennes (Daniele Rustioni), Dvorak’s Stabat Mater (Jiri Rožeň) & Mahler’s Symphony No.2 with the Irish National Symphony Orchestra (Anja Bihlmaier), Handel's Messiah with the Ulster Orchestra, Elgar's Sea Pictures at the Prinzregententheater for the Munich Festspiele, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Chausson’s Poème de l’Amour et de la Mer with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, an opera gala with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Nils Venditti), a solo concert with the Prague Philharmonia, Handel's Solomon on tour with the English Concert (Harry Bicket) and her ‘From Mahler to Manhattan’ programme with the Fantasia Orchestra at St John’s Smith Square and Snape Maltings Concert Hall. A keen recitalist, O’Sullivan has appeared at Wigmore Hall and St George’s Bristol, alongside appearances at home in Ireland with regular duo partner, Gary Beecher.

    A 2023-2025 BBC New Generation Artist, O’Sullivan was a participant of the Académie du Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in 2023 and joined the studio of the Bayerische Staatsoper upon completing her studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. In 2026, O’Sullivan was named as a recipient of Borletti Buitoni Trust Fellowship.

    2026/27 season - 600 words. Not to be altered without permission.

Performances

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O’Sullivan is the owner of one of the most sheerly beautiful lyric mezzos I’ve had the pleasure of hearing in some time.  The voice has wonderful sheen, with a ruby red exterior enveloping a creamy core.  The tessitura of the role held no terrors for her, taking wing effortlessly on top.

Opera Traveller, May 2025

Niamh O'Sullivan's Octavian is a discovery, it is reminiscent of Brigitte Fassbaender in the ambiguity of the timbre as well as the port.

Bachtrack, May 2025

Fringent, ardent, youthful, the Knight of Niamh O’Sullivan’s magnificent timbre and accomplished vocal technique, develops ardour with incandescent treble...

Lemonde.fr, May 2025

Intermusica represents Niamh O’Sullivan worldwide.

Natasha Worsley
Associate Director, Vocal & Opera
+44 7870 979 794
nworsley@intermusica.com

Billie Allin
Assistant Artist Manager, Vocal & Opera
+44 7548 312 979
ballin@intermusica.com

All artists

Contralto

Avery Amereau

Actor / Narrator

Amira Casar

Chansonnier

HK Gruber

Piano accompanist

Roger Vignoles

Saxophone

Branford Marsalis