rish Mezzo-Soprano Paula Murrihy enjoys a busy career working at the highest level in both Europe and the US. Previously a member of Oper Frankfurt’s acclaimed ensemble, her many roles in Frankfurt included Dido Dido and Aeneas, Lazuli L’étoile, Octavian Der Rosenkavalier, Medoro Orlando Furioso, Pénélope Fauré and creating the role of Carmen in Barrie Kosky’s iconic production, which she also reprised in Frankfurt for their 2020 revival.


Paula opened her 2022-23 season with a return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to sing the role of Donna Elvira 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 included 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 Der Rosenkavalier, Santa Fe Opera as La Messaggera 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 performed Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro with the Handel & Haydn Society in Boston, a New Year’s concert with the Tiroler Festspiele Erl and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra. She will make her debut in the role of Didon in Berlioz’ Les Troyens with the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. This tour travels to five of Europe’s most prestigious festivals in August and  September 2023.

Highlights of the 23/24 Season include Paula’s role and House debut as Le Prince Charmant at Opéra de Paris and her debut at the Komische Oper Berlin in the role of Dejanira in Barrie Kosky’s production of Hercules.


Last season, Paula made her company debut singing Komponist in Katie Mitchell’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, sang Nicklausse Les Contes d’Hoffmann conducted by Marc Minkowski in Valencia, and returned to Irish National Opera in the title role Carmen. Her recent notable debuts include singing the title role Ariodante in a livestreamed concert performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducted by Christian Curnyn and for her house debut at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, her debut as Orfeo in a concert performance of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Opera North, conducted by Laurence Cummings, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and her company debut at the Metropolitan Opera, as Stéphano Roméo et Juliette.

Further operatic highlights included a return to Santa Fe Opera as Ruggiero in Alcina and Orlofsky Die Fledermaus, the Salzburg Festival as Idamante in Peter Sellars’ production of Idomeneo conducted by Teodor Currentzis, Dorabella Cosi fan tutte at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, a return to Frankfurt to sing the title role in Fauré’s Pénélope, Dutch National Opera as Octavian Der Rosenkavalier and Sesto La Clemenza di Tito, at Opernhaus Zürich as Concepcion in L’heure Espagnole and Cherubino Le Nozze di Figaro, at the Teatro Real in Madrid as Frances, Countess of Essex in Britten’s Gloriana, at Oper Frankfurt as the Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos, Dido Dido and Aeneas for Los Angeles Opera, Octavian Der Rosenkavalier at Staatsoper Stuttgart and returned to her native Ireland to make her role debut as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle for Irish National Opera.


An accomplished recitalist, Paula has given performances at the Wigmore Hall with both Malcolm Martineau and Sholto Kynoch, the Aldeburgh Festival, the Oxford Lieder Festival, 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.



This biography is valid for use until August 2023. For updated versions, please contact evangeline@wehmeyermanagement.com. This biography should not be edited without permission from Camilla Wehmeyer Management.