with
Hanna Shybayeva piano
Mia Cooper violin
Ailbhe McDonagh cello
Programme:
Shostakovich - Seven Songs on poems by Alexander Blok Op.127
Rachmaninoff - Songs
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Biography
Regarded as one of Ireland’s finest sopranos, Sylvia O’Brien has impressed audiences in opera, oratorio and chamber music. Recently returned to live in Ireland, Sylvia is a regular guest with some of the main orchestras, chamber ensembles and festivals throughout Europe with a repertoire that includes Chausson, Berlioz, Mozart, Bach, Verdi, Shostakovich and Wagner and the lighter repertoire of Strauss, Lehar, Novello and Gilbert and Sullivan. Ms O’Brien’s oratorio repertoire is vast and highlights include Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Die Schuldigkeit des Ersten Gobots Dvorak Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle and Mozart’s C minor. She has worked with such noted conductors as Michael Roswell, Rhenbert de Leeuw, Nicholas Cleobury, Jos Vermunt, Philippe Jordan, Gerhard Markson and Stefan Asbury. Since her successful debut as the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw her roles have included the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro), Konstanze (Die Entfuhrung), Jenufa (Jenufa) and most recently the title role in Turandot. As a regular recitalist, Sylvia O’Brien has performed at many chamber festivals and recital halls throughout Europe and the Weill Hall New York, performing with the Clara Schumann Trio, Solstice Quartet, the Grieg Piano Trio, Nieuw European Ensemble, Crash Ensemble, Triocca Ensemble and the Syrius Trio, She performs regularly in recital with Russian pianist Hanna Shybayeva. Her vocal and musical skills make her an important singer of contemporary repertoire. Sylvia is a member of the vocal faculty at The Royal Irish Academy of Music and Maynooth University. Her specialist vocal and interpretative skills have established her as an important performer of contemporary music having performed numerous international premieres as well as many composers writing works specifically for her voice. She is presently pursuing a Doctorate in Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music focusing on Irish vocal music. Please see her website for upcoming engagements.