Naomi Louisa O'Connell

singer - ACtor - Presenter

There is nothing quite like bringing a story to life on the stage.

For me, it began with opera arias around a piano in a house called Lismorahaun in the west of Ireland.

Singing wove its way into every corner of my life: it brought me across the Atlantic to study at Juilliard, it gave me my first professional job on London’s West End, and has led me to explore places and stories I would not have encountered otherwise.

My career is guided by a primary focus on storytelling in whatever form it may take—theater, recital, cabaret, opera—and some of my favorite work has been that which blurs the boundaries between these different art forms...

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"a radiant mezzo-soprano"

Upcoming

next on the calendar...

Hansel & Gretel

Kentucky opera

Naomi plays Hansel in Kentucky Opera's production of Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel with performances on Sep 29, Oct 1, and Oct 3.

Tickets

Adoration

Prototype Festival, Nyc

Naomi returns to the Prototype Festival for the world premiere of Adoration, an opera by Mary Kouyoumdjian and Royce Vavrek.

tickets

As an nGnách
A virtual reality opera

Touring 2023/24

Naomi performs in As an nGnách, a virtual reality opera (creators Finola Merivale, Jody O'Neill & Jo Mangan) which was built by various communities in Ireland.

Tickets

Picnic Cantata

for your grammy consideration

New York Festival of Song's recording of Paul Bowles' Picnic Cantata on sale now!

Buy album
Upcoming

Least Like The Other at Dublin Theatre Festival this September

Naomi reprises her critically-acclaimed performance with Irish National Opera in this fragmented retelling of the story of Rosemary Kennedy.

Conceived by Netia Jones and Brian Irvine, the piece will be adapted for socially-distanced audiences.

Performance dates:
Sep 25, 26, 27, 30
Oct 2, 3, 4
O'Reilly Theatre, Dublin

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“This production has compassion at its core, and a bravura performance by O’Connell gives voice to the girl who was voiceless.”

“O’Connell’s performance was in every respect outstanding. Her acting was intelligently formed, emotionally honest and so finely detailed that she managed to capture even the smallest facial gesture, or movement which elevated her portrayal to the highest level"

"a natural in the recital format, winning over the audience with her rich, silvery voice and charming stage presence."

the New york Times

 "Naomi Louisa O'Connell was the outstanding mezzo-soprano, her voice cool, precisely controlled, and perfect for this music."

The boston globe

"her creamy soprano voice moves easily through operatic color to music theater"

New york THeater guide
The Theatre...is a house of strange enchantment, a temple of dreams...
                     -Noël Coward

A focus on new collaborative works and contemporary opera

Naomi performs 'The Wait' by Emma O'Halloran and Mark O'Halloran in a short film produced by Irish National Opera

Classical Repertoire

opera I concert I recital

a gifted interpreter of classical operatic & concert repertoire

O'Connell shaped every phrase and every note in true classical style.
                            -opera news
watch

Naomi performs Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony with conductor George Stelluto and Orquestra Jovem do Estado at Sala São Paulo, Brazil

ON concert and cabaret stages
Innovative, genre-defying performances spanning repertoire from Ravel to Randy Newman...
                            -Concert ARtists Guild

The Cheater's Almanac

An electrifying cabaret about infidelity, love, lust, and crimes of passion, featuring such firm favorites as How could we be wrong and I'm Unlucky at Gambling by Cole Porter, Je ne t'aime pas by Kurt Weill, and You Can Have Him by Irving Berlin.

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Witches, Bitches & Women in Britches

A critically-acclaimed recital program of sirens and suffragettes, temptresses and kleptomaniacs.

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"a phenomenally versatile, intelligent actress, with the ability to inhabit any role she plays with equal commitment and skill"

operawire

"She's a delight, a fine singer as well as an impressively alert and supple comedienne"

atlanta Journal-constitution

A very engaging and charismatic singer, acclaimed for her sensitivity to the meaning and sound of words and how they connect to music.”

WQxr
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Featured Presentation

Naomi presents a children's music program recorded for PBS in Peoria, Illinois

Connect

Follow Naomi on social media

In the Press

Selected features and interviews

Opera News SoundBite

A

NAOMI LOUISA O’CONNELL was singing the enigmatic Mrs. Van Buren in previews of Intimate Apparel for Lincoln Center Theater when New York theaters went dark abruptly in mid March. Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage’s new chamber opera, the story of an African– American seamstress in 1905 New York, is now scheduled to reopen in spring 2021.

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Interview with Operawire

B

A singer with an unusual career path, moving between opera, straight theatre, cabaret, and other genres. Prior to viewing “Least Like the Other,” Operawire managed to track down O‘Connell to talk about her career and interpreting this unique work.

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"O'Connell shaped every phrase and every note in true classical style."

opera news

"O’Connell does a spectacular Lady Macbeth, hurling it virtually through gritted teeth as Callas torments her."

THE TIMES

"Naomi Louisa O’Connell was a wistful, other-worldly Mélisande"

musical america
repertoire

...remember that song?

With a strong focus on authenticity of text, Naomi's vocal repertoire spans from Baroque to classical and contemporary styles.

Roles

Selected repertoire

Mélisande
Poppea
Charlotte
Dido

Cherubino
Octavian
Hansel
L'enfant

Lilli Vanessi
La Périchole
Eliza Doolittle
Anna I

Full repertoire List

Concert

Selected repertoire

BERNSTEIN
Jeremiah Symphony
Songfest
Arias and Barcarolles

RAVEL
Shéhérazade
3 poèmes de Mallarmé

MAHLER
Rückert Lieder
Symphony No. 4
POULENC
La dame de Monte-Carlo

full repertoire list

Contemporary

Composer premieres

Christopher Berg
William Bolcom
Tom Cipullo
Korine Fujiwara

Ricky Ian Gordon
Jake Heggie
Brian Irvine
Paula Kimper

Elena Langer
Emma O'Halloran
Paola Prestini
Ellen Reid

full repertoire list

Highlights

Theatre I Opera I Artist-in-Residence

Beaumarchais' Figaro Plays

mccarter theatre

Naomi joins Kentucky Opera in their first online season by producing and presenting a six-episode children's series about music.

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Pelléas & Mélisande

cincinnati symphony

Naomi reprises her critically-acclaimed performance with Irish National Opera in this fragmented retelling of the story of Rosemary Kennedy.
Performing at the O'Reilly Theatre, Dublin
Sep 25, 26, 27

Ticket waitlist

"RUN" by Ellen Reid

one festival, opera omaha

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

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Terrence McNally's Master Class

west end debut, london

Naomi will both host and perform in this online gala event, featuring exclusive content and special performances by Concert Artists Guild musicians from around the globe.

Tickets

Offenbach's Vert-Vert

Garsington opera

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

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Singing for Kids!

Pbs broadcast, PSO artist-in-residence

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

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Vivaldi's Farnace

Spoleto festival usa

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

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Les Enfants Terribles

opera omaha

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

learn more

Figaro Gets A Divorce

welsh National Opera & Geneva opera

Naomi plays the role of Mrs Van Buren in the world premiere of Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater by Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage, directed by Bartlett Sher.

learn more

"a natural in the recital format, winning over the audience with her rich, silvery voice and charming stage presence."

the New york Times

 "Naomi Louisa O'Connell was the outstanding mezzo-soprano, her voice cool, precisely controlled, and perfect for this music."

The boston globe

"her creamy soprano voice moves easily through operatic color to music theater"

New york THeater guide

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contact

For Booking Enquiries:

GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Ken Benson
Ken Benson Artists

+(1) 212-280-2796
kenbensonartists@gmail.com
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