Today I am talking to mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin. In our chat we discuss Carolyn’s career trajectory from art teacher to opera singer, and how her creativity carried her through loss and grief during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Northern Irish mezzo-soprano and Samling Scholar, Carolyn began her career as a teacher of Art and Design before graduating from the Opera course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Carolyn was Associate Artist at Welsh National Opera in 2010 and spent two years at Luzern opera house, Switzerland in 2012-2014.

She has performed extensively in opera, oratorio and in solo recitals, including appearances at the Royal Opera House Linbury Studio, English National Opera, Grange Park Opera, Opera Holland Park, Luzerner Theatre, Stadttheater Bern, and the Royal Albert Hall. 

She has performed the roles of Carmen, Annio, Penelope, Bradamante, Polina, Meg Page, Dritte Dame, Lucretia, Amastre, Octavia, Nicklausse, Magdalena, Dorabella, Charlotte, Teodata, Concepcion, Scipio, Idamante and Angelina. 

She recorded the role of Madeleine in R. Loders rare opera ‘Raymond and Agnes’  with Richard Bonynge and Retrospect Opera, and Ethel Smythe's 'Fete Gallant' with Odaline de la Martinez. She released a solo CD ‘Caleno’ with Delphian Records and Iain Burnside of songs by composers from Northern Ireland in 2018 and has appeared on BBC Radio 3 and BBC TV. She set up the Northern Irish song project which aims to collect and record many forgotten songs by Northern Irish composers and new song cycles by current composers.  

Recent and future roles include Madam Popova in The Bear, Mary in Wagners Der Fliegende Höllander, Smeton in Anna Bolena for Longborough Festival Opera, Fenena in Nabucco and Alise In Lucia Di Lammermoor for Dorset Opera Festival , Mrs Peachum in Mrs Peachums School for Lovers and ‘ The Witch’  in Hansel and Gretel for Irish National Opera. Future roles include Siegrune in Wagner's Walküre 2020/23, Mary in Der Fliegende Höllander with Sir Bryn Terfel in 2022,  Northern Ireland Opera’s Wallace Film Project, the premier of a new Harvey Weinstein based opera for the Belfast Festival,  Handels Alexander’s Feast for the new Le Foyer des Artistes and Recitals of her Northern Ireland song project.

Website: www.carolyndobbin.com
Instagram: @carolyn_dobbin_mezzo
Twitter: @carolyndobbin