about me
Hello, thank you for visiting my website.
My name is Deirdre Arratoon. I’m an Irish Mezzo-Soprano now living in sunny South East England. I started my journey into the world of classical singing and opera performance about 12 years ago. The journey into the world of professional singing is immense. There have been many highs and lows, it's been at times a slow and steep learning curve but, it is always a privilege to meet kind and interesting people. I love collaboration. Team work really does make the dream work!! It's been a pleasure to work with wonderful companies and societies and I look forward to future collaborations.
Before beginning my studies as a Mezzo-Soprano I performed as a soprano. It wasn’t until mid- way through the COVID pandemic that I discovered my Mezzo-Soprano voice. In that short time I have been invited to audition for English National Opera, The Royal Opera House and Wexford Festival Opera among other UK and Irish opera companies. I've been having a great time discovering fantastic new roles, other parts in sacred repertoire and some new song. I'm happy and very grateful to have lots of exciting performances to look forward to in 2023. Please follow along with me to discover what I'm up to next!
Deirdre
biography
Rising Irish Mezzo-Soprano Deirdre Arratoon, known for her voice that is ‘Velvety, rich and full of expression’ has an exciting year of performances scheduled. Deirdre feels lucky to perform regularly in both the UK and Ireland. Deirdre began her studies in Ireland before studying full time at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as a postgraduate student. Prizes won during her studies include the Ashleyan Opera Prize and the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize. After her studies in Birmingham Deirdre joined Glyndebourne chorus for their 2017 festival and tour. Deirdre was delighted to make her main stage debut at Wexford Festival Opera 2022 as Fairy in Alma Deutscher's Cinderella. Another highlight of 2022 was performing the mezzo-soprano solos in Verdi's Requiem at Arundel Cathedral, West Sussex. Deirdre is excited to have busy year of music making ahead. Roles include contracts with Opera South East, UK singing the titile role in Bizet's Carmen in April, The Grange Festival chorus and cover role of Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte and Opera Collective Ireland, as Older Woman in Jonathan Dove's Flight which will be performed in Galway, Dublin and Cork this autumn.
Deirdre, formally a lyric soprano has sung for a number of roles which include Cathleen/Riders to the Sea, Patricia/Ava’s Wedding (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) Pamina/Die Zauberflöte (Lyric Opera Weimar, Germany), Adina/The Elixir of Love, Flora/La Traviata (New Sussex Opera) and Zerlina/Don Giovanni (Rogue Opera). Deirdre has also sung with Glyndebourne Opera chorus in their productions of La Traviata, Don Pasquale, La Clemenza di Tito and Hamlet. Deirdre has performed as a soloist for choral societies and orchestras in the UK and Ireland including The National Garda Band, Eroica Camerata, Wolverhampton Sinfonia, Peagus Orchestra and Arun Sinfonia. Concert performances include alto soloist for Verdi's Requiem, Pergolesi’s Stabet Mater, Zelenka’s Miserere with Arun Choral Society/Sinfonia of Arun. As soprano soloist, Deirdre has sung Handel’s Messiah with Choir of St. Mary’s Maldon/Pegasus Orchestra, Beethoven 9, Eroica Camerata, Birmingham and Vivaldi’s Gloria with The City of Wolverhampton Choir and Sinfonia.
After completing a 1st Class BA in Music at National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Deirdre was accepted to study with scholarship as postgraduate student at the Royal BirminghamConservatoire. During her time there competition prizes included The Ashleyan Opera prize, The Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize and second prize in the the Edward Brooks English Song competition. During those years Deirdre had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with Irish soprano Celine Byrne (National Concert Hall, Ireland) Thomas Allen, (London Song Festival) Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Della Jones, Roderick Williams and Rosemary Joshua to name but a few. Within six months of graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Deirdre was contracted to join Glyndebourne Opera for their 2017 festival and tour.
During the Covid pandemic, Deirdre’s voice grew. She was guided by her team to make the transition to lyric Mezzo-Soprano. Since then Deirdre has auditioned for The Royal Opera House, English National Opera and Wexford Festival Opera. Deirdre’s current operatic repertoire includes Dorabella/Cosi fan tutte, Sesto/La Clemenza di Tito, Charlotte/Werther, Minsk-woman/Flight and Adalgisa/Norma.
