Previously a member of Oper Frankfurt’s acclaimed ensemble, her many roles there included Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Lazuli in L’étoile, Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier, Medoro in Orlando Furioso, and the creation of the role of Carmen in Barrie Kosky’s iconic production, which she reprised for Frankfurt’s 2020 revival.
This season, Paula makes her role and company debut as Prince Charmant in Cendrillon at the Opéra de Paris. She also returns to Santa Fe Opera as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and reprises Dejanira in Barrie Kosky’s Hercules at Komische Oper Berlin, following a highly praised performance in the production’s premiere at Oper Frankfurt last season. In concert, Paula performs Mozart’s Requiem in Chicago with Music of the Baroque conducted by Dame Jane Glover, and makes her role debut as Marguérite in a concert performance of Le Damnation de Faust with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Karina Cannelakis. She also gives solo recitals, both at Oper Frankfurt with pianist and long-time collaborator Tanya Blaich, and with Malcolm Martineau at London’s Wigmore Hall.
Last season, Paula returned to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden to sing Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, directed by Kasper Holten, followed by her company debut as the title role in Carmen at the Det Kongelige Teater Copenhagen. Recent notable debuts include Komponist in Katie Mitchell’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona; the title role in Ariodante in a livestreamed concert at the Royal Opera House, conducted by Christian Curnyn; Orfeo in a concert performance of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Opera North at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, conducted by Laurence Cummings and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3; and her company debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette.
Other operatic highlights include Idamante in Peter Sellars’ production of Idomeneo at the Salzburg Festival; Ruggiero in Alcina and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus at Santa Fe Opera; Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann conducted by Marc Minkowski and Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the Palau de les Arts, Valencia; the title role in Fauré’s Pénélope for Frankfurt Opera; Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier for Dutch National Opera; Concepcion in L’heure Espagnole and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro at Opernhaus Zürich; Countess of Essex in Britten’s Gloriana for Teatro Real Madrid and English National Opera; Dido in Dido and Aeneas for Los Angeles Opera; Octavian at Staatsoper Stuttgart; and appearances in Ireland as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, the title role in Carmen, and Octavian with Irish National Opera.
Paula has toured widely on the concert platform, recently performing as Didon in a European tour of Berlioz’ Les Troyens alongside the Monteverdi Choir and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, conducted by Dinis Sousa, closing with a performance at the BBC Proms. She toured Europe with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in St John Passion; has sung Micah in Handel’s Samson with Harry Bicket and The English Concert Orchestra in London, Ruggiero in Alcina in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Arsamene in Serse on tour in Spain and the US, including Carnegie Hall, New York. Paula has also worked frequently with MusicAeterna and Teodor Currentzis, performing in Così fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Purcell’s Indian Queen, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder, Hindemith’s Die Junge Magd, and Das Knaben Wunderhorn.
Concert highlights include Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Handel & Haydn Society in Boston; Stravinsky’s Pulcinella with the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra; Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl; Haydn’s Paukenmesse at the BBC Proms; works by Tommaso Traetta with La Nuova Musica and David Bates at the Wigmore Hall; the role of Sara in Mysliveček’s oratorio Abramo ed Isacco with Collegium 1704 at the Salzburg Festival; and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Sir Mark Elder and the Britten Sinfonia.
An accomplished recitalist, Paula has performed at the Wigmore Hall with Malcolm Martineau and Sholto Kynoch, at the Aldeburgh and Oxford Lieder Festivals, in Frankfurt, and at the Diaghilev Festival in Perm. 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, featuring works by Brahms, Mahler, Debussy, Grieg, and traditional Irish folk songs.
