Celine Byrne
Celine Byrne is a lyric soprano from Kildare, Ireland. She received her Master’s in Music from the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne, also receiving the RIAM award for outstanding achievement. In addition she has an honours Music Degree from the Conservatory of Music and Drama, Dublin, where she was awarded the college Gold Medal for excellence. She has received coaching at the National Opera Studio of London and has studied with Christa Ludwig at the Vienna Staatsoper.
In 2007 Celine was awarded the First Prize and Gold Medal at the Maria Callas Grand Prix, Athens. Other awards include the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Gold Medal in 2009, the William Young Prize at the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dublin 2007 and the ‘Brabants Dagblad Press Prize’ at the IVC International Singing Competition in s’Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
Now recognized nationally and internationally as one of opera’s great stars, a performer of “fine lyrical quality and a touching actor”, Celine made her operatic début as Mimi, in Scottish Opera’s 2010 production of La Bohéme. By 2012 she was to be heard at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in the lead role of Dvorak’s Rusalka which she took over at very short notice. Soon afterwards she was invited back to assume the role of Mimi (La Bohème) followed by Micaela in Carmen and, in the seasons that have followed, she has performed extensively throughout Europe as well as in the United States, China, Russia and Mexico in roles including Contessa Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Floria Tosca (Tosca), Die Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier), Micaela (Carmen), Marietta/Marie in Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt, Liu (Turandot) & Elizabeth (Don Carlo) in Leipzig and Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf and most recently Donna Elvira with Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv conducted by Daniel Oren and Tosca with Mikhailovsky Opera, St. Petersburg.
A frequent concert performer, Celine is very familiar to both Irish and international audiences and has also performed with world-renowned tenors José Carreras, Roberto Alagna and Joseph Calleja. Future engagements include concerts with Josè Carreras in Europe, China and Russia, having performed her 30th concert with him at The Royal Albert Hall in May last year. Celine has also performed in concert with Bryn Terfel and recently sung with him and Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sasha Goetzel. Future engagements include A Summer Gala with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic under André Lenard; Richard Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder in Austria, a concert in Carnegie Hall, NY; a recording of Verdi’s Requiem with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Lenard and The Celine Byrne Christmas Gala on December 17th in the Bord Gáis Energy Theater, Dublin. Opera performances next season include the title role of Madama Butterfly in Kassel and with Irish National Opera, Dublin; Magda in Puccini’s La Rondine and Die Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier in Santiago.
