Cara O'Sullivan

Cara O'Sullivan (1962 – 26 January 2021) was an Irish coloratura soprano singer.[1][2][3][4]

Background

O'Sullivan grew up in The Lough, Cork. Both of her parents and her grandparents on both sides were singers, though not professionally.[5][3] She is survived by 3 siblings, including sisters Aoife and Nuala. Nuala represented Cork at the Rose of Tralee in the 1980s. O'Sullivan had one daughter, Christine, an accountant.[6][1][5][7] O'Sullivan lived in Frankfield, Cork.[3][7] She was nicknamed "Caradiva" by her friends.[3]

Career

O'Sullivan's family noted that her voice began to develop at the age of 12. She attended the Cork School of Music, where O'Sullivan stated that at 17 the head of the school, Jack Murphy, told her parents: "She can go anywhere in the world, she can be anything she wants to be, she can go to the very top."[1]

In her 20s, O'Sullivan took a break from singing for 4 years, returning to music after the birth of her daughter.[5]

O'Sullivan achieved her first major role in 1996 at the age of 34, as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Welsh National Opera. The world renowned Australian soprano Dame Joan Sutherland helped O'Sullivan to prepare for the role. In 1997 and 1998, O'Sullivan starred as the Queen of the Night in the Opera North performances of The Magic Flute.[3] The Daily Telegraph praised her "spirit and diamantine accuracy".[8] She appeared on the 2008 anti-domestic violence charity album Sanctuary.

She also performed Così fan tutte, La traviata, Handel's Messiah, and Faust.[7][9]

O'Sullivan's performances included:

In 2019, O'Sullivan received the inaugural Cork Culture Award by Lord Mayor of Cork, Mick Finn.[10]

Voice

O'Sullivan was a dramatic coloratura soprano.[3] She has been described as a "fearsome coloratura" with "spitfire-like delivery".[11]

Health

Shortly before O'Sullivan was to begin rehearsals in Wales, she was diagnosed with cancer. The stage 2 leg tumour was discovered by her beautician during a waxing session. O'Sullivan had previously dismissed the lump as cellulite. The diagnosis did not affect her performances, as she received initial radiotherapy treatment in Ireland and then in Wales, continuing to work throughout, performing 20 times in 14 weeks.[1][12][5][2] She suffered from insomnia.[13]

O'Sullivan had nodules removed from her vocal cords at the private Blackheath Hospital, London. After the operation, she recuperated at Glenstal Abbey, where she was completely silent for one week.[7][14]

In 2018, O'Sullivan was diagnosed with early-onset dementia which led to her retirement from professional singing.[15] Celebratory concerts were organised in her honour in Cork and Dublin.[16][17][18]

On 26 January 2021, it was announced that Cara O'Sullivan had died.[19][20] Her passing was marked by an outpouring of tributes to her talent and her outstanding contribution to music in Ireland and internationally,[19] with The Irish Independent stating that "[Ms O'Sullivan] was famed for her support of charitable events - and her sense of humour."[21]

References
  1. "Miriam Meets.... Cara O'Sullivan and Nuala O'Sullivan". Miriam Meets... Archived from the original on 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  2. Ring, Evelyn (January 11, 2017). "Leg wax led to Cara O'Sullivan's cancer diagnosis". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-04-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Riegel, Ralph (26 January 2021). "Tributes paid as Irish opera great Cara O'Sullivan dies after long illness". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. "Soprano Cara O'Sullivan is a bright light in midwinter". Irish Examiner. December 14, 2015. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. "Singing mother's praises". independent. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  7. "Waking hours with: coloratura soprano Cara O'Sullivan". independent. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2018-04-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Cara O'Sullivan's concert generating great interest". Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
  10. "'Superstar' Cara O'Sullivan receives inaugural Cork Culture Award". Western People. April 9, 2019. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  11. "Opera Gala, National Concert Hall". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2020-02-20.
  12. "'I thought it was cellulite - but it was cancer' - Singer owes life to eagle-eyed beautician". independent. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  13. Feighan, Irene (February 10, 2017). "The Shape I'm In: Cara O'Sullivan, soprano". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  14. "Cara O'Sullivan overcame the most frightening moment of her life". Irish Examiner. January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  16. Dervan, Michael. "The best classical music and opera to see this week". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  17. English, Eoin (February 14, 2019). "Cara O'Sullivan to be honoured with concert and city award". Irish Examiner.
  18. O’Neill, Kevin (March 3, 2019). "Second celebratory concert for Cara O'Sullivan announced". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  19. "Cork loses soprano superstar Cara O'Sullivan". echo live. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  20. Crowley, Sinéad (26 January 2021). "Irish soprano Cara O'Sullivan dies at 59". Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  21. "Tributes paid as Irish opera great Cara O'Sullivan dies after long illness". independent. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
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