Philip O’Brien studied on the Graduate and Opera courses at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, becoming a Wolfson Scholar and winning the Patrick Libby prize for Acting. He was a finalist in the Wagner Society Competition, London and a finalist at the Seattle Opera International Wagner Competition. Philip O’Brien has sung principal roles at Glyndebourne Festival, Savonlinna Festival.

Among Philip O’Brien’s operatic roles are The Prince Rusalka, Peter Grimes (title role), Alfredo La Traviata, Samson Samson and Delilah, Beppe I pagliacci, Lensky Eugene Onegin, Nemorino L’elisir d’amore, Turiddu Cavalleria rusticana, Don José Carmen, Florestan Fidelio and Pinkerton Madama Butterfly and Rodolfo La Bohème.

Philip O’Brien has a busy concert diary and his repertoire includes Beethoven 9th Symphony and Missa Solemnis, Dvorak Stabat Mater, Elgar Dream of Gerontius, The Apostles, The Kingdom and the Verdi Requiem.

Philip O’Brien sang the first tenor in Seven Deadly Sins (Weill) for the Royal Ballet at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gerard Lakmé for Opera Holland Park, Heinrich Tannhauser in a concert performance conducted by Richard Hickox at the St Endellion Festival, and his first Cavaradossi Tosca. He performed leading roles in Das Wundertheater (Henze) and Mahagonny Songspiel (Weill) at the Montepulciano Festival and Froh Das Rheingold and Siegmund in Act 1 of Die Walküre with the Northern Wagner Orchestra. He covered Florestan Fidelio for Scottish Opera, and returned for Don Jose Carmen, a role he subsequently sang at Clonter Opera Farm and at the Britten Theatre, London.

Philip O’Brien made his debut at English National Opera as Danilo with Amanda Roocroft in a new production of The Merry Widow. He also appeared in the role of Ismaele Nabucco for the Nationale ReisOpera in the Netherlands, as Sergei Paradise Moscow (Shostakovich) with Opera North, and as Jenik The Bartered Bride at the Schloss Hallwyl Festival, Switzerland.

Philip O’Brien recently appeared as Student/Allova/Vojta in The Adventures of Mr Broucek with Opera North and Scottish Opera. He will perform Don Jose Carmen at the O2 Arena, London and Pinkerton Madam Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall.