Biography

In recent seasons, Brian Mulligan returned to Oper Frankfurt for his role debut as Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande. He has also returned to The Metropolitan Opera stage as Paolo in Simon Boccanegra, with Plácido Domingo in the title role and James Levine conducting. Return engagements at Opernhaus Zürich have included his signature role of Valentin in Gounod’s Faust, and Yeletsky in Robert Carsen’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Pique Dame. At the Minnesota Opera, Mr. Mulligan created the role of Jack Torrance in the world premiere of The Shining, written by Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell, and he starred in the title role of Thomas’ Hamlet. The Star Tribune heralded his portrayal of Jack Torrance saying: “Brian Mulligan was an unforgettable Jack, alternately pathetic and terrifying and richly sung.”

Mr. Mulligan has made numerous appearances at the San Francisco Opera, where he has portrayed the title role in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd; the title role in Nixon in China; Enrico in a new production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor; Count Anckarström in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, and as Chorèbe in Sir David McVicar’s production of Berlioz’ Les Troyens. Other roles there have included Albert in Massenet’s Werther, Sharpless, Valentin, Marcello in Puccini’s La bohème, and the King’s Herald in Wagner’s Lohengrin.

On the symphonic front, Brian Mulligan has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony for Mahler’s Das klagende Lied, led by Michael Tilson Thomas; the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony conducted by Robert Spano, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for Adams’ The Wound Dresser. He performed Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem with the Pacific Chorale, and in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. At the Aspen Music Festival, he made a role debut as Amonasro in a semi-staged performance of Verdi’s Aida under the baton of Robert Spano. Other orchestral highlights include Carmina Burana and A Sea Symphony at the Blossom Music Festival with Cleveland Orchestra. In the world premiere of Primosch’s Songs for Adam conducted by Sir Andrew Davis with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, he was lauded by the Chicago Classical Review saying: “[he] possesses a burnished, evenly produced instrument and his sensitive singing and exemplary diction made the greatest possible case for Primosch’s cycle.” He has also appeared in performance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in Carmina Burana, conducted by Marin Alsop. He joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic for Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, which was recorded by Deutsche Grammophon and released on DVD.

Other orchestral highlights include Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus with James Conlon and members of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; concert versions of Der Kaiser von Atlantis with Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Ravinia Festival under the baton of James Conlon, where he also performed Das klagende Lied; Mendelssohn’s Paulus and Handel’s Messiah with the Houston Symphony; Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn with the Phoenix Symphony under Michael Christie; Silvio in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra in New Zealand; Titus in Magnard’s rarely performed Bérénice at Carnegie Hall with the American Symphony Orchestra; Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem and the West Coast premiere of Lieberson’s The World in Flower with the Los Angeles Master Chorale; and Balstrode in Peter Grimes at the Aspen Music Festival.

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Mr. Mulligan has been awarded a Richard Tucker Career Grant, a Sara Tucker Study Grant, the George London Award, and First Prize at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Vocal Competition.

Mr. Mulligan holds dual citizenship in the United States and Ireland.