Laura McHugh

Laura McHugh, a “jaw-droppingly talented” (The Boston Globe) soprano “ready for heavenly ascent” (Boston Musical Intelligencer) lauded for her “superb, floating” sound (Melrose Free Press) recently won 1st Place in the Classical Singer National Competition and the Vermont Vocal Competition. Known for her penchant for “hilarious interpretation” (Voce di Meche), she recently created comedic roles in two World Premiere Operas: The Reaper in Reap What You Soul and Hannah in Non Motus. In the realm of contemporary opera, Laura has also appeared in John Corigliano’s The Lord of Cries (nominated for the 2024 GRAMMY Award - Best Opera Recording), Tobias Picker’s Awakenings (Rose cover/East Coast Premiere/recording) and Emmeline (Emmeline cover/Harriet Mosher), and Dominick Argento’s The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe (Mrs. Poe cover/recording).

Operatic roles include the titular roles in Rusalka, Suor Angelica, and Gräfin Mariza, as well as Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Mimì and Musetta (La bohème), Countess Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Giulietta (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito), and Micaëla and Frasquita (Carmen). Oratorio credits include Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Mozart Requiem, Fauré Requiem, Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem, Vivaldi Gloria, and Handel Messiah.

A performer with strong musical theatre chops, she recently appeared as Florinda in Into the Woods with Tulsa Opera, where she was also a Filstrup Resident Artist. Laura recently appeared as the Beggar Woman in Opera51’s Sweeney Todd. She starred in Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s inaugural Boston production of A Christmas Carol as Mrs. Fezziwig, a role she will return to this winter.