


Deepa Johnny
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Omani-born mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny has emerged as one of the most captivating young voices on the international opera stage. In the opening seasons of her career, she has garnered widespread critical acclaim, establishing herself as a singular talent set for a glittering international presence. Early breakthrough came with her powerful portrayal of Carmen in Romain Gilbert’s production at Opéra de Rouen Normandie, earning her the accolade “a revelation” and was swiftly followed by her “deeply moving and totally convincing” performances as Penelope in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, under the baton of Leonardo García Alarcón and in a new staging by the late Pierre Audi.
Johnny’s artistry has shone in a wide range of repertoire bringing nuance and vivacity to Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) at Opéra de Lille, as Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte) at Opéra national de Lyon, as Angelina in an abridged version of La Cenerentola at Houston Grand Opera and as Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) at both Portland Opera and Opera San Jose. As part of the inaugural cast of The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions, a bold and inspirational ensemble work by Ted Huffman and Philip Venables based on Larry Mitchell’s seminal LGBTQ+ text, Johnny showcased her artistic versatility at Manchester International Festival, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Bregenzer Festspiele and at London’s Southbank Centre.
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The 2025/26 season marks a significant chapter in Deepa Johnny’s career with major debuts at Canadian Opera Company as Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia) under Daniela Candillari, at English National Opera as Angelina (La Cenerentola) conducted by Yi-Chen Lin and at Opéra national de Paris in two contrasting new productions: as Kasturbai (Satyagraha) under Ingo Metzmacher, and as Dejanire in Antonia Bembo’s Ercole Amante, directed by Netia Jones and conducted by Leonardo García Alarcón.
On the concert platform, Deepa Johnny has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel in Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at both Disney Hall and Carnegie Hall, sung Mozart, Mass in C minor Mass with l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and García Alarcón and Handel, Messiah with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Mathieu Lussier. Her recital appearances include a featured performance with pianist Alphonse Cémin at the 2024 Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, participation in Renée Fleming’s SongStudio at Carnegie Hall, and a fellowship at the prestigious Ravinia Steans Vocal Institute.
Deepa Johnny is a graduate of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn Stein’s Young Artist Program, and made her debut there to acclaim as Owen’s daughter in Omar, a world-premiere by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, going on to sing Mélisande in Impressions de Pelléas and roles in Der Zwerg and La traviata, all under Music Director James Conlon. While still at Indiana University, she gained early experience in roles such as Meg Page (Falstaff) at Aspen Music Festival, conducted by Patrick Summers and alongside Bryn Terfel, Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra under Jun Märkl and, at IU Opera Theatre, Rosina in Il barbiere di Sivilgia and the title roles of both Xerxes and L’incoronazione di Poppea.
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Shirley Thomson Senior Director, VOICE at HarrisonParrott | Head of CSR
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“Deepa Johnny (Dorabella) once again offers the audience her amber-hued, radiant voice, capturing the nuances of the role with youthful spontaneity.”
“Deepa Johnny is a top-tier Dorabella who steals the spotlight from Fiordiligi. The Canadian mezzo-soprano shows a striking ability tonight to sing and act in an exceptionally modern way. Deepa Johnny portrays a Dorabella who is tormented and shaken in her convictions. This depth clearly comes through in her vocal interpretation, particularly in the aria “Smanie implacabili,” which she delivers masterfully, with no technical errors or lapses in taste.”
“The Canadian Deepa Johnny is a very accomplished Rosina, with a full, smooth voice, and an immediate warmth of character.”
“Rosina, portrayed by Deepa Johnny, masters the coloratura and vocal feats demanded by Rossini’s score. Una Voce poco fa is dazzling in its virtuosity, and Johnny achieves the remarkable feat of delivering an almost nonchalant interpretation while playing the young ingénue recounting her passions. The singer was met with resounding applause.”
“Deepa Johnny is a near-perfect Rosina. Her playful stage presence, warm tone, and expressive diction all contribute to her portrayal of a Rosina full of energy and character, especially with her flawless command of the bel canto technique.”
“Vocally and dramatically, the star is mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny in the title-role. From her first entrance and in every note of the Habanera, she is determined to maintain her dignity. She is sultry when necessary, and her seduction of Don José is fully convincing. But there is an ethical refusal of the hyper-sexualised interpretation of Carmen in Johnny’s performance that, paradoxically, makes her an even more alluring and sympathetic figure.”
“The elegant Deepa Johnny (Penelope) brought gorgeous, rich tone and expressive words and features.”
“Deepa Johnny, the Omani mezzo-soprano, embodies Penelope with a dignity that suggests Ulysses is in her very soul. Her long, bittersweet notes convey a restrained fury, both in her straight-tone singing and narration. Occasionally, she steps away from her regal demeanor, her queenly, statue-like presence, to share a few intimate confessions from the edge of her lips. She weaves her singing like a loom, alternating between velvet and coarse fabric, using lingering vowels that leave traces like venom.”
“From the outset, Deepa Johnny presents a Penelope that is deeply moving and totally convincing.”
“Mezzo Deepa Johnny appears as the very incarnation of Penelope, draped in an elegant bronze costume. She is as comfortable in this role as she was in her Carmen which brought her to attention not long ago. Her presence on stage gives off an aura that her warm, coppery voice asserts with ease. From her first scene, she fascinates the audience with the aria: “I am a mortal thing” which she sings detached and worried. Each of her appearances on stage creates a presence comparable to that of the famous tragedienne Irène Papas. Her final duet with Ulysses finally sees her lay down her arms and devote herself completely to the return of happiness, in heady melismas.”
“The formidable and sensual Carmen by Deepa Johnny, a young Canadian mezzo-soprano of Omani origin, caused a sensation on Friday at the premiere”
“Deepa Johnny’s stage presence is admirable; the overflowing sensuality, the wide vocal range with an easy top and well-rounded bottom, as well as her rich timbre”
“Deepa Johnny is a revelation. It’s hard to believe she is not French-speaking as the French is crystal clear. The colour of the voice is superb, with a powerful low register and controlled top notes. She takes to the stage with fervour and confidence.”
“Deepa Johnny is Carmen. The Canadian artist has an ease on stage … the warm colour of her voice is ideally suited to the role and her French diction is worthy of any native-French Carmen …. in the séguedille, Deepa Johnny reveals a meticulous line, perfectly held high notes and scrupulously controlled breath”
“The young Omani-born Canadian offers an undeniable stage presence. Demonstrating virtuosity, a wide dynamic range and an expressive timbre, her voice can be sinuous, seductive and scathing like a slap. The audience gives her Carmen a standing ovation.”
“Deepa Johnny’s tone is velvet when she’s singing [..]. The vocal line is generous and dense, soft with a small natural vibrato, […] while the breath flows from the bottom of the lungs to the top of the larynx, legato and supported.”
“ ‘Venables’ score is at its most patient showcasing the vocal beauty of Deepa Johnny”
“Mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny was a mesmerizing figure as the sex-addled teenager Cherubino, matching her buoyant singing with a stage demeanor that spoke eloquently of hormonal confusion.”
“This exceptionally strong ensemble had one other delicious standout in Deepa Johnny who is a new member of our young artist program. Her showcase aria in the second act compares Omar’s writing on the walls of his jail cell to birds flying through the sky. She brought a lovely, bright, flutey mezzo soprano to the piece and her youthful joy was credible and sweet.”
“Deepa Johnny excelled in her role debut as the page Cherubino both in the ease of delivery of her delicate instrument and in her complete transformation for the trouser role. She had a great comic timing as well, and the audience loved her cross-dressing antics!”
“The alluring, rich-voiced mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny introduced me and I suspect others, to the songs of Alberto Hemsi…Her performance of three of his songs revealed a deep connection to this colourful, exotic music which she performed with such flare.”
“Mezzo Deepa Johnny makes the arc of Carmen’s story her energy, her lovers and her final death at the hands of Don Jose a compelling tale.”