Irish soprano Elizabeth Hilliard is a leading exponent of contemporary vocal music, described in Opera Today as a ‘veritable tour de force of vocal sound, experimentation and expression. She has worked in close collaboration with composers including Gráinne Mulvey, Jennifer Walshe, Christopher Fox and David Bremner and champions Irish art, music and composers, achieving recognition in the US and UK as well as her native country.
Recent performances included: with guitarist Katalin Koltai in Belfast, Dublin, Budapest and Paris (CMC’s Ulysses Journey Feb-June ’22); with Evlana Ensemble in Castlebar, Carrick-on-Shannon and Dublin (October ’22); with Hard Rain Soloists Ensemble / Sinéad Hayes in performing a new work by Edmund Hunt (November ‘22), repeated with Das Neue Ensemble (April ’23); she appeared with Degani Piano Trio in After Beethoven, presented by the National Concert Hall (May ‘22). Slow Recognition by David Bremner and Helene Montague, presented by her and David Bremner’s company Béal at Unit 44 in Dublin. (July ’22), New Music Dublin (April ’23), Music Network Tour with Jennifer Walshe, Panos Ghikas and Nick Roth (September ’23).
Elizabeth’s career is supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and South Dublin County Council. Highlights include: musical director of Inappropriate Moments, a 2-day festival of the unaccompanied vocal-ensemble music by Jennifer Walshe (Béal, 2016); musical director of Stockhausen’s Stimmung, for which she created a Dublin version (Tonnta, 2019); performer in Gráinne Mulvey’s Great Women (for soprano and electronics), filmed premiere directed by Helene Montague and John Comiskey (Dublin International Chamber Music Festival, 2021), live premiere (New Music Dublin, 2023).
Her debut disc ‘Sea to the West’ (2016) was followed by ‘Great Women’ (2021) – both on Metier label to critical acclaim. In 2021 she presented the 8-part feature series How The World Begins Again on RTÉ lyric fm.
