Linda Richardson was born in Cheshire and studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she was a Peter Moores Foundation Scholar and winner of the Frederic Cox Award, and then at the National Opera Studio.

An English National Opera Company Principal, her roles there since her debut in 1996 have included Virtue The Coronation of Poppea, Fiordiligi Così fan tutte, Lauretta Gianni Schicchi, Micaela Carmen, Gretel Hansel and Gretel, Gilda Rigoletto, Zerlina Don Giovanni, Sophie Der Rosenkavalier, Mimi La Bohème, title roles The Fairy Queen and Alcina, Violetta La Traviata, Woglinde Rhinegold, Helena A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Donna Anna Don Giovanni. Elsewhere she has sung Karolka Jenufa, Mimi, Nanetta Falstaff, Pamina Die Zauberflöte and Violetta with Opera North, Lisetta La Vera Constanza at Garsington, Norina Don Pasquale for Clonter Opera, Fairy Queen in Barcelona, First Niece Peter Grimes at Netherlands Opera and Amina in Opera Holland Park’s La Sonnambula

She performs extensively on the oratorio and concert platform, and is a frequent recitalist, having sung at the Newbury, Three Choirs and Arundel Festivals. She was a regular soloist with the English Haydn Festival where she sang in world and British premieres of Haydn’s unknown works. Other concert work includes Missa Solemnis, Brahms Requiem with the Northern Sinfonia, Messiah with the English Chamber Orchestra in Spain and Britten’s Les Illuminations with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. Recent concerts include an Italian Gala with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carl Davis, Carmina Burana at the Royal Festival Hall and she has appeared as a guest soloist on Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2.  Linda appeared as Annie in Jonathan Dove’s TV opera When She Died on Channel 4. Recordings include Hearts and Flowers, a collection of Victorian Parlour Songs, and Oscar Un Ballo in Maschera for Chandos.

This season’s and future plans include the Countess Marriage of Figaro and Gilda at Opera North, Violetta at English National Opera and concerts with the Hallé Orchestra.