Coloratura soprano Cara O’Sullivan has died at the age of 58.

The soprano, who died on Jan. 26, 2021, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in 2018 after she noted something was “a little bit off” with her memory. She gave her last performance at Christmas 2018 insisting on completing every singing engagement she had committed to.

Born in 1962, O’Sullivan grew up in The Lough, Cork, in Ireland. Her parents and her grandparents on both sides were singers, though not professionally but she began to develop her voice at the age of 12. She attended the Cork School of Music but in her 20s took a break from singing to have her daughter. 

In 1996 she sang her first major role as Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni” with the Welsh National Opera for which she studied under Joan Sutherland.

In 1997 and 1998, O’Sullivan starred as the Queen of the Night in “The Magic Flute” at Opera North and from there went on to perform at some of the world’s greatest theaters including English National Opera, Opera Nantes, Palau de la Música Catalana, Paris Opera, Sydney Opera House, and Vlaamse Opera.

The Irish National Opera honored O’Sullivan with a tribute stating, “The untimely passing of soprano Cara O’Sullivan today (26 January) has robbed Ireland of one of its greatest operatic talents. Cara possessed a voice of pure beauty. She had virtuosic skills and when she unleashed her vocal fireworks, she made time stand still.

“Cara’s voice had a liquidity and flexibility that could tackle some of the most demanding and glistening soprano repertoire. But her voice was only part of the attraction. Cara had a warmth to her personality that never failed to draw in audiences. She knew how to command attention, she strode onto the stage as though it were her own kingdom and she fed off the audience’s rapt responses.

“Cara was a perfectionist. She was as demanding of herself as she was of all those around her. She commanded huge respect within the world of opera professionals. Cara enjoyed a successful career, but never took it for granted. She worked hard, prepared meticulously and continually sought to develop herself. Her reward was the adulation her fans offered her. Her career and her life were cut short by the early onset of dementia. In the midst of this devastating news, her friends in the opera world and her fans mourn her loss, but we will also take a moment to celebrate the huge joy that her life brought.”

The soprano is survived by three siblings, including sisters Aoife and Nuala and her daughter, Christine.