Michael Londra – ‘enormous contribution to Irish Arts’

Michael Londra is one of Ireland’s favourite tenors. He has performed in several successful musical productions and released many popular albums.

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Irish Edition describe Londra as having “a soaring voice that is both deeply emotional and tremendously expressive, transporting you into an amazingly beautiful world”.

He was born in Wexford and as a youngster he had classical singing training in choirs and operas.

Early career as a behaviour therapist

Michael Londra
Michael Londra

When he finished his studies he became a behaviour therapist for people with learning difficulties.

While it was a very rewarding job, Londra never lost his love for music. He sang part time and over the years he became more successful and started to take his singing more seriously.

Eventually, at the age of 31, he had his first professional singing gig.

Several lead roles in musicals

He went on to appear in several productions and played the lead role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He also appeared in Some Like it hot, Brigadoon and Pish Tush. He received an award at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera for his performance in Some Like it Hot

One night, Bill Whelan, who was the composer of Riverdance, saw Londra’s performance in the lead role of the Dublin production, JFK: A Musical Drama.

Whelan was so impressed that he invited the singer to join the U.S. touring company of the show. He performed in some top venues including the Radio City Music Hall in New York and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After touring for a year and a half he moved to the Broadway production of the show.

Playing the role of Jesus in the Passion Symphony

In 2006, he was the lead singer in the US Premier of the Passion Symphony, which was based on the Mel Gibson film, The Passion of the Christ. He played the role of Jesus and sang with a one hundred piece orchestra. It was a huge success, although it didn’t start entirely smoothly.

Londra says: “It’s funny because in rehearsals it was so threatening. I learned all the music in New York and literally showed up for the first rehearsal. These 200 people were all looking at me and I was terrified. Nobody told them that I was Irish.” Londra had to tone down his accent

Michael Londra
Michael Londra success in the USA
Michael Londra Q&A
Michael Londra Videos
Singers main page