Born in Sydney on 10 June 1936, Richardson studied singing and piano at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music.
[1][2] Richardson won a Churchill Fellowship[3] and went to Europe to continue her studies with Pierre Bernac in Paris and Conchita Badía in Barcelona.
She made her European debut in 1972 in Basel singing the leading role in Alban Berg's opera, Lulu.
[3][4] Sydney music critic Roger Covell described her performance as Laura in the world premiere of Richard Meale's Voss as a "striking portrayal".
[2][5] In 1993 Richardson was awarded a Doctor of Music (honoris causa) by the University of Queensland in recognition of her career both as singer and teacher in Australia and worldwide.