NI Opera is holding its first vocal competition in the historic village of Glenarm, Co. Antrim, from 9-11th September 2011. The competition aims to find new aspiring talent and the winner will perform in a recital with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on Sunday 30th October as part of the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's. Tickets are on sale through the festival website - www.belfastfestival.com.
The following five finalists have been selected:
Rachel Kelly, Dublin, Mezzo-Soprano Ben McAteer, Newry, Baritone John Porter, Lifford, Tenor Sarah Richmond, Carrickfergus, Mezzo-Soprano Lynda-Jane Workman, Coleraine, Mezzo-Soprano
Each finalist will take part in workshops and master classes before competing in a grand final which will be open to the public. Recitals will also be held during the weekend and the…
NI Opera, the new regional opera company, is bringing its first production, Tosca, to Derry~Londonderry this week. Ahead of the production, NI Opera staged a series of free workshops and masterclasses to give the public a taster of the music and spectacle that comes with opera.
Last Thursday evening, the School of Creative Arts at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus hosted an opera masterclass with local mezzo soprano, Doreen Curran. In addition, a school educational workshop took place last Friday at St Mary’s College in Derry and St Malachy’s College in Belfast, to introduce pupils to potential careers in music and singing.
NI Opera also recently staged two taster events in the city in two rather unexpected locations. Chorus singers, Aaron O'Hare and John Porter, treated visitors to the City of Culture Office and shoppers in the Richmond Centre to an impromptu…
Shoppers and visitors in Derry~Londonderry were treated to a taster of NI Opera's finest singing talent on Saturday 19th March.
NI Opera staged two taster events in the city with two of Derry's finest opera singers, Aaron O'Hare and John Porter. The singers performed at the City of Culture offices and at the Richmond Shopping Centre.
Members of the public enjoyed the impromptu performances during the day and had a taster of what will be on offer when NI Opera brings its inaugural production, Tosca, to the city in two week's time.
The production - which takes place on 31st March, 1st April (matinee), 2nd April 2011 - will involve singers, the orchestra and audience making the brief journey between three different venues during the performance - St Columb's Cathedral, the Guildhall and St Columb's Hall. It promises to be a night to remember and will appeal to those…
NI Opera's spectacular first production will be Tosca, produced as never before in the UK.
Puccini's thrilling masterpiece will be performed inside three different and atmospheric locations in the historic Walled City - St Columb's Cathedral, the Guildhall, and St Columb's Hall - with the singers, orchestra, and you, our audience, making the brief journey between venues for each act.
A brilliant cast and the sensational music of one of the world's great operas will truly make this unique production an evening to remember.
CAST
Floria Tosca Giselle Allen (31st March/2nd April) Lee Bisset (1st April matinee performance)
