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Calendar of Events

What's On

May 2026

La Bohème at the Carlisle Memorial Church

May 2026

Morning Melodies at the Carlisle Memorial Church

May 2026

Diva Opera Costume/Wigs Skills Talk

March

Spring Solstice at the Ards Arts Centre

September 2026

Carmen at the Grand Opera House

Eugene Onegin

West Australian Opera remounts our 2024 production of Eugene Onegin for their 2026 Season

Past Productions

Explore our past productions, from 2010 to 2025

Discover Opera

Discover

Discover Opera

Find out all about our recent production of ''Follies' at the Grand Opera House, Belfast

Follies

Main Stage

Eugene Onégin

Love, friendship and fidelity collide with devastating consequences in this story of passion, pride, a moment’s…

NI Opera Studio

The Juniper Tree

'The Juniper Tree' is based on a famous Grimm's fairytale, in which a jealous stepmother murders…

Main Stage

Tosca

Northern Ireland Opera returns in 2023 with Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, after our critically acclaimed and sold-out production…

Musical

Into The Woods

BEST PRODUCTION, THE IRISH TIMES IRISH THEATRE AWARDS 2022 In a whirlwind quest to make their…

WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON

What's On

Check out our calendar guide to what's coming up in the next few months.

What's On 2025

Main Stage

Carmen

Northern Ireland Opera makes a spectacular return to the Grand Opera House in September with a…

Concert

Spring Solstice at the Ards Arts Centre

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a delightful hour of music from Northern Ireland Opera.  …

Main Stage

La Bohème

Giacomo Puccini’s most famous opera, La Bohème, tells the poignant story of four struggling young artists living…

Concert

Morning Melodies

Experience the passion of live opera performance in Belfast at the Carlisle Memorial Church as part…

WHAT WE DO

What We Do

WHAT WE DO

We are Northern Ireland's award-winning national opera company, an arts charity dedicated to the highest standards of opera performance, development of young talent and community outreach and education. Find out more about our productions since our foundation in 2010 via the link.

What We Do

Artist Development

Chorus Development Programme Our Chorus Development Programme launched in 2022, following open auditions to select local…

Past Productions

Outreach

Northern Ireland Opera bring innovative new productions of the highest artistic quality to the stage, reflecting…

The Glenarm Festival of Voice

The festival features public recitals and events, including three concerts in partnership with and broadcast by…

News

26th February 2026

An Exciting New Partnership as NI Opera and Diva Opera Transform Carlisle Memorial Church into the world of La Bohème

Northern Ireland Opera today announces an ambitious new collaboration with Diva Opera to present Puccini’s La Bohème at Belfast’s iconic Carlisle Memorial Church on 16 May 2026 at 7pm. Bringing together Diva…

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An Exciting New Partnership as NI Opera and Diva Opera Transform Carlisle Memorial Church into the world of La Bohème
19th December 2025

‘Follies’ selected by The Stage as one of the top 50 shows of 2025 around the UK

Northern Ireland Opera are delighted that The Stage has included our production of ‘Follies’ at the Grand Opera House in Belfast in this year’s selection following the production’s review by Jane Coyle.

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‘Follies’ selected by The Stage as one of the top 50 shows of 2025 around the UK
17th December 2025

Chorus Development Programme 2026 Auditions

Auditions will take place in Belfast on 5, 6 and 7 February 2026 for this year’s Chorus Development Programme. If you would be like to be considered for an audition, please contact…

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Chorus Development Programme 2026 Auditions
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SUPPORT US

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More Details

Connect With Us

As part of the Northern Ireland Opera and @divaoperauk partnership around the new production of La Bohème in the Carlisle Memorial Church @bbtbelfast, audiences are invited to a special Skills Talk on Friday 15 May from 11am to midday with Charlotte Hillier and Joanne Berry, the Diva Opera Costume and Wigs Team. This talk will offer insight into the craft, design process and practical realities of period costuming for unconventional spaces. Diva Opera, founded over thirty years ago to take opera beyond traditional theatres and into distinctive settings, has built an international reputation as Britain’s foremost chamber opera company. This event will be of interest to those with a professional or amateur interest in period costume design and creation, including wig design. Tickets are £10 plus booking fee: find out and book via the linktree in the bio. 📸: Diva Opera from La Bohème. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector @annemarabiniyoung With thanks to the Laidlaw Opera Trust
NI Opera and @divaoperauk will transform Carlisle Memorial Church @bbtbelfast into the world of La Bohème on 16 May at 7pm. Bringing together Diva Opera’s internationally celebrated chamber opera company and incorporating members of the NI Opera Chorus, this production of one of Puccini's best-loved operas places audiences at the heart of the story. Set in 1890s Paris and staged with the greatest of detail, this intimate and up-close experience, performed with a Steinway grand piano, allows La Bohème to unfold within the soaring Gothic interior of the Carlisle Memorial Church, taking the audience into the Parisian garrets of the bohemians. The cast stars Northern Irish soprano @marymccabesoprano (La Voix Humaine, Eugene Onegin) as Mimì, Robyn Lyn Evans @robyn_lyn_evans as Rodolfo, Tereza Gevorgyan @terezagevorgyansoprano as Musetta and Jean-Kristof Bouton @jeankristof.b as Marcello. The production will be sung in Italian with English surtitles. Tickets are £62.50 plus booking fee and include an interval reception with drinks and canapés. There will also be a Morning Melodies event in Carlisle Memorial Church on Wednesday 13 May at 11am and a Creative Skills Talk with the Diva Opera Costume and Wigs Team on 15 May at 11am: tickets for these can be booked separately or as part of an event ticket. Find out more and book your tickets soon via the linktree in the bio: capacity is limited in the venue so we advise booking early. Northern Ireland Opera is grateful for the support of Diva Opera, The Laidlaw Opera Trust, Belfast Buildings Trust and the @artscouncilni their principal funder, in making this project possible. @cameronmenziesdirector @annemarabiniyoung @ourbelfastmusic #opera #puccini #laboheme #belfast #whatsoninbelfast #mayevents #chamberopera #operachorus
Just under a month until we perform a gorgeous Spring Solstice Concert at the Ards Arts Centre @cultureardsandnorthdown with soprano @anna.gregg.soprano and pianist @lukelallymaguire_piano Book a ticket and enjoy a lunchtime hour of beautiful music inspired by the season of renewal. Tickets are £15 and include tea or coffee and shortbread. Full details via the linktree in the bio. @artscouncilni @ardsandnorthdownboroughcouncil #spring #lunchtimeconcert #lunchtimeevent #ardspeninsula #northdown #whatson #opera #classicalmusic
Toi Toi Toi to @lyricoperaireland, up in Belfast from their home in Co. Meath, who open their production of The Barber of Seville in partnership with the @gohbelfast tomorrow - wishing you a great week from all of us at Northern Ireland Opera.
We auditioned a hundred potential new members of the NI Opera Chorus Development Programme last week, and what a lot of talent is out there! Our professional chorus will comprise a cadre of singers who will take part in coaching, mentoring, performance and professional development opportunities throughout the spring and summer as we build up to our major production of Carmen this September @gohbelfast Here's a look back at some of the performances and concerts members of our chorus development programme have taken part in previously. We look forward to announcing the members for 26/27 in the next few weeks - thank you to everyone who came and auditioned for us. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #Carmen #Chorus #operachorus #professionalchorus #artistdevelopment #northernireland #opera Photos: @neilharrisonphotography
Tomorrow these four fantastic artists will be performing at our very popular annual cabaret event for the Out To Lunch Festival in The Black Box, with a sold out performance at lunch plus an evening performance at 7.30pm for which there are a few tickets still remaining. Mary McCabe, Sinead O'Kelly, Aaron O'Hare and pianist Frasier Hickland will be performing arias from operas includingTosca, La Traviata, Rusalka, Don Giovanni and La Boheme, and songs from musicals including Waitress, Tell Me On A Sunday, West Side Story and Hello Dolly! Tickets are £12 each, running time is about an hour. We look forward to seeing our audiences tomorrow and sharing a joyful hour of music together. Find out more and book the last few evening tickets via the linktree in the bio. @artscouncilni @theblackboxbelfast @cathedralquarterartsfest @marymccabesoprano @thesineadokelly @aj.ohare @frasierhickland #cabaret #outtolunchfestival #belfast #whatson #lunchtimecabaret #concert #opera #musicaltheatre
We're thrilled for two of our brilliant artists from September's production of 'Follies' at the Grand Opera House, who have won BroadwayWorld Ireland Awards. Best Performer in a Musical: Annette McLaughlin @netsymac for her role as Phyllis Rogers Stone Best Supporting Performer in a Musical: Rachel Stanley @stanners1970 for her role as Solange La Fitte Thank you to everyone who voted - and to everyone who came to see Follies! Photo credit: @neilharrisonphotography @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector @fourthwallpr #BroadwayWorldIreland #Awards #Follies #Sondheim
As the days start to lengthen, we're looking ahead to a musical and joyful Spring Solstice event at the Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards on March 20 at 1-2pm. We'll bring to life a selection of well-known opera favourites inspired by the season of renewal. From light-hearted arias to blooming duets, this lunchtime concert promises warmth, beauty and the perfect musical escape to welcome springtime. Tickets are £15 and include tea or coffee and shortbread. Find out more via the linktree in the bio. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector @cultureardsandnorthdown #newtownards #opera #springconcert #marchevents #lunchtimeconcert #spring #springsolstice Picture credit: @marymccabesoprano for NI Opera's Salon Series taken by Kelvin Boyes @presseyephoto at @hillsboroughcastle Dress @eadachbysaraoneill and @lindabritten Wig @nualacampbell
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