Cork Opera House presents Opera Gala in association with Irish National Opera

This Opera Gala introduces the second cohort of the Cara O’ Sullivan Associate Artists, a programme initiated by Cork Opera House in 2021 to honour the life and work of Cork’s gifted coloratura soprano, with the hope of contributing significantly to the future of opera in Cork city, so that generations to come can benefit from her enduring legacy. This Gala evening is free of charge to the public – a gift to the city in Cara O’Sullivan’s name.

The Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra will be conducted on the evening by founding artistic director of Irish National Opera, Fergus Sheil. They will accompany a host of Irish operatic talent in their inaugural performance as Cara O’ Sullivan Associate Artists – Cork Mezzo-Soprano Niamh O’ Sullivan, Dublin Bass-Baritone Rory Dunne, Wexford Soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson and Clare Tenor, Dean Power.

The programme for this Gala evening features many beloved arias and opera favourites such as the famous trio ‘Soave sia il vento’ from Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Nemorino’s wonderfully pensive aria ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’amore, Dvořák’s ‘Song to the Moon’ and Saint-Saëns exquisite ‘Mon Coeur s’ouvre à ta voix’.

Online booking is limited to two tickets per booking – for additional tickets please contact our Box Office on 021 427 0022.

Proudly supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.

Irish National Opera presents Verdi’s La traviata

Violetta, a high-spirited, popular courtesan. Alfredo, her devoted but naive lover. The rural bliss they choose is shattered by fear of scandal. When their love reasserts itself, she is already on her deathbed. Opera’s most moving reunion.

Verdi’s La traviata is based on the semi-autobiographical play, La Dame aux camélias (The Lady of the Camellias), by Alexandre Dumas fils. The subject is Dumas’s relationship with Marie Duplessis, someone that composer Franz Liszt once described as the only woman he had ever loved. Verdi’s acute and heart-rending response to a woman who died of TB at the age of 23 has immortalised not just her tragedy, but also her irrepressible character and appeal.

Running time 3 hours with interval.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.