Oh yes it is!
Cork Opera house has just announced a new programme of events, seven long months after closing its doors in March.
The programme, which will be live streamed to audiences at home, features an exciting mix of music from a roster of both established and emerging artists.
Some of Cork’s best known musicians will be making an appearance, with the likes of Mick Flannery, Majella Cullagh and Molly Lynch all confirmed. The annual Christmas Concert will also be streamed online this year.
Cork Opera House CEO Eibhlín Gleeson she could never have imagined what 2020 would bring for her industry and said “it was a joy” to be working with artists in Cork again.
Ms Gleeson said: “Live performance is at the heart of what we do, our business exists to bring people together and to not be able to do that has been devastating.
“I am however encouraged by the fact that Cork Opera House has persevered through many crises throughout its history and we are doing everything we can to adapt so we can come out of this one also.”
The new programme kicks off with leading Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea on 31 October who will be joined by some of Cork’s leading jazz musicians including Laoise Leahy.
In early November, alternative folk band Moxie, who performed the soundtrack to the 2016 summer phenomenon ‘ProdiJIG: The Revolution’, will return to Leeside with their newest and most innovative show yet.
Moxie will be followed on 14 November by a special streamed performance of ‘Lilith’, a thrilling cabaret-style song cycle by Éadaoin O’Donoghue and John O'Brien, performed by Ireland’s very own soul diva Karen Underwood.
As part of the programme’s announcement, Cork Opera House confirmed that it would not be able to go ahead with a Christmas panto this year.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support of our patrons and the Cork public over the past seven months. We'd like to sincerely thank them for their patience and understanding throughout one of the most difficult periods in our recent history. As the song from the beloved ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ goes, ‘From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success’,” said Ms Gleeson.
Some other notable acts on the programmes include homegrown composer Cormac McCarthy, Cork-born star of the West End, Molly Lynch, Irish and International folk festival Quiet Lights, and A Diva’s Christmas featuring three of Ireland’s foremost sopranos Majella Cullagh, Kelly Lonergan and Emma Nash.
The programme comes to a close on New Year’s Eve with Mick Flannery as the legendary Cork singer songwriter rings in the new year.
For bookings visit corkoperahouse.ie.