Alannah Thornburgh, harpist.

Opera House strikes a chord with free lunchtime concerts

Cork Opera House has announced a free lunchtime concert series taking place in its newly-opened café, Half Moon Place. Summer at Half Moon Place will run from 1-2pm on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout July and August. Providing lunchtime concerts regularly throughout the summer months, Summer at Half Moon Place will showcase emerging and established artists across a number of genres from Cork and further afield.

"Cork is a city of performers and Cork Opera House is the proud home of live entertainment in the southern region," said Eibhlín Gleeson, Cork Opera House CEO. "With Summer at Half Moon Place, we want to showcase emerging talent in a space that will hopefully become a stepping stone towards stages such as our main auditorium, allowing performers and patrons alike to enjoy performances in a comfortable and intimate space."

Performers throughout the series will include artists such as vocalist and instrumentalist Molly Sterling, hand pan, harp, and piano trio Harpanno, and violin virtuoso duo Lucia and Maria. From July 3, an exhibition of visual art will also be installed at Half Moon Place as an accompaniment to the concert series. This will showcase the work of several creatives and their perspectives of Cork today. Among the featured artists are Melanie McGrath and Emer Kiely, with more details and artists to be announced soon.