What’s Valentine’s night without a little tragedy?
Michael Olney
Some of the brightest rising stars of Irish opera will return to Cork city this month for a very special Valentine’s night show.
The abridged and semi-staged presentation of Bizet’s classic, ‘La tragédie de Carmen’ will be performed Cork mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan, Clare tenor Dean Power as Don José, Dublin bass-baritone Rory Dunne, and Wexford soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson.
The show, which will be performed at Cork Opera House on 14 February (Valentine’s Day) is part of Cork Opera House’s Winter Season.
The four opera stars are members of the Cara O’Sullivan Associated Artists programme, initiated by Cork Opera House in memory of the much-loved and late Leeside soprano.
Directed by John O’Brien, this adaptation of ‘La tragédie de Carmen’ by Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carriére (1875) tells the tragic tale that is re-lived through the music of George Bizet and Marius Constant.
“It’s a pleasure to be staging this upcoming production of ‘La tragédie de Carmen’ and also very exciting to offer role debuts to our current Cara O’Sullivan associate artists,” said Cork Opera House CEO, Eibhlín Gleeson.
“2024 will be an important year for us, with lots of fantastic, interesting, and engaging shows coming up.
“To get it underway with our own production of this adaptation of one of the world’s most loved operas is really exciting and we are very much looking forward to this production and the continuing programme of in-house produced opera at Cork Opera House.”
‘La tragédie de Carmen’, adapted by Peter Brook and Jean-Claude Carriére, is the second opera performed by this new Cara O’Sullivan quartet following a critically-acclaimed production of ‘The Magic Flute' in October 2023 which was performed in French with English subtitles and spoken word.
Cork opera lovers will also have two opportunities to see Irish National Opera’s ‘La Traviata’, which comes to Cork Opera House on 29 and 31 May.
Tickets for ‘La tragédie de Carmen’ are available online at corkoperahouse.ie or at the box office (021-4270022).