“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to create something new,” comments Fergus Sheil, Artistic Director of Irish National Opera.
“It is also about defining fresh parameters for what opera could and should be. We are starting at a remarkable time for Irish singers, with so many exceptional artists on the international scene.
We have the chance to make a bold statement to the public in Ireland about our world-class artists and bring as many of them as possible to the broadest of audiences.”
Irish National Opera opens its 2018 season with Thomas Adès’s chamber opera Powder Her Face, in a touring co-production with Northern Ireland Opera (24 February – 9 March).
There's also Patrick Mason’s new staging of The Marriage of Figaro, with Tara Erraught, Jonathan Lemalu, Ben McAteer, Máire Flavin and Suzanne Murphy. This production marks the company’s first full production, opening at Wexford’s National Opera House on 13 April before transferring to the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin for four performances (17, 18, 20 & 21 April).
In the summer, Irish National Opera presents Gluck’s moving telling of the myth of Orfeo ed Euridice in association with Galway International Arts Festival (23 – 29 July). It will star mezzo soprano Sharon Carty in a production directed by leading dance theatre director Emma Martin.Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Arts & Heritage Niamh Smyth has welcomed the launch of the Irish National Opera.
Deputy Smyth commented, “I am delighted that the Irish National Opera is finally getting off the ground, more than seven years after it was first established.
"It marks a new departure for Irish Opera, which will hopefully bring it to new audiences around the country.
“This platform will afford new opportunities to emerging Irish talents and will bring opera to the heart of a host of new communities – making it more accessible to people who may never have been to an opera performance before.
“I’m so pleased to see this long awaited and anticipated project come to fruition. I have always emphasised the need for us to make the arts more accessible to people of all ages, and from all communities.
"The Irish National Opera is an exciting new prospect, which is bringing the arts to the people. I have no doubt that it will be a huge success and I wish to extend my best wishes to all involved in the upcoming programme of events”.