Cork Opera House has announced a new programme of events, for the first time since closing its doors in March of this year. The programme will be live streamed to audiences at home, and is set to featuree an eclectic mix of music by a host of established and emerging artists.

Mick Flannery, Majella Cullagh and Molly Lynch will all perform, while the annual Christmas Concert will also be streamed online.

The new programme kicks off with leading Cork trombonist Paul Dunlea (31 Oct) who will be joined by some of Cork’s leading Jazz musicians including Laoise Leahy. In early November, alternative folk band Moxie (6 Nov), who performed the soundtrack to the 2016 summer phenomenon ProdiJIG: The Revolution, will return to the Opera House stage to present another innovative performance which promises to go beyond traditional backgrounds and reflect the world we live in today.

Moxie will be followed by a special streamed performance of Lilith (14 Nov), a thrilling cabaret-style song cycle by Éadaoin O’Donoghue and John O'Brien, performed by Ireland’s very own soul diva Karen Underwood. The original live performance of this beautiful work premiered to critical acclaim at the 2019 Cork Midsummer Festival.

For fans of traditional and folk music, The Opera House Sessions will showcase some of Cork’s best homegrown talent. The first instalment of this series sees the much-anticipated return of Cork composer Cormac McCarthy (20 Nov). Cormac will be joined by a host of talented musicians including Darren McCarthy on bass, Fionn O Ceallachain on percussion, Marie Ryan on fiddle and vocalist Nicki Griffin.

While fans of the annual Opera House summer musical felt the absence of a spectacular production this year, there’s a treat in store for musical theatre fans as Cork-born star of the West End, Molly Lynch, takes a break from her West End show The Last Five Years to present a solo concert live from London.

The Opera House will also be working with Coughlan’s Live to bring exciting live music to the stage again and to celebrate some of the city’s and Ireland’s emerging artists on November 29, where Cork’s 96FM presenter Michael Carr will play host to Lorraine Nash, Niamh Regan, Ailbhe Reddy and Paddy Dennehy.

Cork Opera House also today confirmed the cancellation of this year’s Christmas Panto. Cork Opera House CEO Eibhlín Gleeson said, “We’re devastated that we can’t go ahead with our Panto this year, it’s our biggest show of the year and the Opera House simply won’t feel the same without it."

And while the festive season will look a little different this year without Cork Opera House’s Panto, the programme features a number of special highlights to accompany you at this special time of year.

Always a highlight of the festive season, the annual Cork Opera House Christmas Concert will also go online this year. This event has become a favourite feature of the season and indeed a Cork Christmas tradition for many. Following sold out concerts for the last four years, this year’s event will take a different format as the best in local Cork talent come together to sing a range of festive classics streamed live to your homes this Christmas.

The programme comes to a close on New Year’s Eve with Mick Flannery (31 Dec) as he rings in the new year with what promises to be another powerful performance from the legendary Cork singer songwriter.