(Photo: Neil Harrison) Since Cameron Menzies took on the position of artistic director of Northern Ireland Opera in 2020, the company has undergone something of a Renaissance. Although working on a slim budget, enough to fund only one main stage production each season, its imaginative and innovative approach has led to it staging a stream of high-quality short works, which {…}
(Photo: Ross Kavanagh) This September, Northern Ireland Opera premieres its new production of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin”, with its quality cast members directed by Cameron Menzies, and conducted by Dominic Limburg. This production looks certain to be another hit with local audiences, following its sell-out productions of “La Traviata” and “Tosca.” OperaWire met up with one of its stars, mezzo-soprano Sarah {…}
The Northern Ireland Opera has announced the Principal Cast and Creatives in Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” The opera, which will be performed in September in Belfast, will be directed by the renowned national opera company’s Artistic Director Cameron Menzies. Conductor Dominic Limburg will lead the performance with a cast that includes Mary McCabe, Carolyn Dobbin, Sarah Richmond, Jenny Bourke, Yuriy Yurchuk, {…}
Fairytales have not been kind to stepmothers. Usually depicted as jealous, manipulative and vicious, with a predilection for maltreating, disinheriting and murdering their stepchildren, stepmothers are probably on par with another favorite hate figure of the genre, the wicked witch. A typical example is found in “The Juniper Tree,” taken from Grimms’ Fairytales, published in 1812. This stepmother is not {…}
Anyone who has cast their eye on the state of opera in the Republic of Ireland over recent years will no doubt be aware of the renaissance that has taken place there. Yet, far fewer people will know of the recent progress that has been made north of the border, where Northern Ireland Opera has emerged from Covid with an {…}
(Photo: Neil Harrison Photography) Northern Ireland Opera is not flush with money. Fortunately, however, it has an imaginative artistic director in Cameron Menzies, whose innovative approach ensures that the company is able to provide a wide range of productions over the season, which it tours to locations across the province. Unable to afford more than a single fully staged opera {…}
Northern Ireland Opera’s 13th Glenarm Festival of Voice has announced sopranos Anna Gregg and Petra Wells, mezzo-soprano Anna-Helena Machlachlan, tenor Cathal McCabe, and baritone Ryan Garnham as its finalists. From August 25-27 in Glenarm, the five singers will participate in intensive coaching before taking part in a live competition. Vocal coaches include Dr. Ingrid Surgenor, Professor Mark Wildman, and pianist {…}
Northern Ireland Opera has announced the Principal cast and creatives for its production of Puccini’s “Tosca” The production will be directed by Director Cameron Menzies and will be performed at Belfast’s Grand Opera House from Sept. 9 to 16, 2023. The cast will include soprano Svetlana Kasyan in the title role, Brendan Collins as Scarpia, and Roman Arndt as Cavaradossi. {…}
Northern Ireland Opera was named the winner of Best Production at the 2022 Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards for “Into The Woods.” Northern Ireland Opera received this prestigious award for its Feb. 2022 production of Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.” Cameron Menzies’ setting of the musical starred Sean Kearns, Allison Harding, and Kelly Mathieson. Other nominations for Northern Ireland Opera include {…}
The Northern Ireland Opera has announced a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca,” directed by Artistic Director Cameron Menzies. The opera, which will open at Belfast’s Grand Opera House will be performed from Sept. 9 through 16, 2023. In a statement, Artistic Director Cameron Menzies said, “After the critical success and audience response to last year’s production of La Traviata, we {…}
Northern Ireland Opera has announced the launch of “The Salon Series.” The series will feature six performances around historic venues throughout Northern Ireland. The series will get a total of six performances throughout 2023 for a total of 36 showcases overall. “’The Salon Series’ is a [program] I’ve been thinking about since I joined Northern Ireland Opera in 2021 as {…}