Opera in the summertime….

Kilkenny Castle

It seems perverse to be thinking of summer just as we’re tentatively daring to enjoy this chilly spring, but plans for the Irish summer festivals are already appearing… and showing inevitable signs of recession fever.  While the enjoyable late winter offerings from OTC and OI had already been budgeted for, and so were safe from the moneymen, now we begin to see signs of the cutbacks already well-reported from opera companies overseas (especially in Italy and the US).  And the result is that we’re seeing a mix of some fairly shrewd moves, along with a bit of retrenchment – so nothing to worry about just yet, perhaps (apart from Cork’s Opera 2005, which had all its funding cut this year).  Opera Ireland is keeping tight-lipped and not announcing anything, so its autumn season remains a mystery, while Wexford Festival Opera has recently announced a reduction in its upcoming season.

In the more delicately-poised world of country-house opera, survival by adaptation seems to be the order of the day.  The Arts Council always likes it when production companies make ’strategic partnerships’, and in the southeast Blackstairs Opera, after its coup last year in linking with Opera Fringe, is this year teaming up with Opera Theatre Company and the Office of Public Works (along with support from Fáilte Ireland and Kilkenny 400) to present a double-bill of OTC’s touring productions of Handel’s Acis & Galatea and Mozart’s early hit Bastien und Bastienne, in Kilkenny Castle on July 3 & 4.  Blackstairs Opera are even promising a second summer offering at Russborough House in early September, but details are still to be announced, apart from the dates (Sept 4-6).

In previous years, Blackstairs would share the touring productions of the UK-based Opera à la Carte with Loughcrew House in Co. Meath, but with the move to Irish-based production companies they are going their separate ways.  This year sees Loughcrew teaming up with Opera Ireland to create a new company, Loughcrew Opera.  Managed by the ex-Celtic Tenor Niall Morris, they are offering more standard fare in the shape of Puccini’s La Bohème on May 30 & 31, with a cast that includes Irish singers Michelle Sheridan, Claudia Boyle and Simon Morgan.  As part of a new departure for opera funding, they are saying that “a percentage of box office income from this production will be donated to the Opera Ireland Foundation, securing the future of Opera in Ireland through access, education and development initiatives.”

Back in Co. Dublin, Glasthule Opera is yet to announce its upcoming season, but from what I can gather it will be taking place at the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire during the last week of June, with Puccini’s La Bohème alternating with an intriguing double bill of Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea and Gustav Holst’s rarely-produced work The Wandering Scholar.  Nothing of this has been confirmed as yet, though, so best to wait before bombarding the Pavilion with enquiries.

Last weekend at Blackstairs Opera

And so we braved the wilds of Carlow last weekend to go to the annual Blackstairs Opera show at Borris House.  The weather was unbelievably bad – just getting there turned into an amphibious challenge – but it thankfully improved as the night wore on.  In the big tent, on the other hand, the news was all good.  Country house opera has at times had a bad name, but this year’s productions from Opera Fringe were as good as I’ve seen anywhere.  Rimsky-Korsakov’s Mozart and Salieri – new to everyone I’d say – was produced (in English) simply and clearly, helped by some excellent diction from the singers Owen Miley-Read and Carthaigh Quill.  The second-half Gianni Schicchi was actually one of the best productions of this opera I’ve seen, and also excellently cast and sung.  What more can you say?  Opera Fringe is emerging as a company to watch and I hope we get get more opportunities to hear them.

More photos are provided by the Irish Times.

Blackstairs Opera double bill

Coming up soon (4/5 July) it’s time for what’s becoming a properly annual (and enjoyable) opera outing in the Southeast, Blackstairs Opera.  Following in the fine tradition of country-house opera, Blackstairs’ publicity goes in for comparisons with Glyndebourne, though not having a purpose-built theatre makes it closer in spirit to Garsington or Grange Park really – pick a nice stately pile out in the country with a big lawn, pitch a large tent on it, hire a traveling opera company and away you go!  Last year’s Wexford experiment at Johnstown Castle proved quite a hit as well, showing that there’s quite an appetite amongst audiences for having a night at the opera livened up with a hint of hedonistic eccentricity.

This year it’s the turn once again of Borris House in Co. Carlow to provide the setting.  Black tie is meant to be de rigueur at these things, though I saw plenty of lounge suits in evidence the last time I was there…. Anyway, this year’s show is a double bill of opera composers with anniversaries to mark, a pair of one-acters referencing respectively the centenary of Rimsky-Korsakov’s death in 1908, and the anniversary of Puccini’s birth 150 years ago in 1858 – Rimsky’s Pushkinesque Mozart & Salieri, and Puccini’s short-but-sweet Gianni Schicchi.  In an interesting departure, the company they’re employing this year is the Co. Down-based Opera Fringe, directed by the multi-talented Rosa Solinas, with singers including my own singing teacher, Australian bass Owen Miley-Read.  Other cast members include Cárthaigh Quill, Davide Fersini and Eimear Collins, with Roy Laughlin conducting and the productions by Roberto Recchia.  Prices are a bit steep but an excuse for al fresco dining in elegant suroundings (weather permitting) as well as over-dressing to the hilt is always an attraction… and I understand tickets are still available. Also there’s an outreach programme for youngsters and their families on the afternoon of Sunday 6 which is a nice touch.