PHOTOS Opera Workshop presents Opera Rendezvous Summer concert on Wednesday, June 24

Opera Workshop presents Opera Rendezvous Summer concert on Wednesday, June 24.

Opera Rendezvous brings a Summer concert of gorgeous arias, duets and songs with Limerick’s Opera Workshop on June 24

June 24th is the date for an Opera Rendezvous; Mozart, Bellini and Puccini beckon with promises of romance, drama and joy with Limerick’s own pioneering opera production company, Opera Workshop.

Coming together to perform under the Opera Workshop umbrella are some of the best of Limerick’s opera singing talent, including Lorraine Galvin, Eve Stafford, Triona Walsh, Shirley Keane, Owen Gilhooly-Miles and pianists  Anne Cullen and Doireann O’Carroll. Star-crossed lovers, devilish cads and avenging gods are among some of the characters you just might meet on your Opera Rendezvous.  

Dolan’s host this fund-raising gala in aid of the Limerick-based, not-for-profit opera company. In particular, the company would love your support to continue their best-loved community project, the uplifting ‘Songs for Life’.  Opera Workshop, in addition to their professional productions, provide live concerts for people in residential and care facilities.  

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Opera Workshop has worked in particular with St Camillus and CareBright in Bruff, transforming the everyday with opera favourites for service users and staff.  Artistic Director of Opera Workshop, Shirley Keane, is determined to continue the work of the company in particular, Songs for Life. She said, “We love visiting these venues.  The music we make together is magical, and we are determined to continue sharing it with people who can’t come to our concerts because of illness or conditions such as Alzheimer’s.”

Limerick native, Shirley, is well known for her singing performances, her regular presenter stints on RTE Lyric FM and her wild opera ideas.  The driving force behind Opera Workshop, Shirley started the company in 2017.  Limerick opera artists were immediately supportive and since then Opera Workshop has regaled audiences with the very best of traditional opera and innovative contemporary productions.  Limerick contralto, Sarah-Ellen Murphy, one of the founding ensemble members, notes, however, ‘Bring your fur coat when working with Opera Workshop, you never know where you might end up!’ in a nod to their ingenious site-specific work, albeit in curious, unexpected and often cold spaces.

The company have been successful in receiving funding from the Arts Council and Limerick Arts Office, producing Fiona Linnane’s site-specific work, No 2 Pery Square and The Ballybruff Trilogy by Luke Byrne at The Belltable, Limerick with co-producers Honest Arts.

In addition, this resourceful company offers training and workshop sessions for up-and-coming singers and pianists through their regular masterclasses, in particular the Sunday Studio.

Opera Workshop sold out their last opera gala at Dolan’s. Sarah Dolan is delighted to welcome Opera Workshop back to perform at the famous music venue. She said, “Opera Workshop always know how to put on a fantastic show.  They will no doubt have plenty of surprises as well as superb music to share with their audience in June.”

They have wowed audiences with their contemporary opera and traditional concerts over the years at the Sailor’s Home, No 1 Pery Square, Shannon Rowing Club, The Savoy, at Culture Night and most recently with their gorgeous sell-out carol concerts at King John’s Castle last December.  They have also been known to pop up at various Limerick events, catching audiences unawares with the beauty of their duets, trios and their wicked sense of operatic fun. Don’t miss this wonderful evening of music.  Book now before tickets sell out!  Fur coats at your own discretion!