Opera House's Christmas concert is back!
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Cork Opera House jazz artist in-residence Laoise Leahy will perform on both nights.Image 2 of 3
There won’t be a dry eye in the house when Dean Power and Rory Dunne perform at this year’s Cork Opera Houses Christmas Concert. Photo: Miki Barlok Miki BarlokImage 3 of 3
Soprano soloist Kelli-Ann Masterson. Photo: Miki Barlok Miki BarlokGrace Sweeney
Christmas is nearly here and so is Cork Opera House’s annual Christmas concert!
A festive favourite on Leeside, the concert is making a return for two nights on 18 and 19 December with an exciting line-up of artists performing choral numbers, carols, and popular Christmas songs like ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’, ‘All I want for Christmas is you’, and ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’.
Over the two nights, attendees will be serenaded by Cork Opera House jazz artist in-residence Laoise Leahy alongside the Cara O’Sullivan Associate Artists and a number of special guests including the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Jody O'Neill, the Cork Opera House Theatre Artist in Residence, and compère for the two nights, will be joined by three soloists from the newest class of Cara O' Sullivan Associate Artists. These are tenor Dean Power, soprano Kelli Ann Masterson, and bass-baritone Rory Dunne.
The Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra will also be performing, conducted by John O’Brien on both evenings alongside the MTU Glór Choral Society who recently won the Choir of the Year Competition at the Cork Choral Festival.
Speaking about the upcoming concerts, O’Brien said: “It’s always a huge pleasure to work with the fabulous musicians of the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra. They are one of the most flexible ensembles one can imagine and we are embracing that by performing some of the greatest upbeat Christmas songs of all time, operatic excerpts from fairy tale operas, and traditional carols that no Christmas would be complete without.
“On top of this, we are joined by an overwhelming amount of Irish vocal talent on stage to lead the night. It really will be a Christmas concert for everyone, and the audience can come along knowing that they will also get to perform with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra,” he added.
Audiences will be treated to a newly orchestrated premiere of Cork musician and songwriter Kevin Walsh’s number 1 symphonic ballad ‘Embrace the World’.
St Killian’s Special School will also perform at the concert.
CEO at Cork Opera House, Eibhlín Gleeson, said: “Every December it’s a huge pleasure to share and welcome Christmas week with our patrons through the Christmas concert.
“It’s a concert where we get to showcase some of the amazing artists that we work alongside throughout the year, with a special festive feeling. From national and internationally known artists to young emerging talents from Cork, it’s an evening filled with magic and Christmas wonder with some new surprises,” she added.
Tickets are available for €28 and can be purchased at corkoperahouse.ie or through Cork Opera House Box Office on 021-4270022.