Northern Ireland Opera presents Unmissable Tchaikovsky’s Masterpiece, Eugene Onégin
11th September, 2024
Northern Ireland Opera presents Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece, Eugene Onégin, from 14-21 September 2024 at Belfast’s magnificent Grand Opera House, supported by principal funder, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic novel in verse, one of the most lyrical and beautiful pieces of literature adapted for opera, this stunning production will be directed by the renowned national opera company’s Artistic Director Cameron Menzies (Nominated Best Director for Into The Woods Irish Times’ Irish Theatre Awards 2022 and Winner of three Paris Short Film Awards for film Old Friends and Other Days).
Cameron Menzies’ timeless vision for this production will draw on influences from the fallen imperial opulence of the Tzars to the communist era aesthetic and futuristic utilitarian worlds. He said,
“It’s such a thrill to be staging this moving and potent masterpiece which looks deeply into the soul of human nature in all its varied ways. I am very proud to be working with a highly talented and sophisticated cast of singers and immense creative forces, all masters in their own disciplines. At NI Opera we take great care nurturing and promoting local artists into main stage debuts, developing our Chorus by performing these great compositions and to be able to attract international talent to come and work with the company. Onégin is set to be a production that you won’t want to miss.”
Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added,
“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to be principal funder of Northern Ireland Opera who make their return to the Grand Opera House stage this September for operatic masterpiece Eugene Onégin. We’re delighted see the cast feature a wealth of local singers in Principal roles, and also singers from NI Opera’s Chorus Development Programme, offering amazing professional development opportunities for these singers to work alongside world-class talent.”
The company welcomes internationally renowned conductor Dominic Limburg on his first engagement in Belfast. He will lead the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera, a new ensemble of local instrumentalists brought together for the first time in an exciting fresh development for the company.
Performing in the Principal female roles of Tatyana, Madame Larina, Olga and Filipevna are Northern Irish singers, Mary McCabe (Soprano), Carolyn Dobbin (Mezzo Soprano), Sarah Richmond (Mezzo Soprano) and Jenny Bourke (Mezzo Soprano). Notably, this production will be Jenny Bourke’s and Sarah Richmond’s main stage debuts with Northern Ireland Opera while Mary McCabe makes her operatic Principal mainstage debut in the role of Tatyana following a long relationship with the company covering Violetta in La Traviata 2022 and her acclaimed performance in the one-woman opera La Voix Humaine, Poulenc.
Baritone Yuriy Yurchuk, who performed in the company’s production of La Boheme in 2021 and in 2022 with La Traviata - the Grand Opera House’s fastest selling-opera ever - returns in this titular role. Yurchuk is fast becoming widely associated with this opera having performed it on several occasions including most recently at the New National Theatre in Tokyo earlier this year and at the Royal Danish Opera Denmark and La Monnaie, Brussels in 2023.
Tenor Norman Reinhardt (Magic Flute, ENO) is cast as Onégin’s friend turned rival Vladimir Lensky and Aaron O’Hare (Tenor) is cast as Monsieur Triquet and Niall Anderson (Baritone) as Prince Gremin.
Eugene Onégin also feature 35 local singers from the NI Opera Chorus, a key part of NI Opera’s Artist Development Programme, which has been nominated at the 2024 International Opera Awards in the category of ‘Equal Opportunities & Impact’. The NI Opera Chorus work with regular and guest coaches throughout the year in the build up to these major productions in the Grand Opera House.
Ian Wilson, Grand Opera House Chief Executive adds:
“We’re delighted to welcome Northern Ireland Opera back to the Grand Opera House for the company’s third season under the inspired direction of Cameron Menzies. The company delivered ambitious and spectacular productions of La Traviata and Tosca at the theatre and will no doubt so the same for Tchaikovsky’s timeless work Eugene Onégin.”
“Beyond the company’s outstanding work on stage, we are also pleased to partner with Northern Ireland Opera on a programme of education and outreach activities as, together, we broaden the appeal of opera, one of the oldest artforms, particularly to young people and those who do not have the opportunity to engage with the arts.”
Enjoy a free pre-show talk before the performances of ‘Eugene Onégin’ on Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th September. NI Opera’s CEO and Artistic Director Cameron Menzies will talk about the development of his brand-new production of ‘Eugene Onégin’ and the creative and musical challenges of this celebrated opera by Tchaikovsky.
Audiences will have the chance to find out more about the creative processes that go in to developing and realising the vision for an opera of this scale and see some of the costumes and designs from some of NI Opera’s past main stage productions too. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance at www.niopera.com
To purchase tickets to the main performance visit www.goh.co.uk