16 September 2015
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork Opera House has launched its new programme, speaking to TheCork.ie CEO of the Cork Opera House, Mary Hickson said
“This has been a great year for Cork Opera House, made all the more special by our 160th anniversary. Again, variety is key in our next season’s line-up with everything from opera and ballet to comedy and a wide range of music to suit all tastes. We’re delighted to be working with Cork City Ballet again this year as they present their production of Swan Lake in November. Ballet has a great history with Cork and the Opera House. This time of year is especially exciting as it’s starting to feel a lot like…Panto. Producing Beauty and the Beast with our Director & Scriptwriter Trevor Ryan and co-writer Frank Mackey is wonderful. We’re introducing some new young talent to our Cork audiences and we just can’t wait to once again entertain families this festive season. At the heart of our programming approach is listening to our audiences and we’re delighted to be giving them what they want, the best and brightest of national and international stars right here on the Cork Opera House stage”.
September
The new season is kicking off this Thursday with Sounds from A Safe Harbour, a brand new festival of music, art and conversation, curated by Bryce Dessner (of The National) and Cork Opera House. Alongside Cork’s spectacular harbour environs, themes of waves, water and movement have been the inspiration for the festival, and will be explored through many new commissions and collaborations. The festival of 4 day, 450 artists and 70 events over 30 venues is sure to take the city by storm. Chart topping DJ Duke Dumont will be visiting Cork Opera House for his only Irish date of his Blasé Boys Club tour. We’re stepping back in time and continuing to bring retro films back to the big screen, including Stand by Me on the 23 September and Silence of the Lambs as our Halloween special on the 30 October. These screenings have proven to be very popular, giving audiences the chance to relive a classic movie or see it for the first time. Fresh from Edinburgh Festival, Ireland’s comedy sensation, Al Porter will be bringing his unique wit and style to our stage on 25 September. And before the month closes, legendary singer-songwriter Don McLean, who’s most famous for his iconic hit ‘American Pie’, returns to Cork Opera House after a sell-out date in June to entertain us once more on 26 September.
October
Cork Opera House is delighted to be part of Cork Folk Festival, hosting Peadar O’Riada and Jimmy MacCarthy on 1 and 2 October. The auditorium is sure to be packed out for some of the big music groups coming in this season, Bell X1 on 3 October, The Waterboys who are returning to Cork as part of their UK and Ireland tour on 31 October and the best-selling soul group, The Stylistics for whom an extra date has been added due to demand. They’ll be performing on 12 & 13 November.
From 23 to 25 October, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will be taking over the city. Cork Opera House will be hosting a programme of great artists; including Ireland’s only New Orleans style brass band, Booka Brass Band, music pioneer and legend Gary Numan and The Drifters. With more headline acts to be announced, you will not want to miss Cork Jazz at the Opera House this year.
Comedy year round
This season Cork Opera House welcomes some of the best-known comedians from both the national and international circuit. On 6 October, Bill Bailey is bringing his hit show Limboland to Cork. Dylan Moran, star of Black Books, Shaun of the Dead and Calvary, is back with his new stand up show ‘Off the Hook’ (8 – 10 October). The irrepressible Pat Shortt (16 October) is back on a nationwide tour with his new show ‘Selfie’. Mimic Oliver Callan (1 November) comes fresh from his hit TV and radio series Callan’s Kicks on RTÉ to stage a night of live music, satire and comedy. Funny Business is Jimmy Carr’s brand new stand-up show and it comes to the Opera House for two hilarious nights on 4 & 5 December. Jason Byrne is celebrating 20 years of stand up with a brand new hilarious show on the 4 March 2015. Following two packed performances at Cork Opera House last year, Neil Delamere is back with a new show full of mischief, mayhem and lots of laughs. The Thirty Years Tour will see BAFTA nominee Michael Palin (28 October) tell the story of his extraordinary life lived in the public eye.
2016
The year opens with Finbar Wright returning to the Cork Opera House for his annual ‘Women’s Little Christmas’ Gala Concert on 6 January. The New Year will then get off to a great start with Reeling in the Showband Years (23 & 24 January), The High Kings (30 January) and The Legend of Luke Kelly (31 January). On 3 & 4 February, Nathan Carter promises a full-on night of entertainment with his band and special guests, followed by the unique and powerful voice of Tommy Fleming (5 & 6 February) and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (28 February).
Albert Hammond is one of the all-time greatest song writers and the man responsible for making our very own Joe Dolan an international star with his songs ‘Make Me An Island’ and ‘Good Lookin’ Woman’. His October gig is sold out so Cork Opera House is happy to announce that he’ll be back again on 3 March. Singer songwriter, Paul Brady, will be at the Cork Opera House on 11 March performing some of his most popular songs including ‘The Island’, ‘Night Hunting’ and ‘Paradise is here’.
As part of Cork St Patrick’s Festival, the Kilfenora Ceili Band will bring their traditional upbeat music to the stage on 12 March, followed by Aiseiri 1916, on St Patrick’s Day 2016. This special event features Mary Hegarty and Joe Corbett with Pulses of Tradition and the Cork ETB Youth Orchestra. It is being presented by Cork ETB and the Cork City and County Council to remember this important event in history as we mark 100 years since the 1916 Rising. St Patrick’s weekend will be rounded off by The Three Tenors who are back by popular demand on 19 March.
2016 will bring The Royal Moscow Ballet to Cork Opera House for one date only as they present the beloved fairy-tale Sleeping Beauty to Tchaikovsky’s wonderful score on 13 March (evening and matinee show).
Dates, details and tickets: www.corkoperahouse.ie or 021-427 0022
