30 November 2017
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
When: Saturday 9th December, 8pm
Where: St. Fin Barre’s Church of Ireland Cathedral
Cork International Choral Festival is proud to present an evening with Emma Nash, Fiona O’Reilly and duo Lorna Moore and Serena Standley for an evening of festive carols, songs and stories in the stunning surrounds of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. The soloists and duo will be joined on the evening by actors from the Littleshoes Players, The Montfort Youth Choir and award-winning Java Ladies Chorus. Festive favourites including O Holy Night, Santa Baby, White Christmas, Carol of the Bells, Cool Yule, and many, many more will have everyone feeling that warm and gooey Christmassy feeling from their heads to the tips of their toes!
Leading out the plethora of talent on the night will be emerging star soprano Emma Nash who most recently was announced as the 2017 PwC/Wexford Festival Opera ‘Emerging Young Artist’ bursary winner ahead of the start of the 66th Wexford Festival Opera. Emma’s stunning and inimitable performance will be sure to have us in the most ethereal of Christmas spirits! Emma has been described as “outstanding…with a vivid stage presence” by The Arts Desk (Orpheus in the Underworld 2014), “splendid” by Opera Magazine (Der Vampyr 2014) and a soprano with a “exciting, individualised vocal colour” by Opera Today (Hansel and Gretel, Wexford Festival Opera 2015).
Fiona O’Reilly will also enthral audiences with Christmas songs with verve and expertise. An accomplished soprano and teacher of voice, Fiona has worked tirelessly in her career to pass her passion for song onto countless others and on this night we are assured of that very passion shining through in the stunning surrounds of St. Fin Barre’s.
Joining Fiona and Emma also on the evening is duo Lorna Moore and Serena Standley, the female half of the award-winning Guys and Dolls Barbershop Quartet, this time the Dolls are on the loose and ready to bring Christmas cheer with a plethora of contemporary Christmas favourites. A guaranteed treat for all in attendance.
Joining this powerhouse of female vocalists on the evening will be The Montfort Youth Choir comprising of 60 young voices from all over Cork city and county with an upbeat and almost ethereal programme under the leadership of Carol Arnopp. In addition, Serena Standley brings her award-winning choir Java Ladies Chorus with an accomplished and polished repertoire to lend their voices to help raise the roof on this magnificent landmark. While actors from the Littleshoes Players under the direction of Festival Manager, Sinéad Dunphy will lend their voices to tell Christmas stories that will entwine the audiences in the true and plentiful messages of Christmas.
The evening is brought together by Festival Manager, Sinéad Dunphy, aided musically by Carol Arnopp and guarantees to deliver an evening of Festive fuzziness!
Tickets priced at only €20 are available from www.corkchoral.ie or 021-4215125.
