Clare tenor Dean Power: 'You want opera not to be just a museum'

The Clarecastle singer has returned from a fruitful stint in Bavaria, and is busier than ever with roles in Fidelio and other productions 

Dean Power, opera singer Picture: Fritz Bek

It’s a long way from the village of Clarecastle to Maximilianstrasse in Munich. It’s a move that tenor Dean Power made over a decade ago after being potted at a singing competition by a talent scout, Power left Ireland in 2010 to take a place in the Opera Studio at the Bavarian State Opera, a highly coveted apprenticeship programme where talented young singers are trained for international careers.

Then he remained on with the company building a successful career appearing in a variety of roles, both minor and leads alongside the biggest names. In August this year, Power made the return journey coming back to settle in the village where he grew up in Co Clare.