'The point of the Proms is to get people out and have a great time'

As the Proms at Cork Opera House returns in April with nights themed around Beethoven, The Beatles and Broadway, the organisers explain the idea of producing such a celebration of music in Cork 

Wayne Jordan, right, and some of the other talents involved in the Proms at Cork Opera House.

When the inaugural Cork Proms was staged at the Cork Opera House in 2019, it was a big success, bringing an entertaining blend of classical and popular music and musical theatre to an appreciative audience. 

Originated by Opera House CEO Eibhlín Gleeson and overseen by the creative powerhouse Wayne Jordan, it promised to be an annual event, showcasing the work of the Opera House Concert Orchestra and a wealth of musical talent from Cork and beyond. Then the pandemic intervened.