Summer comes early for Opera House

SUMMER arrived early in more sense than one as Cork Opera House began its push for a bright season of music, drama, comedy and festival performances.

In contrast to last summer, when a cost-saving drive forced management to close for most of the season, chief executive Mary Hickson says the people of Cork can look forward to a range of events throughout the season.

More than 70 people answered the Opera House team’s call for support ahead of this evening’s formal launch of the summer programme — and they were bathed in unseasonal temperatures for early April.

They took to the sunshine at the Glen Rovers’ hurling pitch at lunchtime to spell SUMMER for the photographers flying overhead — although it did take a few shots to get the entire word captured in two-letter groups.

“When I joined last autumn, I felt that not everybody thinks the Opera House is for them. We’re trying to make it a bit more personable and so we decided to let the people of Cork make the summer for us — literally,” Ms Hickson explained.

“We’re not just open this summer, we’re staying wide open. There’s something different on every week and it’s going to be up to the people of Cork whether we’re open next summer,” Ms Hickson said.

The summer programme being announced tonight includes a wide range of performances and collaborations, including hosting events for four festivals.

The Opera House will act as one of the venues for the Cork International Choral Festival at the end of April, with the Bealtaine and Cork Midsummer festivals also featuring Cork Opera House in their programmes. The venue is also planning its own festival to celebrate the work of composer Steve Reich.

Other musical shows in the summer season include Ryan Adams, Blind Boys of Alabama and Sam Amidon. Musicians from the YouTube phenomenon Playing for Change will make their only Irish appearance at Cork Opera House, while return visits by Daniel O’Donnell and The Fureys and Davey Arthur are already on sale.

On July 23, the Opera House stage will move to a Mitchelstown cave for a show featuring Irish musicians Lisa Hannigan, James Vincent McMorrow and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh.

Comedy highlights include Tommy Tiernan, Alan Carr and Des Bishop.