Cork Opera House announce the Summer 2015 programme Tickets on sale now

Cork Opera House continues to celebrate its 160th year with a programme that really has something for everyone. Following on from a hugely successful Spring season, Cork Opera House is delighted announce another sensational line-up of events for the Summer and beyond. See what your Opera House has to offer atwww.corkoperahouse.ie

 

With more than fifty events in the new programme, Cork Opera House is the place to be this summer with the very best in music, dance, comedy, family fun including a spectacular Summer Musical and a brand new festival of music, art and conversation.

Cork Opera House announce the Summer 2015 programme Tickets on sale now

Cork Opera House Launch ‘Summer 2015’

Speaking about the new programme, CEO of the Cork Opera House Mary Hickson said, “This is a great year for Cork Opera House and our packed programme shows that even after 160 years, we continue to surprise and delight, bringing the best and brightest stars to our stage and to Cork”.

 

The new season begins with the first ever Cork show by Scottish legends Mogwai on 17 June. Brendan Shine is celebrating his 50th Anniversary with a summer tour including a night a Cork Opera House on Thursday 25 June. Audiences will have the opportunity to see one of the most unique bands when Scala and Kolacny Brothers take to the stage with a 200 strong Belgian all-girl choir on Friday, 26 June. On 13 July, Grammy-award winning St Vincent is sure to delight audiences; she truly is one of her generation’s most fearsome guitarists.

Fans of Steven Spielberg’s hit shark-attack picture ‘Jaws’, will be able to sink their teeth into the classic thriller once again this summer at a special screening to mark the movie’s 40th anniversary right here at Cork Opera House on July 4th. From 17 to 19 July, in what promises to be a truly unforgettable experience, Cork Opera House & Carraig Productions present six distinctive acts in the intimate, breath-taking location of the Mitchelstown Caves. This unique venue will hold host to David Kitt, Margie Jean Lewis, Lisa O’Neil, Slow Skies, This is the Kitand Jack O’Rourke.

This summer, Cork Opera House presents SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (25 July – 16 August), widely regarded as one of the greatest musical comedies of all time. Proudly made in Cork and directed by Joseph Walsh, the classic MGM musical tells the story of three performers caught in Hollywood’s transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s. It’s a light-hearted spoof that features some of the best-loved comedy routines, dance numbers and love ballads ever written. With a vintage score and songbook with such classic songs as ‘Good Morning’, ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ – and that torrential dance number – ‘Singin’ in the Rain’.

Joan Armatrading is currently on her last major world tour including a date at the Cork Opera House on 26 August. For almost two hours, Joan will hold the stage, playing her hits like ‘Love And Affection’, ‘Me Myself I’, ‘Drop The Pilot’, ‘Willow’ and many more.  10cc ruled the pop world in the 1970s when the charts were dominated by some of the most creative artistes in pop history and on 30 August they will dominate the stage of the Opera House. From breakthrough hit ‘Donna’ in 1972, ‘I’m Not in Love’ in 1975 to their final No 1, ‘Dreadlock Holiday’ in 1978, they created some of the greatest pop records of the 20th Century.

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. September brings a host of music beginning with Derek Ryan, who’s rise to become one of the biggest stars of Irish country music has been phenomenal, on Friday 11 September with Louis Walsh’s pop group, HomeTown set to thrill audiences onSaturday 12 September.

SOUNDS FROM A SAFE HARBOUR is a brand new festival of music, art and conversation, curated by Bryce Dessner of The National. Two years since its inception by Bryce and Cork Opera House CEO, Mary Hickson, SOUNDS FROM A SAFE HARBOUR will bring a huge international creative cast to Cork this September (17-20) to celebrate the port city’s place on the world’s stage. 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. Cork Opera House events will include The Gloaming, Lisa Hannigan and Aaron Dessner (The National) and RTE National Symphony Orchestra. With other events happening across the city seewww.soundsfromasafeharbour.com for more.

For the last 15 years, Ireland’s foremost stage hypnotist, Adrian Knight has captivated audiences the world over. Using hypnotism as a gentle tool, Adrian takes his audience on a fun filled adventure that skilfully blends audience participation, situation comedy, and improvisation at Cork Opera House on 27 September.

As the summer fades, the October programme will keep you entertained with music greats including Jimmy MacCarthy (2 October) and Bell X1 (3 October). The world’s most famous Beatles Tribute band, Bootleg Beatles, will have you singing in the aisles on 4 October. Albert Hammond (18 October) 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’. The Legends of American Country Show (20 October) is now firmly established as Ireland’s No.1 Country Music Tribute show featuring the music of eight of the biggest names on the American scene including Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson, Buck Owens and Johnny Cash. Global sensation Fr. Ray Kelly returns to Cork where he studied for the priesthood to play a special one off concert at Cork Opera House on 30 October in advance of his new album. On13 November, one of the longest standing, most accomplished soul bands, The Stylistics, will visit the Cork Opera House once again. On the 21 October, international multi-award winning singer Tommy Fleming takes to the stage for his first major acting role in a brand new original drama/musical entitled Paddy.

If you’ve never seen Swan Lake, now’s the time! Cork City Ballet is back on our stage with a full length production of this ballet which lays claim to a legacy that extends back to its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1895. Swan Lake, the world’s most beloved ballet, features Moscow State Ballet’s principal dancers Ekaterina Bortyakova and her partner Akzhol Mussakhanov; and runs from 18 – 21 November.

At the end of November, Russell Watson is one of the world’s most prominent tenors; selling in excess of seven million albums worldwide will perform for one night on Friday, 27 November.  As we get into the Christmas season, we have a special treat with a celebration of Phil Coulter’s 50th Anniversary (6 December) in the music business. His musicians and guests will perform new arrangements of all his classic songs from ‘The Town I Love So Well’ to ‘Steal Away’ along with a special seasonal selection.

The Priests, whose debut album sold 3 million copies securing them a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest-selling classical debut ever, will perform on 14 December. Singer songwriter Mick Flannerywill give a special New Year’s Eve performance on 31 December.  The New Year will then get off to a great start with The High Kings, Tommy Fleming, Reeling in the Showband Years and The Legend of Luke Kelly.

Theatre lovers will have plenty to choose from also, with two screenings from the National Theatre starting with Bernard Shaw’s Man + Superman on 3 July, followed by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, on the 19 October.

For fans of the opera, this season also sees the return of the internationally acclaimed Ellen Kent with two spectacular productions. Puccini’s Tosca on 4 November and Bizet’s Carmen on 5 November. Tosca is a heady mixture of true love, torture and treachery and features two of the best roles for tenor and soprano, plus a truly blood-curdling villain.  The irresistibly emotional Carmen guarantees an evening of passion and romance and features unforgettable melodies including the best known baritone aria, ‘The Toreador’s Song’.

Comedy lovers are guaranteed plenty of laughs this season as Cork Opera House welcomes some of the best-known comedians from both the national and international circuit. First to take to the stage is Kevin Bridges (20-22 August) on his international tour, A Whole Different Story, followed by Alan Carr with his brand new stand-up show ‘Yap, Yap, Yap!’ The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning comedian, author and chat show supremo returns to his stand-up roots with his hilarious take on life. Yap it up runs from 27 to 29 August.

On 6 October, Bill Bailey is bringing his hit show, Limboland, to Cork. His latest comedy instalment examines the gap between how we imagine our lives to be and how they really are. Dylan Moran, star of Black Books, Shaun of the Dead and Calvary, is back with his new stand up show (8 – 10 October).  The irrepressible Pat Shortt (16 October) is back on a nationwide tour with his new show ‘Selfie’. In it, he tells the tale of a singing undertaker Mossey Burke, along with a host of new characters.  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 sending up the top names in politics, sport and entertainment. 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.

The Thirty Years Tour will see BAFTA nominee Michael Palin (28 October) tell the story of his extraordinary life lived in the public eye. Join the star of Monty Python, Ripping Yarns, Time Bandits, A Private Function, GBH, a Fish Called Wanda and more as he gives us glimpses of his personal life, so painstakingly committed to the diary each morning.

There’s plenty to keep our younger patron’s entertained too with Judith Kerr’s ferociously popular tale, The Tiger who came to Tea (10 & 11 November).  It is a grrrreat musical play – the perfect slice of teatime mayhem with sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun for children ages 3 plus and their families. And of course, the much anticipated annual highlight – The Christmas Pantomime Beauty and the Beast for the kids (and adults) of all ages!

 

With so many wonderful shows and performances on offer this season, the only challenge will be picking what to go to!  And there’s more to come with the full programme for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival and Cork Film Festival soon to be announced.  Cork Opera House looks forward to welcoming you to your Opera House this season. Cork Opera House – something for everyone.

 

Dates, details and tickets: www.corkoperahouse.ie or 021-427 0022

 

Cork Opera House acknowledges the financial support of The Arts Council; Cork City Council; Cork County Council

Comments are closed.