Recital Performances
Recitals 2024 – Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival
Our 2024 Recitals Series will take place at Salterbridge House, St Carthage’s Cathedral, Villierstown Church, Tourin House, and Woodhouse Estate Stradbally. These recitals will include Handel and Haydn – English Songbook; Irish Melodies – with music by Ina Boyle; Irish Writers’ Series: Wilde in Music; Irish Salon Opera Series: La Zingarella by John Kelly; RDS Collins Memorial Bursary; Irish Songmakers Recital; Irish Heritage Bursary; RIAM John Pollard Recital; BVOF Bursary Recital, and BVOF Chorus Recital 2024.
Our programme of open air lunchtime recitals are extended free of charge for local communities in the towns of Lismore, Dungarvan, Youghal, and Castlemartyr.
BVOF Open Air Lunchtime Recitals
This year, we continue our pop-up programme of free lunchtime festival recitals. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy some highlights of the classical and operatic repertoire in a less formal way.
We present these recitals as an opportunity to enjoy a flavour of the festival with some beautiful music, at outdoor settings around the Blackwater Valley, with classical and opera highlights performed by members of the BVOF Chorus.
To celebrate our 2024 festival, we are continuing to offer our free BVOF Open Air Lunchtime Recitals across both Cork and Waterford counties – into Youghal, Castlemartyr, Lismore and Dungarvan.
Attendance is free of charge however pre-booking is essential and required in advance.
The BVOF Open Air Lunchtime Recitals are kindly supported by both Cork County Council and Waterford City and County Council.
DATES & TIMES:
LISMORE: Millennium Park – Tuesday 28th May at 12 noon
DUNGARVAN: Walton Park – Friday 31st May at 12 noon
YOUGHAL: Green Park – Saturday 1st June at 12 noon
CASTLEMARTYR: Castlemartyr Resort – Sunday 2nd June at 12 noon
Handel and Haydn – English Songbook - Tuesday 28th May
Dean Power – tenor, Anna-Helena Maclachlan – mezzo-soprano, Frasier Hickland – piano.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival returns to St Mary’s Collegiate Church in Youghal for the 2024 festival. Nestled within the protective arms of Youghal Town Walls in the Raleigh Quarter, this large medieval parish church can claim to be the oldest church in Ireland with continuous worship since the 13th century.
Limited concession tickets available for senior citizens, full-time students, unwaged and disabled visitors.
Maximum 2 tickets per customer account. Proof of eligibility required. T&Cs apply.
DATES & TIME: Tuesday 28th May at 7pm
VENUE: St. Mary’s Collegiate Church, Youghal
ARTISTS:Dean Power – tenor | Anna-Helena Maclachlan – mezzo-soprano | Frasier Hickland – piano.
TICKET PRICES: €25 / €10 Concessions. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
BVOF Bursary Recital - Wednesday 29th May
We are delighted to welcome 2024 BVOF Bursary winners, mezzo-soprano Anna-Helena Maclachlan and pianist Frasier Hickland to perform at Tourin House, as part of this year’s Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. The Blackwater Valley Festival Opera Bursary was established in 2020 and this annual €10,000 award was founded with the support of a private donor. Bursary winners are selected by BVOF Artistic Director, Dieter Kaegi and encouraged to use the funding to further their musical education and performing ability.
The recital will be held in the delightful surrounds of Tourin House and gardens, Cappoquin. The main house at Tourin was built in 1840 by renowned Dublin architect Abraham Denny, who designed other distinguished and public buildings in County Waterford. Tourin Gardens extend over five acres, and includes a walled garden, vibrant flower collections, rare and mature trees, woodland path walks to Tourin Quay and a pond with wild duck and other wildlife. Overlooking the River Blackwater, the original 16th century Tower House still stands and can be seen from the garden.
DATE & TIME: Wednesday 29th May at 3pm
VENUE: Tourin House Waterford
ARTISTS: Anna-Helena Maclachlan – mezzo-soprano | Frasier Hickland – piano
TICKET PRICES: €25. Unallocated seating (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
BVOF Chorus Recital - Thursday 30th May
Members of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Chorus will return to Villierstown Church for this popular event as part of the 2024 festival.
An attractive landmark in the West Waterford village, the church was built in 1748 and is now a thriving, arts, entertainment, and community venue.
Some of Ireland’s most talented emerging voices will appear at this stunning venue, performing arias, duets, and ensembles from some of the world’s best-loved operas. Full programme details to be announced. Featuring members of the BVOF Chorus 2024 and Frasier Hickland – piano.
Limited concession tickets available for senior citizens, full-time students, unwaged and disabled visitors. Maximum 2 tickets per customer account. Proof of eligibility required. T&Cs apply.
DATE & TIME: Thursday 30th May at 1pm
VENUE: Villierstown Church, Ballingowan West
ARTISTS: Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Chorus | Frasier Hickland – piano.
TICKET PRICES: €25 / €10 Concessions. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
LUNCHTIME RECITAL PACKAGE: €40 per person: The Saucy Hen Villierstown at 12pm
Irish Melodies - Thursday 30th May
XXMusic by Ina Boyle, Rhoda Coghill, and Elizabeth Maconchy. With Laura Aherne – soprano, Stephen Walker – tenor, Georgina Cassidy – piano, Frasier Hickland – piano
DATE & TIME: Thursday 30th May at 4pm
VENUE: Villierstown Church, Ballingowan West
ARTISTS: Laura Aherne – soprano | Stephen Walker – tenor | Georgina Cassidy – piano | Frasier Hickland – piano
TICKET PRICES: €25. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
Irish Heritage Recital - Friday 31st May
Featuring the 2024 Irish Heritage Bursary winners. In 2017, Irish Heritage and BVOF established a collaboration to enhance the benefits of the former’s annual Music Bursary with the inauguration of the Irish Heritage Award. The recipients of this award are the winner and runner-up of the Irish Heritage Bursary auditions.
Details of the 2024 winners will be announced in February 2024.
This award is made possible by the generous support of Michael and Gianni Alen-Buckley.
DATE & TIME: Friday 31st May at 1pm
VENUE: Salterbridge House, Cappoquin
ARTISTS: 2024 Bursary winners
TICKET PRICES: €25. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
LUNCHTIME RECITAL PACKAGE: €40 per person: Barron’s Coffee House Cappoquin at 12pm
RIAM John Pollard Recital - Friday 31st May
Featuring 2024 BVOF | RIAM John Pollard Bursary Winners: Rory Lynch – tenor and Sean Tester – tenor, accompanied by 2023 Bursary recipient, Ella Nagy – piano.
DATE & TIME: Friday 31st May at 4pm
VENUE: Salterbridge House, Cappoquin
ARTISTS: Rory Lynch – tenor | Sean Tester – tenor | Ella Nagy – piano.
TICKET PRICES: €25 (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
Irish Salon Opera Series: La Zingarella by Joseph O'Kelly - Saturday 1st June
Dean Power – tenor, Kelli-Ann Masterson – soprano, Frasier Hickland – piano, Amy Gillen – flute, and Emma Power – spoken word.
DATE & TIME: Saturday 1st June at 1pm
VENUE: St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore
ARTISTS: Dean Power – tenor| Kelli-Ann Masterson – soprano | Frasier Hickland – piano| Amy Gillen – flute | Emma Power – spoken word.
TICKET PRICES: €25. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
LUNCHTIME RECITAL PACKAGE: €40 per person: Fuller’s Bistro Lismore at 2pm
Irish Writers’ Series: Wilde in Music - Saturday 1st June
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is delighted to partner with the Princess Grace Irish Library in the principality of Monaco, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music for this unique cultural event, honouring Ireland’s literary history.
Hear selected texts of Oscar Wilde: Irish poet, playwright, author – as part of the BVOF Irish Writers’ Series.
A fusion of poetry and music, delivered by some of Ireland’s brightest and most outstanding young musicians from the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco – under the aegis of the Fondation Princesse Grace.
Limited concession tickets available for senior citizens, full-time students, unwaged and disabled visitors. Maximum 2 tickets per customer account. Proof of eligibility required. T&Cs apply.
DATE & TIME: Saturday 1st June at 4pm
VENUE: St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore
ARTISTS: To be confirmed
TICKET PRICES: €25 / Limited Free Concession Tickets. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
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RDS Collins Memorial Recital - Sunday 2nd June
Aidan Chan – piano, Dean Murphy – baritone.
This award is a performance award exclusively for past RDS Music Bursary winners. Created in 2017 thanks to the support of Michael and Loret O’Brien, the RDS Collins Memorial Performance Award is in association with the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.
Limited concession tickets available for senior citizens, full-time students, unwaged and disabled visitors.
Maximum 2 tickets per customer account. Proof of eligibility required. T&Cs apply.
DATE & TIME: Sunday 2nd June at 1pm
VENUE: St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore
ARTISTS: Aidan Chan – piano | Dean Murphy – baritone.
TICKET PRICES: €25 / Limited Free Concession Tickets. Unallocated seating. (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
After Stanford: Irish Song Legacy - Monday 3rd June
Sarah Richmond – mezzo-soprano, Niall Kinsella – piano.
Irish Songmakers recital commemorating 100 years since the passing of Charles Villiers Stanford.
Pianist Niall Kinsella has fast established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting and sought-after accompanists and art-song specialists – described by BBC Music Magazine as “a meticulous collaborator”.
DATE & TIME: Monday 3rd June at 3pm
VENUE: Woodhouse Estate, Stradbally
ARTISTS: Sarah Richmond – mezzo-soprano | Niall Kinsella – piano .
TICKET PRICES: €25. Unallocated seating (Ticket price excludes €3.50 booking fee per order)
