Blackwater Valley Opera Festival launches in Lismore

Opera fans were treated to a taste of what’s to come for the upcoming Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF), as the official launch took place on Thursday last.

At Lismore Heritage Centre, Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival 2024 was celebrated as a group of promising young musicians from the BVOF Education Programme showcased their skills, with performances by Music Generation Waterford Flute Quartet and Carriglea National School 4th class.

BVOF Festival director, Eamonn Carroll, outlined how the festival, now in its 14th year, has grown significantly through the support of stakeholders.

“We’ve had a great tenement for Lismore Castle and it's a great home for the opera, but we’ve broadened throughout the region and this year we’ve developed a little more again. We’re going to have an event is Castlemartyr in Castlemartyr House. We're in Salterbridge House, Tourin House, St Carthage’s and Woodhouse in Stradbally. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be in all of these venues, the only thing now is the remaining tickets to be sold and to make sure we have the sold-out signs up for all the events,” Mr Carroll stated.

'ACCESSIBLE TO ALL'

Giulio Cesare by G.F. Handel is the 2024 title event to be hosted at Lismore Castle and like previous years, the BVOF Recital Programme returns to the region's historic homes and venues, while also featuring a number of free, open-air recitals, with the first located in Lismore’s Millennium Park, to get the festival underway.

“This year’s festival features a spectacular line-up from Ireland and beyond, bringing worldclass performances over eight days to the south east. More than 2,000 local school children and students will take part in our educational programmes, including a special opera dress rehearsal at Lismore Castle," Mr Carroll added.

“The festival launch on Tuesday, May 29 (Millennium Park, Lismore) will host a choir performance by 150 local school children, in partnership with Music Generation Waterford and members of the BVOF Chorus, showcasing our commitment to making opera and classical music accessible to all”.

With one month to go, preparations for the festival are now well underway for the 22 festival events which take place across 11 venues from May 27 until June 3. BVOF will support 10 artists and performers this year through Bursary Award Programmes, valued at €40,000.

Speaking at Thursday’s launch, local councillor, Declan Doocey, voiced his support for the festival, saying that it is ‘such an opportunity’ to show off the beautiful countryside and towns of west Waterford and beyond.

“This opera festival is renowned all over the world now. It's as famous as the Opera House and it shows off our castle, our lovely big houses, you couldn’t buy that kind of advertisement.

“Those of you who know me, know I'm a martyr for the craic and I love everyone enjoying the music they love. People coming here for the opera, to see the smiles on their faces going home every night. The same people come every time it's on,” Cllr Doocey said.

Now, with 90% of tickets sold for this year’s festival, there are still a small number of Friday and Sunday opera tickets available, festival recitals and for concerts at Dromore Yard.

(Photo: Katie Glavin) RIGHT: Arts Officer, Margaret Organ, Cllr Declan Doocey and festival director, Eamonn Carroll, at the launch of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

(Photo: Patrick Browne) Pictured are Eamonn Carroll, director, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, Cllr. Declan Doocey, Deputy Mayor of Waterford City & County Council and Ivona Carr, of Failte Ireland, at Lismore Heritage Centre - for the local launch of Blackwater Valley opera Festival

(Photo: Patrick Browne) Pictured are Claudia Czerny, of Blossom and Berry, Caroline Fletcher O’Connor, Ballyin House and Lynne Glasscoe, Green Party, at Lismore Heritage Centre - for the local launch of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

(Photo: Patrick Browne) Pictured are Sandra Dowd, Deirdre Kennefick, Niamh Flavin and Anne Cotter, at Lismore Heritage Centre - for the local launch of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

(Photo: Katie Glavin) Esther Barron, Cappoquin, pictured with Lismore LEA candidate for the upcoming local election, Michael J Walsh, at last Thursday’s launch for the 2024 opera festival.

(Photo: Patrick Browne) Pictured are Caroline Fletcher O’Connor and Barbara Grubb, at Lismore Heritage Centre - for the local launch of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.

Browne) (Photo: Patrick Pictured are Juju Keane and Catherine Kelly, at Lismore Heritage Centre - for the local launch of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

(Photo: Katie Glavin) Arts Officer, Margaret Organ with festival director, Eamonn Carroll and Mealla Fahey, of Lismore Heritage Centre.

(Photo: Katie Glavin) Jim Ryan, Dungarvan and Neil Twomey, Lismore, pictured at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival launch late last week.