Six-year-old Cillian is youngest opera star

SIX-YEAR-OLD Cillian McCamley from Rosslare is the youngest star of Wexford Festival Opera 2018, having secured a principal non-speaking role in the opening night opera ‘L’Oracolo which is on a double bill with Mala Vita.

Pictured here on stage with baritone

Joo Won Kang, Cillian, a son of Wexford singer Aileen Donohoe and the actor Pete McCamley, was ‘discovered’ by the children’s chorus director Elizabeth Drwal as he waited outside the National Opera House door for his sister Olivia (8) who is one of 17 local schoolchildren in the chorus.

L’Oracolo by Franco Leoni is a fast-paced tale of murder and revenge set in the opium dens of New York’s Chinatown and Cillian’s character Hu-Ci is kidnapped during the action. ‘It is very physical. He’s loving every minute of it. He comes home from rehearsals and acts it all out for us,’ said mum Aileen.