The Irish National Opera (INO) recently launched its inaugural programme for 2018, featuring seven productions and no less than 38 performances!

Performances highlighting Irish talent will be seen in Wexford, Kilkenny, Navan, Sligo,
Dublin, Tralee, Galway, London, Dún Laoghaire, Limerick, and Cork.

Fergus Sheil, artistic director of Irish National Opera, in launching the new national opera company’s 2018 programme. “We’re taking a new approach to opera provision in Ireland,” he said at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

“Irish National Opera wants to give pride of place to Irish singers and celebrate their work at home in Ireland the way it is celebrated in leading opera houses around the world. We want to bring our creative talent to venues large and small, to communities around the country, and create thrilling experiences that will attract new audiences to our uniquely multi-faceted artform.”

Arts Council Chair Sheila Pratschke said: “The Arts Council is very proud to support the creation of Irish National Opera—Ireland’s first national opera company. The launch of this new ambitious company is great news for Irish opera lovers. The company’s 2018 programme of work is very exciting and it will shine a well-deserved spotlight on world class opera singers, orchestras, conductors, directors and creative teams in this country. The launch of the new opera company is the culmination of several years of work by the Council and it is central to our national opera policy. 2018 will be a wonderful year for Irish opera audiences.”

The company’s 2018 programme will feature seven operas: Thomas Adès’s Powder Her Face, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh’s The Second Violinist, Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, and Verdi’s Aïda. Ticket prices start at €15 and may be reserved on the INO website.

Irish National Opera is funded by The Art Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.