One of the greatest comic operas ever written — Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro — will be a highlight of Irish National Opera’s first annual programme, the full details of which will be announced January 9, 2018.

Mozart’s comic tale of mayhem and mischief boasts some of the most beautiful and familiar music ever written, and the energetic story of servants outwitting their masters with the quick-witted Susanna rejecting her employer’s advances has thrilled and delighted audiences for 250 years.

INO’s production will feature many Irish artists and stars, as Susanna, the mezzo-soprano TARA ERRAUGHT who is currently on stage this autumn/winter in two productions at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Joining Tara on stage will be the internationally acclaimed Irish singers MÁIRE FLAVIN (Scottish Opera & Glyndebourne Festival), AOIFE MISKELLY (Welsh National Opera & Opera North), veteran star SUZANNE MURPHY (English National Opera, WNO & Opera North), BEN McATEER(English National Opera & WNO), up-and-coming soprano AMY Ní FHEARRIGH, and critically-acclaimed New Zealand bass JONATHAN LEMALU singing the title role of Figaro.

Mozart’s superb score, with its unforgettable arias and sensational ensemble numbers, will be performed by the internationally renowned IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, with the chorus of IRISH NATIONAL OPERA, conducted by PETER WHELAN.

Directed by the celebrated PATRICK MASON, with design by FRANCIS O’CONNOR and PAUL KEOGAN, The Marriage of Figaro will play for a single performance at the National Opera House in Wexford on April 13th at 8pm, and for four performances only at Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre on April 17, 18, 20 and 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets start at €15 euro and are available online.

The Marriage of Figaro will be one of several new productions in Irish National Opera’s first year. The company, which was selected earlier this year by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon to provide opera in Ireland, was formed out of Opera Theatre Company and Wide Open Opera. Under Artistic Director FERGUS SHEIL, INO will, from 2018, provide main-scale and touring operatic repertoire across the island of Ireland and internationally.

Full details of Irish National Opera’s inaugural 2018 season will be announced on Tuesday January 9, 2018 with a gala concert – The Big Bang! – at the National Concert Hall. The Big Bang! will feature a leading roster of Ireland’s, top operatic voices singing a wide array of well-loved operatic arias and ensemble numbers. Tickets from 15 euro are available as of today on nch.ie.

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

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Irish National Opera presents Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro with Irish National Opera Chorus and Irish Chamber Orchestra

National Opera House, Wexford
April 13 at 8pm (on sale soon)

Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, Dublin 2
April 17, 18, 20 and 21 at 7.30pm (on sale now)

Tickets from €15 euro available online.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

CREATIVE TEAM

Peter Whelan – Conductor
Patrick Mason – Director
Francis O’Connor – Designer
Paul Keogan – Lighting Designer

CAST

Jonathan Lemalu – Figaro
Tara Erraught – Susanna
Ben McAteer – Count
Máire Flavin – Countess
Aoife Miskelly – Cherubino
Suzanne Murphy – Marcellina
Adrian Thompson – Basilio
Graeme Danby – Bartolo
Andrew Gavin – Curzio
John Molloy – Antonio
Amy Ní Fhearraigh – Barbarina