Ireland’s Opera Theatre Company comes to Fingal Libraries.

Fingal Libraries recently held two Introduction to Opera presentations in conjunction with the Opera Theatre Company, Ireland in Blanchardstown and Malahide Libraries.

David Vivian Russell, a renowned Australian counter-tenor and composer, brought the delighted audience in Blanchardstown through a short history of the world of opera, using recorded music and arias to illustrate his presentation. His witty and informative commentary led his audience through a whirlwind tour of the highlights of mainly European Opera, from Mozart to Verdi and Wagner in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

Singer, Ben Russell and accompanist, David Bremner in Malahide Library

In Malahide, using a different format, Sorcha Carroll, Marketing Manager at Opera Theatre Company guided the audience through her presentation with the assistance of a professional singer and accompanied by a pianist. Ben Russell, baritone, a fourth year student at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a finalist in last year’s Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition performed several beautiful arias. Ben was accompanied on piano by David Bremner, a pianist, organist and composer who has played with many of Ireland’s leading ensembles including the National Symphony Orchestra and the Crash Ensemble.

On both occasions the audience were charmed by the presentations and thrilled by the beauty and passion of the music and arias. This was the first time that Opera Theatre Company had used local branch libraries as a venue for their work but if the reception they received from their audiences is an indication, it won’t be their last. Due to the wonderful feedback from these two events, Fingal Libraries and Fingal Arts Office are exploring a possible future collaboration between Fingal and the Opera Theatre Company.