This article is from page 27 of the 2007-07-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
WHILE pop and rock music enthu- siasts may be looking forward to the three day September music fes- tival in Kilkee, opera enthusiasts are also being catered for at the seaside Keer
Opera by the Sea will take place this Saturday, August 4, in Kilkee Parish Church.
Presented by Kilkee Civic Trust in association with Opera Works, this cultural event promises to be an evening of the world’s most popular arias.
Those attending can expect duets
and ensembles from La Travietta, Carmen, The Magic Flute, La Bo- hme and many more operatic favour- ites.
Kilrush woman Edel O’Brien will make a welcome return to west Clare as part of the talented line up of art- ists performing.
Edel graduated with an honour masters degree in music and per- formance from NUI Maynooth. At the age of 19, she won the Mar- garet Burke-Sheridan Cup at the Dublin Féis Cheol. In London, she was awarded a scholarship to study singing at Trinity College of Music Where she won ‘distinction’ in her
postgraduate diploma in vocal stud- ies. In addition, she won the Vocal Faculty Award and the College Gold Medal.
In 2002 Edel was one of seven singers out of 200 applicants world- wide to be accepted onto the Young Artists’ Programme at the Centre de Formation Lyrique at the Opera Bastille, Opera National de Paris.
While there, she won the Prix Lyr- ique, which is awarded, annually to one male and one female singer at the CFL.
Edel has much experience in opera, oratorio and recital, having worked around Ireland, Britain and France.
Her future plans include the mezzo- soprano solo in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the National Symphony Or- chestra at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and Maurya in Vaughan- Williams’ Riders to the Sea in Dub- lin’s Anna Livia Festival.
Joining Edel on the night will be Sandra Oman, soprano; Edel O’Brien, mezzo, Niall Morris, tenor; Martin Higgins, baritone and Maire- ad Hurley, piano.
Tickets on the night are €20 and are available from John William chemist, Nolan’s delicatessen or at id etomeColeye