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What's On!

September

'Follies' at The Grand Opera House, Belfast

August

The 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice - Recitals and Concerts on the Antrim Coast

August

Exploring Ulster Scots Song with mezzo Carolyn Dobbin

September

Come and Sing some songs from Follies with NI Opera artists at the Grand Opera House

September

An evening of conversation about Follies and Sondheim with Dr Richard Schoch, Stuart Pedlar and Cameron Menzies

November

Morning Melodies - 'A Rose By Any Other Name'

Past Productions

Explore our past productions, from 2010 to 2024

Discover Opera

Discover

Discover Opera

Find out all about our recent production of 'Eugene Onégin' at the Grand Opera House, Belfast

Eugene Onégin

NI Opera Studio

The Juniper Tree

'The Juniper Tree' is based on a famous Grimm's fairytale, in which a jealous stepmother murders…

Main Stage

Tosca

Northern Ireland Opera returns in 2023 with Puccini’s ‘Tosca’, after our critically acclaimed and sold-out production…

New Work

Nobody/Somebody

'Nobody/Somebody' is an exciting and powerful new opera created by composer Neil Martin and playwright Fionnuala…

Musical

Into The Woods

BEST PRODUCTION, THE IRISH TIMES IRISH THEATRE AWARDS 2022 In a whirlwind quest to make their…

WHAT'S ON

WHAT'S ON

What's On

Check out our calendar guide to what's coming up in the next few months.

Summer Events 2025

Main Stage

Follies

Northern Ireland Opera’s next major production at the Grand Opera House is ‘Follies’, winner of 7…

August 2025

The 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice

The Glenarm Festival of Voice will take place from 22-24 August 2025. Now in its fifteenth…

Past Production

Cocktails and Cabaret

Introducing a unique event this summer in The Studio at the Grand Opera House... Enjoy a…

August 2025

From Old to New – Ulster Scots Song

Come and explore how Ulster Scots song has changed over time: from folk song evolving into…

WHAT WE DO

What We Do

WHAT WE DO

We are Northern Ireland's award-winning national opera company, an arts charity dedicated to the highest standards of opera performance, development of young talent and community outreach and education. Find out more about our productions since our foundation in 2010 via the link.

What We Do

Artist Development

Chorus Development Programme Our Chorus Development Programme launched in 2022, following open auditions to select local…

Past Productions

Outreach

Northern Ireland Opera bring innovative new productions of the highest artistic quality to the stage, reflecting…

The Glenarm Festival of Voice

The festival features public recitals and events, including three concerts in partnership with and broadcast by…

News

22nd July 2025

Four finalists selected for Northern Ireland Opera’s 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice, 22-24 August 2025

Four opera singers from across the island of Ireland will be taking part in an exciting live opera competition in front of a live audience and jury panel in Glenarm this summer…

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Four finalists selected for Northern Ireland Opera’s 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice, 22-24 August 2025
11th June 2025

Introducing five brilliant young talents from Northern Ireland who are joining our cast for ‘Follies’

Brigid Shine, Anna Violet, Reece McGowan, Chris Kane and Petra Wells will be performing as the 1941 versions of Sally, Phyllis, Buddy, Ben and Heidi in Northern Ireland Opera’s thrilling new production…

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Introducing five brilliant young talents from Northern Ireland who are joining our cast for ‘Follies’
5th June 2025

Opera Star Lesley Garrett CBE Debuts With Northern Ireland Opera in a New Production of ‘Follies’

Lesley Garrett CBE, one of the world’s most celebrated classical singers and acclaimed British soprano is announced today as the newest cast member to join Northern Ireland Opera’s historic revival of Stephen…

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Opera Star Lesley Garrett CBE Debuts With Northern Ireland Opera in a New Production of ‘Follies’
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SUPPORT US

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More Details

Connect With Us

Our cast for Follies met for the first time yesterday. They were shown the set and costume designs and met the creative team who have been hard at work preparing for our major production in the The Grand Opera House, Belfast next month. Today rehearsals have started with just over a month until opening night! Six performances including one matinee between 13 and 20 September - make sure you book at goh.co.uk soon. 📷 @neilharrisonphotography Anna Jane Casey @annajanecasey13 - Sally Durant Plummer Annette McLaughlin @netsymac -Phyllis Rogers Stone Mark Dugdale @markdugdale01 - Buddy Plummer Alasdair Harvey @alasdair_harvey - Benjamin Stone Brigid Shine @brigidsunshine - Young Sally Anna Violet @annaviolett.2 - Young Phyllis Reece McGowan @reecemcgowan - Young Buddy Chris Kane @_chriskane - Young Benjamin Jacqueline Dankworth MBE @jacquelinedankworth - Carlotta Campion Pippa Winslow @pippawinslow - Stella Deems Allison Harding @harding49 - Hattie Walker Rachel Stanley @stanners1970 - Solange La Fitte Christina Nelson @christina.nelson.1088 - Emily Whitman Richard Croxford @dickycrox - Theodore Whitman Lesley Garrett CBE - Heidi Schiller Petra Wells @petrawells - 1940s Heidi Schiller Marty Maguire @martymaguire_jm - Dimitri Weismann Darren Franklin - Roscoe Colette Lennon Dougal - Dee Dee West Orla Mullan - Sandra Crane Maeve Byrne - Stella/Heidi Cover Ensemble: Becky Anderson, Sophie Fleet, Chloe Hopcroft, Johanna Johnston, Anna Tennyson, Mark D’Arcy, Nic Cain, Ciarán McCormack, Fionan O’Carroll, Sean O’Neill, Jed Hoyle @cameronmenziesdirector - Director Greg Arrowsmith - Musical Director Jennifer Rooney - Choreographer Niall McKeever - Set Designer Gillian Lennox - Costume Co-Designer Jake Wiltshire - Lighting Designer Andy Graham - Sound Designer Nuala Campbell - Hair and Make-Up Design Fraser Hickland - Repetiteur Maggie Barry - Orchestra Manager Greg Eldridge - Associate Director Find out about all the cast via the Follies link in the bio: just click on their headshots on the page to read full biographies. @artscouncilni #Follies #Musical #MusicalTheatre #Sondheim #BroadwayBaby #SeptemberTheatre
Come and Sing is back! Join us on Friday 19th September between 5.30pm and 7pm for a fun and entertaining event learning to sing some songs from Follies with NI Opera artists. All singing abilities welcome for this free event (though there is a small booking fee). Come and give it a try, whether you sing in the shower or are a fully-fledged diva! @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector @ourbelfastmusic #whatson #comeandsing #follies #singers #singing #belfast #choirs #musictheatre #musicaltheatre
The 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice is nearly here! There are still some events available to book: Free Children’s Drama and Craft Workshops Saturday 23 August | 10am–midday | Coach House, Glenarm Castle Led by NI Opera facilitators artist @bobbiraipurdy and youth theatre director Debra Hill, these free creative workshops for ages 7–11 offer a fun introduction to drama, prop-making and imaginative play. Held in the historic Coach House at @glenarmcastle . Free but booking recommended via linktree in bio. Afternoon Recital Saturday 23 August | 3-4pm | Coach House, Glenarm Castle Join @carolyn_dobbin_mezzo and pianist @tristanrusscher for a beautiful hour of music tracing the path from Ulster Scots folk traditions to classical and contemporary song. Tickets £10: book via linktree in the bio. Vocal Competition Finale 2025 Sunday 24 August | 6:30pm | Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glenarm Be part of the festival’s most anticipated event as four outstanding young singers from across the island of Ireland compete for this year’s title by singing arias, songs, duets and ensemble pieces. Presented by broadcaster Sean Rafferty, this is an evening of exceptional live performance in an atmospheric setting. Tickets £20 / £15 concession: book via linktree in bio. Come and enjoy some stunning performances and help us celebrate our 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice! @artscouncilni @meaboroughcouncil #opera #operasingers #northernireland #bankholidayweekend #augustbankholiday #summerconcerts #recitals #afternoonconcerts #vocalcompetition #arias #artssong #glenarm #singingfestival #classicalmusic #ballymena #larne #carnlough #culture #culturetrip #augustfestivals2025
'Follies' is on UTV Life at 7pm this Friday! Watch @pamela.ballantine chatting to superstar Lesley Garrett - Heidi Schiller in our upcoming production of Follies - and our Artistic Director @cameronmenziesdirector about what audiences can expect from this huge, exciting new production set on Broadway in 1971. You'll also get a sneak preview of some of the stunning costumes being created with @gillian.lennox01 our Costume Co-Designer. Thank you to Pamela and the team at UTV Life @utv.ni for inviting us on - we had a great time. Tune in from 7pm on Friday - and make sure you book your tickets The @gohbelfast soon! @artscouncilni @ourbelfastmusic @fourthwallpr #stephensondheim #follies #heidischiller #lesleygarrett #opera #musical #musicaltheatre #broadwaymusical #northernireland #belfast #westend #singers #whatson #bookingnow #septembertheatre
Our next summer event is at @courthousebangor on August 5th but it's already sold out! For those of you who have managed to book tickets, you'll be hearing a beautiful recital by soprano Rachael Heater @rachaelheater.soprano , mezzo soprano Sarah Alcorn, tenor @dessiehavlin and pianist @tristanrusscher We look forward to being back in this gorgeous venue next week. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #summer #bangor #summerrecital #whatson #augustevents #operaconcert #operaevents
Tomorrow lunchtime we're back at @firstchurch1783 on Rosemary Street in Belfast with the second of our two lunchtime recitals as part of the Summer Recital Series at the church, now in its 31st year which run through July and August. Come and enjoy some beautiful vocal music with baritone @seamus_brady8 and pianist @tristanrusscher - Seamus was the winner of the Song Prize at last year's Glenarm Festival of Voice: this is a great opportunity to hear him perform a solo concert. Doors open at 1pm, and the recital is from 1.15 to 2pm. Free entry, all welcome! #summerrecital #summerconcert #summerevent #operaconcert #belfast #whatson @artscouncilni
We're very excited for 'Cocktails and Cabaret' taking place at the @gohbelfast tonight and tomorrow. We're welcoming this brilliant cast of artists to perform songs from musical theatre, jazz, pop and well-loved favourites, accompanied by pianist Stuart Pedlar. L to R top row: Rosie Barry, Mark Dugdale, Alice Johnston L to R second row: Chris Kane, Colette Lennon Dougal, Jessica Martin L to R third row: Orla Mullan, Jolene O'Hara and Philippa O'Hara Toi toi toi to them all for a fantastic couple of evenings of performance! The event is proudly sponsored by @jawboxgin @artscouncilni #cocktailsandcabaret @jolene_o_hara @colettelennondougal @markdugdale @alice_j86 @_chriskane @colettelennondougal @jessica_martinvibe @mullan.orla @jolene_o_hara @philippaohara @cameronmenziesdirector #stuartpedlar
Congratulations to @frasierhickland who has been part of our Artists In Development Scheme for the last few years and was Musical Director and Conductor for our production of 'The Juniper Tree' @gohbelfast in February 2024. He is currently working on Britten's 'Owen Wingrave' at the @festivalvalleditria with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Teatro alla Scala on the Italian premiere of this opera. Frasier has been assisting the Conductor Daniel Cohen, and will conduct an off-stage Ensemble in Act 2, repping for rehearsals and language coaching for singers. We're delighted to see him going from strength to strength: Toi Toi Toi for the opening night! @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #artistsindevelopment #northernirishartists #owenwingrave #britten #operaconductor
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