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Calendar of Events

What's On

September 2026

Carmen at the Grand Opera House

February 2026

Auditions for the Chorus Development Programme

January

Cabaret at the 'Out To Lunch' Festival

March

Spring Solstice at the Ards Arts Centre

Follies

Look back at our most recent major production in the Grand Opera House

Eugene Onegin

West Australian Opera remounts our 2024 production of Eugene Onegin for their 2026 Season

Past Productions

Explore our past productions, from 2010 to 2025

Discover Opera

Discover

Discover Opera

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

Follies

Main Stage

Eugene Onégin

Love, friendship and fidelity collide with devastating consequences in this story of passion, pride, a moment’s…

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…

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.

What's On 2025

Main Stage

Carmen

Northern Ireland Opera makes a spectacular return to the Grand Opera House in September with a…

Concert

Spring Solstice at the Ards Arts Centre

Celebrate the arrival of spring with a delightful hour of music from Northern Ireland Opera.  …

Concert

Cabaret for Lunch & Evening Cabaret

Join us for an hour of glamour and sparkle in The Black Box, Belfast. We’re excited…

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

19th December 2025

‘Follies’ selected by The Stage as one of the top 50 shows of 2025 around the UK

Northern Ireland Opera are delighted that The Stage has included our production of ‘Follies’ at the Grand Opera House in Belfast in this year’s selection following the production’s review by Jane Coyle.

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‘Follies’ selected by The Stage as one of the top 50 shows of 2025 around the UK
17th December 2025

Chorus Development Programme 2026 Auditions

Auditions will take place in Belfast on 5, 6 and 7 February 2026 for this year’s Chorus Development Programme. If you would be like to be considered for an audition, please contact…

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Chorus Development Programme 2026 Auditions
16th December 2025

Introducing The Morning Melodies Club

If you have been a fan of our Morning Melodies or are interested in coming to see beautiful music-making and storytelling at 11am on a Wednesday morning, please get in touch with…

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Introducing The Morning Melodies Club
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We're absolutely delighted that Follies has been selected as one of the top 50 shows around the UK in this year's round-up by @thestageuk, following the production's review by Jane Coyle. Congratulations to our brilliant cast, creatives, orchestra, technical teams and everyone who was part of the production: we loved bringing it to the stage @gohbelfast - thank you to everyone who came to see it. Huge thanks to our funders and supporters, especially our principal funder @artscouncilni Congratulations also to @big_tellyni for @belfast_int_arts_fest @lyricbelfast and @cahoots_ni who also had productions in this top 50 list. Find out more the linktree in the bio. @cameronmenziesdirector @fourthwallpr @theatreanddanceni @ourbelfastmusic #Follies #Sondheim #musicals #musicaltheatre #belfast #belfasttheatre #operacompany #operaandmusicals #northernireland #top50
Auditions will take place in Belfast on 5, 6 and 7 February 2026 for this year’s Chorus Development Programme. If you would be like to be considered for an audition, please contact Matthew at info@niopera.com with your current CV and a headshot to register your interest. Please also indicate if you are interested in singing small roles or cover roles with the company and what those might be. The deadline to register your interest in auditioning is 5pm on 19 January 2026. Please note, applicants must be over 18 and domiciled in Northern Ireland. For the auditions: 1) If you have previously been a member of the Chorus Development Programme and wish to audition for this year’s programme, please prepare a song, plus two arias. The arias should preferably be in French or Italian. 2) If you have not been part of the Chorus Development Programme in previous years, please prepare a song or alternatively an aria if you have one, ideally not in English. Songs from classic music theatre will be considered (this could include work by composers like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Rodgers & Hart but not jukebox musicals) The Belfast location for the auditions will be announced in the new year. A repetiteur will be provided at the audition who will accompany you on the piano. This opportunity is open to people of all genders, identities, abilities and ethnic backgrounds. @artscouncilni #chorusdevelopmentprogramme #chorusprogramme #operachorus #chorusauditions #belfastauditions #chorus #opera #carmenchorus #operacompany #artistdevelopmentprogramme
Introducing The Morning Melodies Club! If you have been a fan of our Morning Melodies or are interested in coming to see beautiful music-making and storytelling at 11am on a Wednesday morning, please get in touch with us about a new initiative from NI Opera: The Morning Melodies Club. Being a member of the club allows you to find out first about special offers and Morning Melodies events at Valentines Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas and more in 2026. We will launch the club in February but you can register now at info@niopera.com - membership is free. We look forward to seeing you in 2026. @ArtsCouncilNI #MorningMelodies #MorningConcerts #Belfast #Opera #MorningOpera #BelfastEvents #WhatsOnNI #MorningMelodiesClub #NorthernIreland #operainbelfast
Making weekend plans? We're performing Christmas songs, arias and duets for our friends at @theharrisonbelfast on Sunday 14th December. Come and enjoy performances by @jennybourke_mezzo and tenor Aaron O'Hare @aj.ohare who will be singing festive repertoire between 1.30 and 2.30pm and again between 3 and 4pm with pianist Ruth McCavery. Tickets are £11.55 and can be booked via the linktree in our bio. Come along and join us for a very merry afternoon! @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #christmas #belfast #sundayafternoon #opera #christmassongs #christmasrepertoire #afternoonmusic #sundayplans #weekendplans
Tickets for our major new production of Carmen coming to the @gohbelfast next September go on general sale today from 10am: a perfect Christmas present for the opera or theatre lover in your life. This year we are performing three evening performances and a matinee too. Find out more and book via the linktree in the bio or at the Grand Opera House from 10am today. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #Carmen #Belfast #September2026 #operatickets #christmaspresent #theatretickets #booktickets #bizet #georgesbizet #toreador #habanera #culturetrip #cultureweekend #culturetourism #northernireland #belfastoperahouse #grandoperahousebelfast
Auditions will take place in February 2026 in preparation for our major production of Carmen in September and a number of yet to be announced projects throughout the spring and summer season. We're looking for chorus development programme members and for some roles within Carmen. We'll announce further details about when and where auditions will take place in the new year. The Chorus Development Programme is only open to artists domiciled on the island of Ireland. As part of this programme you will get paid performance opportunities and get to work with internationally renowned expert coaches, technicians and practitioners to help hone your craft If you know anyone who would be interested, please do share this post. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector Photo: @neilharrisonphotography The NI Opera Chorus performing in Eugene Onegin, September 2024 #operachorus #auditions #operaauditions #artistdevelopment #operadevelopmentprogramme #opera #onegin #carmen #carmenauditions #carmenchorus #belfast #belfastauditions #northernirishsingers #irishsingers #irishoperasingers
Northern Ireland Opera makes a spectacular return to the Grand Opera House in September 2026 with a brand new production of Bizet’s Carmen, one of the grandest operas of them all. Your critically acclaimed national opera company will bring to life the powerful story of Carmen, a passionate, intelligent woman who dares to challenge convention, pursuing seduction, love and her freedom. Filled with famous arias including the Habanera and the Toreador song, booking opens this week for an evening of fiery emotion in one of best-loved operas ever written. Booking is now open for The Friends of NI Opera, and Gold and Silver friends of the Grand Opera House. Booking opens for Bronze Friends of the Grand Opera House at 10am on Wednesday 10th December and the production will be on general sale on Friday 12 December from 10am. Full details via the linktree in our bio. @ArtsCouncilNI @gohbelfast #Carmen #Opera #Belfast #OperainBelfast #NorthernIrelandOpera #Bizets #NewSeason #Operain2026
We're looking forward to welcoming a full house to our Christmas Sing-Along at Custom House tomorrow morning! NI Opera artists @marymccabesoprano @jennybourke_mezzo @aj.ohare @seamus_brady8 and pianist @tristanrusscher will be performing arias and Christmas songs, then there is an opportunity for the audience to join in with some festive favourites. Find out more in the linktree in our bio. @artscouncilni @cameronmenziesdirector #Christmas #ChristmasSingAlong #FestiveSeason #BelfastChristmas #ChristmasinBelfast #ChristmasMusic #ChristmasMusicTime
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