Guide to falling in love in opera

Irish National Opera is delighted to present Music, Magic & Mischief - a chance to see some of Ireland’s most promising young operatic talents explore some of the world’s greatest operas.

This exciting show visits Nenagh Arts Centre on Friday week, July 4.

Over the course of this vibrant 60-minute showcase, the singers will take you on a whirlwind tour of opera’s most powerful scenes - packed with passion, drama and breath-taking music: Journey to enchanted realms with Mozart and Handel, lament lost love with Massenet and revel in joyous times with Strauss. All performers are members of the Irish National Opera Studio, the company’s artist development programme, including soprano Deirdre Higgins, mezzo-soprano Leanne Fitzgerald, mezzo-soprano Olha Palazhchenko, tenor Cathal McCabe and baritone David Kennedy. They will be directed by Grace Morgan and accompanied by Ella Nagy on piano.

INO Studio works closely with selected emerging talents in Ireland and its alumni have gone on to successful professional careers. Mezzo-soprano Aebh Kelly will make her debut for Opéra national de Paris, playing the role of Nancy Tang in Nixon in China, performing alongside Thomas Hampson and Renée Fleming in February 2026. Soprano Amy Ni Fhearraigh performed the sole singing role in Brian Irvine and Netia Jones's Least Like The Other, Searching for Rosemary Kennedy for INO at the Royal Opera House, London. The Times called her “hugely impressive” and the production went on to receive an Olivier Award nomination. Composer member, Éna Brennan was commissioned to write Breathwork which was presented at Dublin Theatre Festival in 2023 for INO and Hold Your Breath which premiered in Austria, at Bregenz's Werkstattbühne, in partnership with the Bregenz Festival and Kunsthaus Bregenz in 2024.