13 Oct–20 Oct
World Première Production of John O’Brien’s New Opera
The Everyman proudly staged the world première production of John O’Brien’s brand new opera, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s timeless story, The Nightingale and the Rose.
The Nightingale and the Rose is a tale of unrequited love, radical transformation and extraordinary sacrifice. Exploring the relationship between love and art, we follow the story of the Nightingale whose only wish is to bring beauty and love into the world, even at the ultimate price.
The production celebrated the richness and depth of musical talent in Cork. A highly inventive new work, it featured singers, musician-actors, dancers and actors brought to you by the critically and popularly acclaimed team whose previous productions include Faust, Der Vampyr, Orpheus and the award-winning Pagliacci.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Precise in every detail of performance, the production glows with a rich inventiveness of colour, surprise and allusion…” – The Irish Times (Click HERE to read full review)
★ ★ ★ ★ “It is unlike anything else I’ve seen on the opera stage to date. The storytelling is vivid, the spectacle is intriguing and the music is attractive. It comes to Dublin and Limerick. Not to be missed.” – Irish Examiner (Click HERE to read full review)
★ ★ ★ ★ “A sumptuous, bittersweet joy” – The Arts Review (Click HERE to read full review)
“Before this show, I wondered how John O’Brien could turn Oscar Wilde’s simple little love story, with its two characters and a tiny bird, into a sung drama? O’Brien’s magically inventive work answered my question, and the production deserves to be heard” – Declan Townsend, Irish Examiner (on the concert performance of The Nightingale and the Rose – 2016) (Click HERE to read full review)
Composed and Directed by John O’Brien
Libretto by John O’Brien & Éadaoin O’Donoghue
Musical Director Anna Tilbrook
Designer Lisa Zagone
Lighting Designer Sinéad Mckenna
Choreographer Philip Connaughton
Starred Kim Sheehan, Majella Cullagh, Owen Gilhooly, Jacek Wislocki, Jean Pascal Heynemand, Jamie Rock, Joe Corbett, David Howes, Christine Kenny, Catriona Scott, Ilse De Ziah, Íde Ní Chonaill, Clare Larkman, Emma King, Lucia Kickham, Sarah Ryan, Andrea Hackl, James De Burca and Úna O’Brien.
Produced in Association with Company Philip Connaughton, The Civic and Lime Tree Theatre
