News & Updates

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival established the annual €10,000 bursary award in 2020 to celebrate exceptional talent, thanks to the support of a generous private donor With thanks to the generous support of Conor and Mareta Doyle, we are delighted to announce that...

Today we celebrated the power of music and emerging talent at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF) and Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) bursaries concert. The magnificent Whyte Recital Hall at RIAM Dublin was BVOF's 'home from home' for this special event....

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Delights Audiences with Stunning Performances and Bespoke Dining Experiences The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has been hailed an outstanding success by organisers. The 8-day festival which concluded today attracted over 5,000...

Over 5,000 Visitors Expected to Attend Blackwater Valley Opera Festival - Are You Ready for the Magic? Just under a week until the enchanting sound of opera fills the summer air at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. Over 5,000 visitors are expected to engage their...

There are only three weeks to go until the much-anticipated Blackwater Valley Opera. Prepare to indulge your senses with top-class performances and bespoke dining set against the backdrop of breathtaking historical venues. Tickets are selling fast for Ireland's Summer...

Excitement at the local launch of BVOF 2024 at Lismore Heritage Centre on April 25, 2024. This year's Blackwater Valley Opera Festival kicked off with a vibrant event, attended by dignitaries, business leaders, and community members, celebrating the 2024 programme of...

The 2024 festival at Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan and Castlemartyr features an inspiring creative team, 100 international and Irish performers, 22 events, 11 venues, 5,000 visitors, 2,000 students, and 95 volunteers and 75+ hours of live music. Engage Your Senses:...

In the heart of East Cork, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival presented an exquisite Mother's Day Classical Celebration at the award-winning 5 Star Castlemartyr Resort, the Preferred Hotel Partner of BVOF. This event was held on Sunday, 10th March 2024, and offered...

"From the Beatles to U2, sleep on an operatic scale with Irish hotels steeped in music history" – The Irish Times   From May 27th to June 3rd, it’s all about opera, as the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival comes to near-neighbours Lismore. You’ll get B&B,...

Thanks to our wonderful audiences, friends and supporters, partners and sponsors, and spectacular artists. Our year has been filled with musical treats, opera, concerts, and recitals. We now look forward to welcoming you back to Ireland's Summer Opera Festival from 27...

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival hosted a special BVOF Classics at Christmas event at Castlemartyr Resort Cork, in collaboration with the festival's Preferred Hotel Partner, on Sunday 10th December.  Guests enjoyed a seasonal 3-course lunch or afternoon tea in...

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival hosted a special 'Spirit of Music' event at Waterford Distillery, in collaboration with the festival's Hospitality Partner, Waterford Whisky, on Thursday 30th November. Sopranos Bláthnaid Nicholson and Aisling McCarthy were accompanied...

A very special BVOF thanks to Dr Stanley Quek, Pamela Sprekley and The Ireland Funds team in Singapore, Irish Embassy Singapore, LASALLE College of the Arts and St. Joseph's Institution for hosting BVOF artists for BVOF in Singapore, November 2023. As well as...

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in association with Stonehage Fleming, Theater Orchester Biel Solothurn and the Embassy of Ireland, Switzerland hosted a celebration of the vibrant artistic, music and cultural links between Ireland and Switzerland - at the Widder...

More than 4,500 people attended Blackwater Valley Opera Festival for our most successful year yet. Our 2023 sold-out festival filled the summer air with the beautiful tones of world-class performers. Ireland's summer opera festival featured 21...

CALLOUT TO SCHOOLS! Following a successful programme in 2023, Music Generation Waterford will bring singing and opera to classrooms around the county again this year with Discover Opera and Discover Singing - innovative education initiatives in partnership with...

Waterford Whisky ~ Waterford Distillery ~ producer of the most naturally flavoursome single malt whiskies, is delighted to announce its involvement as drinks partners for one of Ireland’s leading arts festivals, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2023.   The...

The 2023 festival at Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan and Fermoy features an inspiring creative team, 103 international and Irish performers, 21 events, 12 venues, 4,500 visitors, 2,500 students, and 98 volunteers   Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF), Ireland's...

We are so proud to celebrate the results of this year’s 25th Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards, for which Blackwater Valley Opera Festival were nominated across a staggering three categories. Taking place in Dublin on Sunday 26th March, we celebrated a fantastic win...

Our wonderful Local Heroes gathered last Saturday 25th March in Ballyin House & Gardens, Lismore for the annual Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Local Heroes Tea Party. There could not have been a better setting for our Afternoon Tea event than this beautiful...