Celebrating 15 Years in 2025

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2025 delivered its most ambitious programme to date, featuring two opera productions. Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the rounds of Lismore Castle directed by Patrick Mason and conducted by David Brophy, with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, starring Paula Murrihy, Dean Murphy and Kelli-Ann Masterson, was performed by the Irish Baroque Orchestra under Nicholas McGegan at St Carthage’s Cathedral.

The concert programme included When Birds Do Sing with Niamh O’Sullivan and Gary Beecher at Dromore Yard, and the festival finale Baroque Hits, also at Dromore Yard, with Paula Murrihy and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. Recitals across the 2025 festival included Shakespeare in Music, Arias at Villierstown, Irish Heritage Recital, BVOF | RIAM John Pollard Recital, Irish Salon Opera Series: The Tinker and the Fairy, Irish Writers’ Series: George Bernard Shaw, RDS Collins Memorial Recital, Summertime, When Birds Do Sing, and Free Open‑Air Lunchtime Recitals at Walton Park (Dungarvan), Green Park (Youghal), and Castlemartyr Resort.

Video by Gabriel Mueller

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Creative Team: Conductor – David Brophy, Director – Patrick Mason, Set & Lighting Designer – Paul Keogan, Costume Designer – Catherine Fay, Repetiteur – Frasier Hickland, Choreographer – Muirne Bloomer, Assistant Conductor – Niall Kinsella, Chorus Director – Ite O’Donovan, Harpsichord Tuner – Caitríona O’Mahony.

Cast: Iestyn Morris – Oberon, Ami Hewitt – Tytania, Barry McGovern – Puck, Christopher Cull – Theseus, Gemma Ní Bhriain – Hippolyta, Peter O’Reilly – Lysander, Gregory Feldmann – Demetrius, Sarah Richmond – Hermia, Amy Ní Fhearraigh – Helena, Dominic Veilleux – Bottom, Jakob Mahase – Quince, Conor Prendiville – Flute, Rory Dunne – Snug, Seán Tester – Snout, Massimo Modoni – Starveling.

Fairies:
Cobweb – Maria O’Shea (Cover – Marian Kenny), Mustardseed – Eibhlin Dolan (Cover – Mary Stafford), Peaseblossom – Margaret Steen (Cover – Lucia Kenny), Moth – Fionnuala Nicoletti (Cover – Gemma Kenny).

Chorus of Fairies – Piccolo Lasso: Charles Burke, Cassandra Dennehy, Charlotte Dennehy, Julia May Feeney, Terézabelle Feeney, Teresa Kenny, Lucy McDonough, Kate Morgan, Catherine O’Shea, Bernadette O’Shea, Patrick Stafford.

Chorus of Fairies – Music Generation Waterford: Mara Dimond, Trudie Heffernan, Adam Holohan, Rachel Nathan, Afton O’Meara, Phoebe O’Toole, Alex Simpson, Matthew Walsh.

Irish Chamber Orchestra
Violin I – Nicola Sweeney (Leader), Emily Nenniger, Siún Milne
Violin II – André Swanepoel (Principal), Oonagh Keogh, Anna Mitchell
Viola – Joachim Roewer (Principal), Mark Coates Smith
Cello – Aoife Nic Athlaoich (Principal), Richard Angell
Bass – Malachy Robinson (Principal), David Whitla
Flute – Meadhbh O’Rourke, Rachel Nolan
Oboe – Ben Gannon
Clarinet – Seamus Wylie, John Forde
Bassoon – Íde Ní Chonaill
Horn – Hannah Miller, Louise Sullivan
Trumpet – James Bulger
Trombone – Paul Stone
Harp – Jean Kelly, Rosie Murphy
Percussion/Timpani – Stephen Kelly, Kieran Leonard
Harpsichord / Celeste – Frasier Hickland

Dido and Aeneas

Cast: Paula Murrihy – Dido / Sorceress, Dean Murphy – Aeneas, Kelli‑Ann Masterson – Belinda / First Witch, Susie Gibbons – Second Lady / Second Witch, Anastasia Sereda – Spirit, Patrick Hyland – Sailor.

Orchestra & Chorus: Irish Baroque Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan; Chorus by the Irish Baroque Orchestra ensemble.

Presented in a candlelit semi-staged format, directed by the BVOF Festival Artistic team.

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2024 attracted over 5,000 attendees to a week-long programme of opera, concerts, and recitals, including both ticketed and free events. The festival opened with a strong educational focus, as more than 400 schoolchildren took part in workshops, attended the Opera Dress Rehearsal, and performed at the Opening Ceremony.

The centrepiece opera was Handel’s Giulio Cesare, staged in the grounds of Lismore Castle and praised by audiences and critics alike. Directed by Tom Creed and conducted by Nicholas McGegan, the production featured the Irish Baroque Orchestra and a stellar cast performing one of Handel’s greatest Italian operas.

Concert highlights at Dromore Yard included Of Emperors, Kings and Queens, a bel canto gala starring Serenad Uyar, Leonardo Galeazzi and Dearbhla Collins; the Clara Haskil Piano Competition Concert presented by Finghin Collins, with pianist Magdalene Ho and cellist Marc Coppey; and the Vivaldi Concert Finale featuring Arianna Vendittelli, Iestyn Morris and the Irish Baroque Orchestra under Nicholas McGegan.

The recital programme was presented in some of the Blackwater Valley’s most striking historic venues, including Cappoquin House and Gardens, Tourin House, Salterbridge House, Woodhouse Estate, Villierstown Church, St Carthage’s Cathedral and St Mary’s Collegiate Church, with free open-air recitals in Lismore, Dungarvan, Youghal, and Castlemartyr.

 

Video by Gansee Films.

 

 

Giulio Cesare

Creative Team: Conductor – Nicholas McGegan, Director – Tom Creed, Set & Lighting Designer – Aedín Cosgrove, Costume Designer – Catherine Fay.

Cast: Ingeborg Bröcheler – Giulio Cesare, Anna Devin – Cleopatra, Nils Wanderer – Tolomeo, Sharon Carty – Sesto, Dean Murphy – Achilla, Carolyn Holt – Cornelia, Fionn Ó hAlmhain – Curio, Iestyn Morris – Nireno.

Chorus: Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Chorus 2024
Sopranos & Altos – Anastasia Sereda, Aimee Kearney, Emily Hogarty, Rachael Conaghan
Tenors & Basses – Stephen Walker, Keith Kearns, Fionn Ó hAlmhain, Luke Stanley

Irish Baroque Orchestra
Violin I – Julia Kuhn, Nicola Cleary, Anna Lester, Jenna Raggett, Giammaria Tesei, Jeannette Bogado
Violin II – Liv Heym, Marja Gaynor, Rachael Masterson, Andrew Taheny
Viola – Hannah Shaw, Francesca Gilbert, Ciara Sudlow, Martha Campbell, Jeannette Bogado
Cello – Julien Barre, Carina Drury, Celeste Casiraghi
Double Bass – Malachy Robinson, Alex Felle
Theorbo – Alex McCartney
Flute – Miriam Kaczor
Oboe – Mark Baigent, Cait Walker
Bassoon – Katrin Lazar
Horn – Anna Drysdale

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth – conducted by Killian Farrell, directed by Sarah Baxter and in artistic collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, was the headline event at Lismore Castle Waterford. The first genuine masterpiece of Giuseppe Verdi’s career – and first of his three Shakespearean operas – Macbeth is a political thriller full of intrigues, murders, and passion. Verdi created this stunning musical portrait of opera’s most power-hungry couple with wonderful, unforgettable arias.

The 2023 BVOF production featured the baritone Leonardo Galeazzi and baritone Vittorio Vitelli, alternating as Macbeth; Serenad Burcu Uyar as Lady Macbeth, and bass Gorán Jurich as Banco. The supporting cast included BVOF bursary winners John Porter and Rory Dunne; Emily Hogarty, Andrew Gavin, and the Blackwater Valley Opera Chorus.

Video by Gansee Films

CAST

Macbeth (31.05, 02.06, 04.06) – Leonardo Galeazzi
Macbeth (03.06) – Vittorio Vitelli
Lady Macbeth – Serenad Burcu Uyar
Banco – Goran Jurić
Macduff – John Porter
Malcolm – Andrew Gavin
Doctor | Servant – Rory Dunne
Lady in Waiting – Emily Hogarty
Herald | Messenger – Fionn Ó hAlmhain
Apparitions – Adam Cahill, Saoirse Casey McDonnell, Keelin Duggan,
Méabh Fenton, Emma Nathan, Áine Ní Fhoghlú, Síle Wall
Duncan – Philip McCloskey

Blackwater Valley Opera Valley Festival Chorus
Sopranos & Mezzos – Aimee Banks, Anna Barry, Caroline Behan, Lucy Campbell, Áine Cassidy, Eilis Dexter, Emma Hils, Emily Hogarty, Laura Konrad, Sarah Luttrell, Hailey-Rose Lynch, Bláthnaid Nicholson, Clíodhna Regan, Anastasia Sereda
Tenors & Basses – Adam Cahill, Connor Campbell, David Corr, Keith Kearns, Boyu Liu, Rory Lynch, Patrick McGinley, Oisin Ó Dálaigh,
Fionn Ó hAlmhain, Stephen Walker

Irish Chamber Orchestra
Violin 1 – Nicola Sweeney (Leader), Emily Nenniger | Kenneth Rice | Cliodhna Ryan | Maria Ryan
Violin 2 – André Swanepoel | Oonagh Keogh | Louis Roden | Anna Mitchell
Viola – Joachim Roewer | Mark Coates Smith | Cian Ó Dúill
Cello – Aoife Nic Athlaoich | Richard Angell
Double Bass – Malachy Robinson
Harp – Richard Allen
Flute – Emma Roche | Kieran Moynihan
Oboe – Peter Facer | Matthew Draper
Clarinet – Hugo Lau | Neyire Ashworth
Bassoon – Íde Ní Chonaill | Éanna Monaghan
Horn – Liam Duffy | Henry Wright
Trumpet – Colm Byrne | Erick Castillo
Trombone – Michael Marshall | Ross Lyness | Paul Frost
Timpani – Jonathan Raper
Percussion – Richard O’Donnell

CREATIVE  
Conductor – Killian Farrell
Director – Sarah Baxter
Set & Costume Design – Francis O’Connor
Lighting Design – Eamon Fox
Assistant Conductor – Karen Ní Bhroin
Wigs, Hair & Make-up – Maeve Readman
Costume Supervisor – Frances White
Festival Repetiteur – Frasier Hickland
Chorus Director – Bernie Sherlock
Chorus Repetiteur – Mairéad Hurley | Pawel Waleski

CREATIVE PARTNERS
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Chief Executive Officer – Gerard Keenan
Deputy CEO / Operations Manager – Cathriona Murphy
Marketing & Communications Manager – Charlotte Eglinton
Marketing Manager – Michelle Buckley

Video by Gansee Films

ORFEO ed EURIDICE CAST

Orfeo – Meili Li

Euridice – Aoife Gibney

Amor – Kelli-Ann Masterson

Chorus – Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

Sopranos – Hannah Barrett | Tara McDermott | Blathnaid Nicholson

Mezzos – Clíodhna Regan | Fidelma Kelly

Tenors – Keith Matthews | Oisín Ó Dálaigh | Stephen Walker

Basses – Eoin Foran | David Mulhall | Fionn Ó hAlmhain

Dancers – Salma Ataya | Vitor Bassi | Justine Cooper | Mia DiChiaro | Jonathan Mitchell | Alex O’Neill | Donking Rongavilla | Rosie Stebbing Gatekeepers – Mya Morrissey | Daria Falcaru

ORCHESTRAL

Orchestra – Irish Baroque Orchestra Violin 1 – Claire Duff | Nicola Cleary | Leonie Curtin Violin 2 – Silvia Schweinberger | Rachael Masterson Viola – Elitsa Bogdanova | Martha Campbell Cello – Norah O’Leary | Alina Mayer-Whitla Double Bass – Alex Felle Flute – Elisabeth Vogel | Dora Ombodi Oboe – Alexandra Bellamy | Hilary Stock Horn – Patrick Broderick | Kate Goldsmith Trumpet – Nicholas Emmerson Timpani | Richard O’Donnell Harp – Siobhan Armstrong

CREATIVE TEAM

Artistic Director – Dieter Kaegi Conductor – Peter Whelan Director & Choreographer – David Bolger Set & Costume Design – Maree Kearns Lighting Design – Eamon Fox Wigs, Hair & MakeUp – Maeve Readman Chorus Director | Repetiteur – Mairead Hurley

CREATIVE PARTNERS

CoisCéim Dance Theatre CEO – Bridget Webster | GM – Sarah Latty | Irish Baroque Orchestra CEO – Aliye Cornish Moore | Orchestral Manager – Doireann Kelly

Following a year’s pause due to COVID-19, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival returned in 2021 with Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, a comic opera presented as the centrepiece production.

Concert highlights included two sold-out performances of the Anthony Kearns Gala Concert – A Tribute to Count John McCormack, and a series of recital performances by awardees of the BVOF Bursary, the RDS Collins Memorial Award, and the Irish Heritage Bursary.

In addition to performances, the 2021 festival introduced several outreach initiatives. A new Discover Opera Trail was developed in partnership with Music Generation for local primary schools. BVOF also partnered with the Mobile Music Machine to deliver Covid Care Concerts to care homes across Ireland. The festival launched BVOF Open Air – a new series of free outdoor lunchtime recitals bringing live classical music to audiences in Waterford and Cork.

Gianni Schicchi

Cast: Leonardo Galeazzi – Gianni Schicchi, Solen Mainguené – Lauretta, Gemma Ní Bhriain – La Ciesca, John Porter – Rinuccio, James Nelson – Gherardo, Sandra Oman – Nella, Darragh O’Connor / Senan Reade – Gherardino, Rory Dunne – Betto di Signa, John Molloy – Simone, Rory Musgrave – Marco, Bríd Ní Ghrúagáin – Zita, Jakob Mahase – Maestro Spinelloccio, Fionn Ó hAlmhain – Ser Amantio di Nicolao, David Mulhall – Pinellino, Tim Mays – Guccio, Naho Koizumi – Maid.

Creative Team: Artistic Director – Dieter Kaegi, Director / Set & Costume Designer – Pierre-Emmanuel Rousseau, Conductor – Darren Hargan

Festival Director – Eamonn Carroll

In 2019 Blackwater Valley Opera Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a memorable production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale at Lismore Castle. The story of Don Pasquale revolves around a classic comedic premise: a young couple in love schemes to thwart the inappropriate plans of a pompous old man, who wants to marry the girl himself. What makes the opera notable within this familiar genre is its emphasis on genuine human emotion. Donizetti’s score is graceful and effervescent, as one would expect from this master of melody, but adds an additional level of sophistication to match the comic (yet insightful) proceedings.

Highlights from the Recitals and Concerts Programme included Giovanni Bellucci’s candlelit piano concert with music by Liszt at Dromore Yard.

Don Pasquale

Cast: Michele Govi – Don Pasquale, Manuel Nuñez Camelino – Ernesto, Emmett O’Hanlon – Malatesta, Aoife Gibney – Norina

Creative Team: Artistic Director – Dieter Kaegi, Conductor – Darren Hargan, Director – Pierre-Emmanuel Rousseau, Sets and Costumes – Slawek Narwid

Festival Director – Eamonn Carroll

Building on the legacy of Lismore Opera Festival, the 2018 rebrand to Blackwater Valley Opera Festival marked a new chapter of growth and ambition. The expanded programme introduced additional recital venues along the River Blackwater, embracing one of the most scenic corners of Ireland’s Ancient East.

A significant development in 2018 was the extension of the opera to three nights, with the addition of a Gala Opening on Wednesday. Once again, the magnificent grounds of Lismore Castle provided the unforgettable setting for this flagship production.

Artistic Director Dieter Kaegi selected Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri – a sparkling tale of intrigue, misadventure, and the triumph of love. First performed in Venice in 1813, the opera follows Elvira and Isabella as they outwit their captors and chart a bold path to freedom. Brimming with energy, humour, and elegant melodies, the production delighted audiences and set the tone for a new era in the festival’s artistic journey.

The 2018 season also marked the beginning of a creative connection with Garsington Opera, a renowned UK festival. Soprano Alison Rose and baritone Tristan Hambleton, both associated with Garsington Opera, performed at BVOF’s 2018 concerts. This artistic collaboration would help enrich future programming and forge valuable cross-cultural ties between artists and institutions.

L’Italiana in Algeri

Cast: Leonardo Galeazzi – Mustafa, Rachel Kelly – Isabelle, Javier Abreu – Lindoro, Rachel Croash – Elvira, Rory Musgrave – Taddeo, Sandra Oman – Zulma, Rory Dunne – Haly

Creative Team: Artistic Director – Dieter Kaegi, Conductor – Marco Zambelli, Director – Pierre Emmanuel Rousseau, Sets and Costumes – Slawek Narwid

Festival Director – Gemma Tipton

 

In 2017, the festival staged a new production of Donizetti’s much-loved comic opera L’Elisir d’Amore, directed by Dieter Kaegi. Performed over two nights, the production unfolded in the stunning surroundings of Lismore Castle’s Stables and Gardens, offering audiences a truly memorable operatic experience.

L’Elisir d’Amore

Cast: Anthony Kearns – Nemorino (Tenor), Majella Cullagh – Adina (Soprano), Damon Nestor Ploumis – Dr. Dulcamara (Bass), Sandra Oman – Giannetta (Soprano), Rory Musgrave – Belcore (Baritone)

Chorus: LOF Chorus comprising 12 students from DIT, RIAM and Cork School of Music

Orchestra: Lismore Opera Festival Chamber Orchestra

Creative Team: Director – Dieter Kaegi, Producer / Festival Manager – Jennifer O’Connell, Conductor – Marco Zambelli, Set Designer – Martin Boylan, Hair and Make-up – Maeve Readman, Costumes – Slawek Narwid

In 2016, the festival presented a vibrant production of Così fan tutte in the familiar and beautiful surroundings of Lismore Castle’s Gardens and Stables. Performed by the LOF Chamber Orchestra, the opera was sung in both Italian and English, with updated English recitatives incorporating witty contemporary references, while the arias remained in the original Italian. The stables setting inspired a fresh interpretation of the work, described by Michael Dervan in The Irish Times as “a real coup de théâtre.”

Così fan tutte

Cast: Damon Nestor Ploumis – Don Alfonso, Gavan Ring – Guglielmo, Michelle Daly – Dorabella, Rachel Croash – Fiordiligi, Sandra Oman – Despina, Nicholas Ransley – Ferrando

Orchestra: Lismore Opera Festival Chamber Orchestra
Reduced orchestration provided by Pocket Publications
Conducted by Killian Farrell
Leader – Kenneth Rice
Violin – Marian Power
Viola – Niamh Roache
Cello – Michelle Mason
Double Bass – David Wickla
Flute – Mairead English
Oboe – Jenny Magee
Clarinet – Ronan O’Sullivan
Bassoon – Sinéad Frost
French Horn – Liam Daly

Creative Team: Artistic Director – Dieter Kaegi, Producer / Festival Manager – Jennifer O’Connell, Production Manager – Aidan Wallace, Sound – Benny Lynch, Lighting – Richard O’Neill, Sets Construction – Des Fitzsimons, Costumes – Slawek Narwid, Wigs, Hair & Make-Up – Maeve Readman, Wardrobe Mistress – Mary O’Connell