IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA – ROSSINI [Sung in English]
Presented on Dec 3, 5, 9, 13 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season
Frank O’Brien – Figaro
Della Jones – Rosina
Patrick Power – Almaviva
Peter McBrien – Bartolo
Aurio Tomicich – Basilio
Roland Purcell – Fiorello
Deirdre Cooling-Nolan – Berta
Albert Rosen / Bryden Thomson[Dec 9, 13] – Conductor
Paddy Ryan – Producer
CARMEN – BIZET
Presented on Dec 4, 6, 7, 11 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season
Rodica Mitrica Badircea – Carmen
Constantin Ene – Don José
Virginia Kerr – Micaëla
Dan Zancu – Escamillo
Anne-Maria Smith – Frasquita
Carolann Lowe – Mercédès
Peter McBrien – Dancaïre
Brendan Cavanagh – Remendado
Pompei Harasteanu – Zuniga
Frank O’Brien – Moralès
Vladimir Conta – Conductor
A E Arbore – Producer
EUGENE ONEGIN – TCHAIKOVSKY
Presented on Dec 10, 12, 14 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Winter Season
Emil Iurascu – Onegin
Monica Teodorescu – Tatyana
Ionel Voineag – Lensky
Pompei Harasteanu – Gremin
Patricia Bardon – Olga
Ruth Maher – Larina
Deirdre Cooling-Nolan – Filippyevna
Brendan Cavanagh – Triquet
Nigel Williams – Zaretsky
Ervin Acel – Conductor
A E Arbore – Producer
THE WILLIAM O’KELLY MEMORIAL RECITAL 1985
Suzanne Murphy (soprano) with Ingrid Surgenor (piano)
National Concert Hall Dublin 15th November 1985
In November 1985 David Collopy was appointed the first DGOS administrator; he was Wexford-born and had filled a similar post with Wexford Festival Opera. It now appeared only a matter of time until an artistic director was appointed, although the fact remained that there was still stern resistance by some members who argued that there was simply no need for one. In a special report commissioned by the Arts Council as far back as the mid-seventies the society was urged to appoint an artistic director but at the time the council was told that Maestro Annovazzi was acting in this capacity and that the society’s president, Professor Anthony Hughes, was also musical advisor. In fact, chairman Bill O’Kelly told one daily newspaper journalist that they were a democratic society and would never renounce their democracy in favour of any sort of ‘director’. It could be said however that since the death of Annovazzi the musical climate had changed and there was an urgent need for an artistic director … The winter season of that year was notable for a number of reasons: soprano Virginia Kerr’s debut as Micaela in “Carmen” and Patricia Bardon’s first Olga (“Eugene Onegin”) for the society. Trained in London, Ms Kerr had first come to the notice of Irish audiences when she sang Donna Anna in Irish National Opera’s production of “Don Giovanni” and the critics predicted a bright future for her. She was to confirm this as Micaela. Likewise, Patricia Bardon showed further vocal and dramatic promise as Olga and I remember she told me at the time of the overwhelming feeling singing the part gave her. She looked forward to singing it again when she was more mature. The year closed on a high note for Frank O’Brien when he sang Figaro in Paddy Ryan’s lively production of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” in English. It was a strong cast that included Della Jones – a natural Rosina – Patrick Power, a sweet-toned Almaviva, and Aurio Tomicich, a marvellous Don Basilio and like the rest of the cast singing in English. Although Rossini’s delightful comedy has never been Paddy Ryan’s favourite opera to direct (‘too much business’) he thought that Frank O’Brien matched up well to the international cast. As the year drew to a close the society still seemed a ship without a captain and lacking real direction. How long more could it put off appointing an artistic director of strength and vision who would point the way forward? It was a question that still divided the society.
(Extracted from “Love and Music: The Glorious History of the Dublin Grand Opera Society” by Gus Smith, 1998)
Opera in Ireland 