Northern Ireland Opera today announces Principal Cast and Creatives in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece Eugene Onégin this September in Belfast. Based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic novel in verse, one of the most lyrical and beautiful pieces of literature adapted for opera, this stunning production will be directed by the renowned national opera company’s Artistic Director Cameron Menzies (Nominated Best Director for Into The Woods Irish Times’ Irish Theatre Awards 2022 and Winner of three Paris Short Film Awards for film Old Friends and Other Days).
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Update 31 August 2024
We had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at rehearsals for Northern Ireland Opera’s upcoming production of Eugene Onégin.
This is going to be an amazing show featuring local artists supported, directed and choreographed by international award winning talent.
Directed by Cameron Menzies, and conducted by Dominic Limburg, this fabulous work by Tchaikovsky, based on Alexander Pushkin’s classic novel in verse, is one of the most lyrical and beautiful pieces of literature adapted for opera.
It tells the story of how love, friendship and fidelity collide with devastating consequences, through passion, pride, a moment’s madness, a duel and a true love lost.
Starring Sarah Richmond, Carolyn Dobbin, Jenny Bourke and Mary McCabe in the roles of Olga, Madame Larina, Filipevna and Tatyana respectively, with Baritone Yuriy Yurchuk in the titular role, Norman Reinhardt as Onégin’s friend turned rival Vladimir Lensky, Aaron O’Hare as Monsieur Triquet, and Niall Anderson as Prince Gremin.
The production team includes Set Designer Niall McKeever, Costume Designer Gillian Lennox, and Movement Director Jennifer Rooney.
Eugene Onégin will be sung in the original language and the story can be easily followed by a subtitled translation on stage.
Tickets are priced at
£17.50 – £57.50 available for GOH and from the link on our website
Watch out for our Giveaway to get two tickets for the performance on Thursday 19th September at 7.30.
Update 12 August – Rehearsals start with 1 month to go
Sarah Richmond (Mezzo Soprano), Carolyn Dobbin (Mezzo Soprano), Jenny Bourke (Mezzo Soprano) and Mary McCabe (Soprano) are cast in the roles of Olga, Madame Larina, Filipevna and Tatyana respectively. Notably, McCabe who stars as Tatyana makes her operatic Principal mainstage debut following a long relationship with the company covering Violetta in La Traviata 2022 and her acclaimed performance in the one-woman opera La Voix Humaine, Poulenc.
Directed by Cameron Menzies. Conducted by Dominic Limburg
Featuring the Chorus of Northern Ireland Opera And the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera
Venue: The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Dates: 4 dates: 14, 17, 19, 21 September 2024
Time: 7.30pm
Prices: From £17.50 to £57.50 including booking fee.
Booking Link: https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/eugene-onegin/ Address: Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR
Love, friendship and fidelity collide with devastating consequences.
A story of passion, pride, a moment’s madness, a duel and a true love lost.
Marking Northern Ireland Opera’s fourth full scale operatic production during Menzies’ tenure, Eugene Onégin will be performed in the magnificent setting of Belfast’s Grand Opera House from 14 – 21 September 2024. The company welcomes internationally renowned conductor Dominic Limburg on his first engagement in Belfast (DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN; BEETHOVEN ORCHESTRA, BONN; STAATSTOPER, HANNOVER). He will lead the Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera, a new ensemble of local instrumentalists brought together for the first time in an exciting fresh development for the company.
Performing in the Principal female roles of Tatyana, Madame Larina, Olga and Filipevna are Mary McCabe (Soprano), Carolyn Dobbin (Mezzo Soprano), Sarah Richmond (Mezzo Soprano) and Jenny Bourke (Mezzo Soprano) respectively. Notably, this production will be Bourke’s and Richmond’s main stage debuts with Northern Ireland Opera while McCabe makes her operatic Principal mainstage debut in the role of Tatyana following a long relationship with the company covering Violetta in La Traviata 2022 and her acclaimed performance in the one-woman opera La Voix Humaine, Poulenc.
Baritone Yuriy Yurchuk, who performed in the company’s production of La Boheme in 2021 and in 2022 with La Traviata– the Grand Opera House’s fastest selling-opera ever- returns in this titular role. Yurchuk is fast becoming widely associated with this opera having performed it on several occasions including most recently at the New National Theatre in Tokyo earlier this year and at the Royal Danish Opera Denmark and La Monnaie, Brussels in 2023
Tenor Norman Reinhardt (Magic Flute, ENO) is cast as Onégin’s friend turned rival Vladimir Lensky and Aaron O’Hare (Tenor) is cast as Monsieur Triquet and Niall Anderson (Baritone) as Prince Gremin. Northern Ireland Opera’s 35-strong locally based chorus will join this production to present some of the most rousing and well-loved chorus pieces in the operatic canon.
The creative talents reuniting once more to work with the company include Northern Irish Set Designer Niall McKeever (TOSCA, LA TRAVIATA, INTO THE WOODS,TRANSLATIONS) in this fourth collaboration, rounding this exceptional creative team is Costume Designer Gillian Lennox (TOSCA, PINOCCHIO, DR SCROGGY’S WAR, GOOD VIBRATIONS, ALICE: THE MUSICAL, DOUBLE CROSS, ROUGH GIRLS, DARK OF THE MOON, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Lyric, Belfast); Lighting Designer Kevin Treacy (INTO THE WOODS, LA BOHÈME, LA TRAVIATA); Movement Director Jennifer Rooney (INTO THE WOODS,, OLD FRIENDS AND OTHER DAYS, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, THE JUNIPER TREE) and Wigs and Make-up Designer Nuala Campbell (LA BOHÈME, INTO THE WOODS, LA TRAVIATA, OLD FRIENDS AND OTHER DAYS, THE SALON SERIES).
Menzies’ timeless vision for this production will draw on influences from the fallen imperial opulence of the Tzars to the communist era aesthetic and futuristic utilitarian worlds. He says: “It’s such a thrill to be staging this moving and potent masterpiece which looks deeply into the soul of human nature in all its varied ways.
I am very proud to be working with a highly talented and sophisticated cast of singers and immense creative forces, all masters in their own disciplines. At NI Opera we take great care nurturing and promoting local artists into main stage debuts, developing our Chorus by performing these great compositions and to be able to attract international talent to come and work with the company. Onégin is set to be a production that you won’t want to miss.”
Ian Wilson, Grand Opera House Chief Executive adds: “We’re delighted to welcome Northern Ireland Opera back to the Grand Opera House for the company’s third season under the inspired direction of Cameron Menzies. The company delivered ambitious and spectacular productions of La Traviata and Tosca at the theatre and will no doubt so the same for Tchaikovsky’s timeless work Eugene Onégin.”
“Beyond the company’s outstanding work on stage, we are also pleased to partner with Northern Ireland Opera on a programme of education and outreach activities as, together, we broaden the appeal of opera, one of the oldest artforms, particularly to young people and those who do not have the opportunity to engage with the arts.”
Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music and Opera, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to be principal funder of Northern Ireland Opera who make their return to the Grand Opera House stage this September for operatic masterpiece Eugene Onégin. We’re delighted to once again see the cast feature a wealth of local artists, offering amazing professional development opportunities for them to work alongside world-class talent.”
Previous Praise for Northern Ireland Opera’s work
‘Thrills and chills in Northern Ireland Opera’s stirring new production.’ The Irish Times (Tosca 2023)
‘An intelligent new production from NI Opera of Puccini’s masterpiece is full of vocal intensity’ Opera Now (Tosca 2023)
‘Northern Ireland Opera’s La Traviata suggests that the artistic director Cameron Menzies has at long last realised the region’s ambition to have a grand opera company truly deserving of the name.’ Opera Magazine (La Traviata 2022).
‘One of the Classical Music highlights of 2022’ La Traviata ranked no. 2 in The Observer, December 2022. Winner Best Production- Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2022 for Into The Woods. The only time a
musical production has won this award in 30 years of the awards existing.
‘Storms along with such irresistible zest’, 4 Stars, Lyric, Belfast. The Times (Into The Woods February 2022).
‘Opera at its Finest’, 5 Stars. Opera Now Magazine, Dec 2021 at Belfast’s Carlisle Memorial Church (La Bohème, September 2021).
The cinematic experience Old Friends And Other Days has been the winning film at four independent film festivals including Paris Short Film Awards 2021.
Venue: The Grand Opera House, Belfast
Dates: 4 dates: 14, 17, 19, 21 September 2024
Time: 7.30pm
Prices: From £17.50 to £57.50 including booking fee.
Booking Link: https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/eugene-onegin/ Address: Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7HR
Box office: 028 9024 1919
Twitter: @NIOpera Insta: @northernirelandopera Facebook: @NorthernIrelandOpera
Principal Cast Biographies
Niall Anderson
Originally from Fife, Niall Anderson began his vocal studies at the Royal Academy of Music, before joining the Académie at the Opéra national de Paris, where his engagements included Krzysztof Warlikowski’s production of Bernstein’s A quiet place at the Palais Garnier, conducted by Kent Nagano, as well as Ballades du Nord, Classiques Américains and Concert de fêtes at the Amphi- théâtre Olivier Messiaen – Opera Bastille.
Engagements include Escamillo in Peter Brook’s La Tragédie de Carmen at the Atelier Lyrique de Tourcoing, Junius The Rape of Lu- cretia at the Teatro Petruzzelli Bari, Second Priest / Second Armed Man Die Zauberflöte for the Opéra national de Paris, Allazim Zaide for Angers Nantes Opera and Opéra de Rennes, Elgar The Light of Life with Cairo Celebration Choir & Orchestra and Mozart Requiem on tour with Orchestre de Pau Pays de Béarn.
Jenny Bourke
Jenny is a music graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Jenny is a recognised and established vocal tutor within Northern Ireland, recently qualifying as a Vocal Health First Aider. Her personal performances have taken her to New York, Beijing,Paris and all over the UK and Ireland. She has performed as a soloist at several recital events for NIO, Chorus for La Traviata and Tosca, covered the role of Flora Bervoix in La Traviata and sang in the Salon Series ‘Seawrack’ and ‘Les Nuits D’ete.’ More recently she sang the role of the Stepmother in the company’s well received production of The Juniper Tree by Philip Glass and Robert Moran. Jenny is a member of the Ulster Consort.
Carolyn Dobbin
Northern Irish mezzo-soprano Carolyn Dobbin graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, was an Associate Artist at Welsh National Opera and spent two years as soloist at Luzern Theatre, Switzerland.
In 2023 she performed Marquis of Berkenfield in La fille du Regiment and the role of Lene in La Ciociara both at The Wexford Inter- national Festival Opera, toured with Cornelia in Giulio Cesare for ETO, and performed the role of Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer with Sir Bryn Terfel at Grange Park.
Her 2024 performances will include, Siegrune in Die Walküre for Longborough Festival Operas Ring Cycle, She will also perform The sorceress in Dido and Aeneas with Akademy of Alte Musik Berlin Baroque Orchestra and Christian Curnyn in Germany, Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, Dvorak Stabat Mater with the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Jac van Steen and Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer for Irish National Opera in 2025.
She has performed extensively in opera, oratorio and in solo recitals, including appearances with RTVE Madrid, BBC TV & RADIO 3, RTE, Operavision, ARTtv and Swiss radio, performances at Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, Scipio in Caligula and Hannah in The Passenger both for English National Opera, The Witch in Hansel and Gretel for Irish National Opera and Jacqui in Conor Mitchell’s ‘message for Marty’ in 20 shots of Opera for INO , The Page in Salome and the award winning film ‘Old friends and other days for NIopera, Teodata, Bradamante, Charlotte, Amastre, Penelope for English Touring Opera and Lu- zerner Theatre, Polina in Pique Dame and Maddalena in Rigoletto both for Grange Park Opera, Suzuki in Madam Butterfly in ischia and Florence Italy with the South Bank Symphonia, Nicklaus in Hoffman, madam Popova in The Bear, Concepcion in L’heure Es- panol and Mrs Peachum, Dritte Dame and Meg Page for Opera Holland Park, Annina and Flora in La Traviata both for Stadttheater Bern Switzerland and Carmen at the Royal Albert Hall and at Luzern Theatre Switzerland, Fenena in Nabucco for Dorset
Opera, Smeton in Anna Bolena for Longborough and Andronico / Tamerlano for Capella Cracoviensis Kracow/Poland. She has been kindly awarded in 2024 by the Arts Council of N Ireland
Mary McCabe
Mary McCabe is a soprano hailing from Downpatrick, N.Ireland. With Northern Ireland Opera she has performed the following: ‘Mademoiselle Silberklang’ in Mozart’s The Impresario (Walled City Festival), ‘First Maiden’ in Puccini’s Turandot (Grand Opera House), ‘Belinda’ in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, ‘Violetta’ (cover) in La Traviata (Grand Opera House), ‘Rapunzel’ and ‘Cinderella’s Mother’ in ‘Into the Woods’ (Lyric Theatre) and ‘Elle’ in their production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine. Mary featured in the award-winning short film Old Friends and Other Days directed by Cameron Menzies, NI Opera. She also performed in concert on Sky Arts in ‘Live at the Waterfront’ with NI Opera and as their soloist in Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Ulster Orchestra (Ulster Hall) and soprano soloist in Stanford’s ‘Requiem’ with Belfast Philharmonic Choir and the Ulster Orchestra (Ulster Hall).
Mary graduated First Class in Music and French from The Queen’s University of Belfast and with Distinction in her Masters degree from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Aaron O’Hare
Irish tenor Aaron O’Hare transitioned from baritone in 2022. As an Associate Artist with Welsh National Opera, he sang the title role in Don Giovanni on tour, Stárek Jenůfa and March Hare/White Knight in Will Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In 2021 he sang Schaunard La bohème (Northern Ireland Opera) and new commission Elsewhere, composed by Michael Gallen and produced in Ireland with support from the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
Aaron completed his BMus (Hons) at the University of Ulster and MMus at the RNCM. Aaron joined Garsington Opera’s Alvarez Young Artist’s programme in 2016 and was an Opera Holland Park Young Artist in 2018. He played Mike in John Adam’s I was look- ing at the Ceiling and then I saw the Sky for the studio of Opera Lyon in 2020.
Norman Reinhardt
American tenor Norman Reinhardt is one of the world’s leading operatic artists. During the 2023/24 season Norman made his de- buts in Shenzhen, China as Don Jose in Carmen in collaboration with the Shenzhen Opera and Dance Theater and the Staatsoper Hamburg, followed by his debut in London at the English National Opera as Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Later this year he will sing his first Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterly in Japan. In previous seasons Norman has appeared at the Salzburg Festi- val, Theater an der Wien, Teatro Real, Semperoper Dresden, Berlin State Opera, Paris Champs Elysees, Festival Baden Baden, Hou- ston Grand Opera, Hamburg State Opera, and many others. In addition to his extensive career as a soloist, Norman is also co- founder of Living Opera, a multimedia startup in the opera and classical music space.
Sarah Richmond
Winner of the 2021 Toronto Mozart Vocal Competition and finalist at the 2022 Montserrat Caballé Competition in Teatro Real, mezzo Sarah Richmond is known for emotional engagement, with Opera Now reviewing “…her consistently supple and finely shaped coloratura portrayed the kaleidoscope of feelings endured by her character. Brava.”
Prominent conductors of solo engagements include Sir Mark Elder, Vasily Petrenko, Paul Daniel CBE and Michael Collins MBE. In- ternational credits include Monte Carlo and Soriano nel Cimino. Sarah gave a recital with Florent Mourier for the Royal Opera House and was broadcast performing in their first Create Day.
2023/24 roles include Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Idamante in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Komponist in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Rosina in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and the premiere of Helen in Mitchell’s The Headless Soldier. Sarah is supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Yuriy Yurchuk
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Yuriy studied vocal performance at DePaul University in Chicago and was a member of the Jette Parker Young Artist Programme and a principal artist at the Royal Opera House in London. At the Royal Opera House, he performed in numerous roles including Marcello in La Bohème, Angelotti in Tosca, Barone Douphol in La Traviata, Blaize in The Lighthouse, Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Schlemil in Tales of Hoffmann, Germano in La Scala di Seta, and others.
Yuriy performed the title role in Eugene Onégin at the National Opera of Ukraine, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, and New National Theatre, Tokyo. His other operatic appearances include Marcello in La Bohème with the Royal Opera House, Opernhaus Zürich, Northern Ireland Opera, and Opera North, Carlo Gérard in Andrea Chénier with the Chelsea Opera Group, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut with the Opernhaus Zürich, Count Rodolfo in Margherita with the Wexford Festival, and Giorgio Germont in La Traviata for Northern Ireland Opera and Opera de Bauge.
Among his future plans are the title role in Don Giovanni for the Savonlinna Festival and Rodrigo in Don Carlo for Opera de Bauge. Yuriy is a prize winner of the Queen Sonja International Vocal Competition in Norway, Montserrat Caballé Vocal Competition in Spain, and Ottavio Ziino Competition in Rome, Italy. He also holds degrees in finance and accounting.
