Enjoy songs from the stage past and present with the Salon Series at the MAC
Whether you are an opera buff or a lover of music theatre, NI Opera’s The Salon Series – a set of six productions of one-act performances including opera, cabaret, Irish art-song, German Lieder, French Chanson and music theatre – has something for everyone who enjoys music across a variety of genres.
The Salon Series, which sees Northern Ireland Opera and the MAC collaborating for the first time in 10 years, comprises six individual performances over the next few months showcasing local artists from across the island of Ireland. This unique series includes music written by well-loved composers like Mahler, Berlioz, Poulenc and Mussorgsky as well as Gershwin, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Rogers and Hammerstein and even the legendary Irish composer Hamilton Harty. This series begins this week with Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine (The Human Voice).
Simon Magill, Creative Director for Live Events at the MAC said: “The Salon Series was created and is performed in a way that appeals to and is accessible to as wide an audience as possible – from opera aficionados, lovers of cabaret and music theatre, and those who are curious about opera and different versions of storytelling through music.
“The breadth of musical styles within The Salon Series directly reflects what is at the heart of the MAC. We strive to offer audiences a wide range of choice, whether that’s in our galleries or on our stages. The MAC is a place where people can experience the familiar and the new, so these shows - which give a taste of the passion, flamboyance and drama in music, using a variety of musical genres – are exactly that.”
The Salon Series at the MAC commences on the 19 October with French composer Francis Poulenc’s ‘La Voix Humaine’ (The Human Voice). Based on a play of the same name by the multi-talented writer Jean Cocteau, over 50 minutes this one-woman opera charts the last phone call of a woman whose lover has left her for another love. This production stars the extraordinary talents of Downpatrick Soprano Mary McCabe and Pianist David Quigley.
Cameron Menzies, Artistic Director of NI Opera added, “Northern Ireland Opera is delighted to be returning to the MAC with The Salon Series – six one-act productions ranging from opera, art song, chanson to music theatre and cabaret. This series is designed to showcase a broader range of genre, musical styles and composers that works in conjunction with our acclaimed work in ‘Grand Opera’ such as Tosca. It allows the audience to experience the intimacy of live music-making with these costumed, staged versions of some of the most wonderful vocal music ever written.
“Our return with The Salon Series marks the first time that the national opera company has performed in this fantastic venue since 2013 and we can’t wait to bring these exciting productions to the MAC’s audiences.”
Other events in the series include:
- ‘Sea Wrack’, Irish Art Songs, performed by soprano Susie Gibbons, mezzo soprano Jenny Bourke, tenor Michael Bell, baritone Seamus Brady and pianist Frasier Hickland
- ‘The Lost Boy’ Street Scenes and Soldiers Tales. Performed by vocalist Conor Quinn and Darren Day Piano.
- ‘Les Nuits D’Été’ (Berlioz), performed by mezzo soprano Jenny Bourke and pianist Bryan Evans, and À Chloris and a selection of mélodie by Reynaldo Hahn performed by soprano Anna Gregg
- ‘Songs and Dances of Death’ (Mussorgsky) performed by baritone Brendan Collins and Kindertotenlieder (Mahler) performed by mezzo soprano Margaret Bridge, and pianist Tristan Russcher
- ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ performed by soprano Wendy Ferguson and pianist Ruth McGinley.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit The Salon Series.
