10/05/2004

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

South Dublin Celebrates “An Odyssey of Light Opera”  at County Hall Tallaght

On 13^th May at 7.30pm

From La Scala to Tallaght

From the world stages of La Scala and Covent Garden, South Dublin County Council presents An Odyssey of Light Opera, in a programme that ranges from Puccini to Bernstein, and the most dramatic and romantic moments of the great music productions; the operatic arias of La Bohéme, La Traviata and Westside Story, with songs from Naples and Vienna.

This concert, which takes place in County Hall, Tallaght, on Thursday 13th May at 7.30pm, is part of a programme of events to celebrate South Dublin County Council’s 10th Anniversary. Through the arts office, an ensemble of performers have been brought together for this once-off celebratory event: Anthony Norton (Tenor), Elizabeth Woods (Soprano), David Wray (Piano) and Ellen Cranitch (Flute).

All are international performers including Ellen Cranitch, flautist and composer based in Rathfarnham, South Dublin County. She has composed music for many theatre and dance companies and is part of the group Khanda, who play music from Ireland, India and the

Middle East in a jazz idiom. She was the composer/performer in Tom Murphy’s adaptation of The Drunkard, and is also associated with Coisceim, and Druid Theatre Company. Ellen is the presenter of the traditional music programme Grace Notes, which is broadcast on Lyric FM. She is a founder, with actress Nuala Hayes, of the Two Chairs storytelling company.

The evening will be lead by Tenor Anthony Norton, who is probably best known as one of the Three Irish Tenors who tour extensively in the United States, Canada and Britain. Anthony sang for a number of years in the choruses of Scottish Opera and Teatro Alla

Scala, Milano. Here in Ireland he has performed with all the major companies and ensembles including Britten’s “Serenade For Tenor, Horn and Strings” with the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton Of Alexander Annissimov, with whom he has also performed the tenor solo in Orff’s “Carmina Burana”

Elizabeth Woods, Soprano, has appeared in numerous recitals throughout the world; in the Lebanon, at the Aldeburgh Festival and at the RDS Concert Hall in Dublin for the Friends of Wexford Festival annual recital. Other appearances have included “Theatre

Nights” for RTE in The National concert Hall, Dublin and singing on the cat-walk for the Tristan Webber Show at London Fashion Week. Future engagements include, Garden Opera’s forthcoming tour of Carmen to Kenya. Elizabeth recently recorded with the RTE

Concert Orchestra an album of the music featured in James Joyce’s Ulyses, this is soon to be released to celebrate the novel’s centenary.

David Wray, pianist and musical director in Opera and Music Theatre has lived in Ireland since 1991 and has worked with many major opera companies. He formed the

Leinster Opera Studio with Dr. Veronica Dunne, and works regularly for RTE in both television and radio and has worked extensively in Irish theatre, including

the Abbey Theatre. He is currently Musical Director for ‘The Three Irish Tenors’, with whom he has toured nationally, the UK and the USA coast to coast!

Admission is free to this event. Bookings can be made by contacting: 01-414 9000 ext 3350 before 5pm or emailing pdavis@sdublincoco.ie