In the spring of 1742, German-born composer George Frideric Händel sat down at a harpsichord in Neal’s Music Hall in Dublin’s medieval Fishamble Street and led the debut performance of his now famous oratorio 'Messiah'. Since then, Dublin has held a strong affinity with opera and if you love the genre or are simply trying to impress someone who does, you’ll be pleased to note that Dublin will present you with many fine opportunities to spend a cultured evening at the opera.
The Dublin International Opera Festival typically takes place over a week in September at the Gaiety Theatre in South King Street and would feature fantastic productions that incorporate a breathtaking combination of singing, staging and drama – complete with a star-studded cast. The Dublin City Council’s Arts Office also seems to be hell-bent upon maintaining the city’s reputation as a cultural destination, and summertime strollers will frequently be regaled by an impromptu operatic performance thanks to the open-air opera concerts.
These performances would usually take place in a venue such as the Amphitheatre in Wood Quay and entrance would be free. This would be ideal for anyone wishing to give opera a try without actually committing any money towards the experiment. That way, they can be exposed to pristine performances of such well-known works as Mozart’s 'Cosi Fan Tutti', Händel’s 'Alcina,' Puccini’s 'La Boheme', and Rossini’s 'The Barber of Seville' to name but a few. The Dublin Fringe Festival every September has also been known to crank out the occasional operatic number while any touring individual performers or production companies would be bound to include a few dates in Dublin’s National Concert Hall as part of their itinerary.
