Downpatrick opera star Mary on stage in Belfast

Downpatrick opera star Mary on stage in Belfast

1 February 2012

DOWNPATRICK’S newest opera star, Mary McCabe, packed the house at Belfast’s Out to Lunch Festival this week.

Mary and three other members of Northern Ireland Opera’s Young Artists’ programme performed classic arias from well-known operas such as ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ and ‘The Merry Widow’, together with more unusual pieces illustrating the great operatic themes of love, tragedy, revenge and betrayal.

The sell-out event at the Black Box saw the audience visibly moved by the artistry of Mary and her three fellow singers, Páidí Ó Dubháin, Gemma Prince and Marcella Walsh.

Festival Director Sean Kelly said he was delighted by the lunchtime crowd’s response. “This is definitely something we’ll do again,” he said. “The audience today proves that people are hungry for opera presented in an affordable and accessible way.”

The four young singers were selected as the first participants in Northern Ireland Opera’s Young Artists’ Programme, giving them a year of coaching, career guidance and performance opportunities.

“All four of us are learning so much, and performing today in front of a sell-out audience has been yet another highlight in a most

amazing year,” said Mary, who recently graduated from Queen’s University with first class honours in Music and French.

For the past two years Mary has been heavily involved in the Spark Opera Company, Belfast, including a lead role in a commissioned ten-minute bite-size contemporary opera by Eduard Zatriqi.

She has already benefited from a masterclass with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and vocal coaching at the English National Opera.

Next up for Mary and the other members of Northern Ireland Opera’s Young Artists’ programme is the opportunity to understudy roles for Northern Ireland Opera’s forthcoming production of ‘The Turn of the Screw’, Benjamin Britten’s spine-chilling adaptation of the Henry James novella. Mary will be understudying the role of Flora.

“I’m really excited to be part of this production, and I’m particularly hoping to see lots of local supporters when we bring it to the

Lyric in Belfast,” she said. I’d really encourage anyone who’s never been to an opera to give it a go.”