MID-WEST OPERA
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The Old Maid and the Thief ( 2015)

Action shots from our 2015 production of Menotti's wonderful radio opera, The Old Maid and the Thief, with mezzo soprano Dara McMahon taking on the role of the old maid Miss Todd, Soprano Maria Hughes as Laetitia and baritone Tim Shaffrey as Bob, the thief.
© Frances Marshall Photography
July 11th 2015 - Castalia Hall, Ballytobin, Co. Kilkenny
in association with Opera at Castalia
Miss Todd: Dara McMahon ( Mezzo Soprano)
Laetitia: Maria Hughes (Soprano)
Miss Pinkerton: Muireann Mulrooney (Soprano)
Bob: Tim Shaffrey (Baritone)
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly
Set / Lighting: Owen Gilhooly
Enquiries: opera@owengilhooly.com
© Frances Marshall Photography
July 11th 2015 - Castalia Hall, Ballytobin, Co. Kilkenny
in association with Opera at Castalia
Miss Todd: Dara McMahon ( Mezzo Soprano)
Laetitia: Maria Hughes (Soprano)
Miss Pinkerton: Muireann Mulrooney (Soprano)
Bob: Tim Shaffrey (Baritone)
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly
Set / Lighting: Owen Gilhooly
Enquiries: opera@owengilhooly.com
Images from our most recent production of Riders to the Sea at Opera at Castalia 2014
Maurya - Sarah Ellen Murphy
Cathleen - Rebecca Rodgers
Nora - Sarah Brady
Bartley - Sean Boylan
The Woman - Kerry Jane Hurley
Director: Owen Gilhooly
Musical Director: Michael Young
Photography: Frances Marshall Photography
Review: Cathy Desmond
The most substantial piece was Mid West Opera's production of Riders to the Sea by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I so rarely hear a contralto voice and Sarah Ellen Murphy, was terrific in conveying overwhelming sorrow and grief as Maurya who loses everything to the cruel sea. I was impressed with newcomer baritone Sean Boylan and soprano Rebecca Rodgers had a notable dramatic instinct for getting her lines across as Kathleen. Michael Young at piano gave the most sympathetic accompaniment of the evening particularly lovely in the final choral 'keening' element of the play as young Bartley is waked.
Previous Productions:
2013
Menotti: The Medium
Madam Flora: Sarah Ellen Murphy
Monica: Margaret Bridge
Mrs Nolan: Maria Kelly
Mrs Gobineau: Deirdre McCabe
Mr Gobineau: Kevin Neville
Toby: Callan Coughlan
A Voice: Kerry Jane Hurley
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly
2012
Holst: Savitri
Savitri: Jean Wallace
Satyavan: Eoin Hynes
Death: Richard Hayes
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly/ Alan O' Concubhair
Maurya - Sarah Ellen Murphy
Cathleen - Rebecca Rodgers
Nora - Sarah Brady
Bartley - Sean Boylan
The Woman - Kerry Jane Hurley
Director: Owen Gilhooly
Musical Director: Michael Young
Photography: Frances Marshall Photography
Review: Cathy Desmond
The most substantial piece was Mid West Opera's production of Riders to the Sea by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I so rarely hear a contralto voice and Sarah Ellen Murphy, was terrific in conveying overwhelming sorrow and grief as Maurya who loses everything to the cruel sea. I was impressed with newcomer baritone Sean Boylan and soprano Rebecca Rodgers had a notable dramatic instinct for getting her lines across as Kathleen. Michael Young at piano gave the most sympathetic accompaniment of the evening particularly lovely in the final choral 'keening' element of the play as young Bartley is waked.
Previous Productions:
2013
Menotti: The Medium
Madam Flora: Sarah Ellen Murphy
Monica: Margaret Bridge
Mrs Nolan: Maria Kelly
Mrs Gobineau: Deirdre McCabe
Mr Gobineau: Kevin Neville
Toby: Callan Coughlan
A Voice: Kerry Jane Hurley
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly
2012
Holst: Savitri
Savitri: Jean Wallace
Satyavan: Eoin Hynes
Death: Richard Hayes
Musical Director: Michael Young
Director: Owen Gilhooly/ Alan O' Concubhair