Photo Flash: First Look at The Belfast Ensemble's World Premiere of THE MUSICIAN: A CHILDREN'S HORROR OPERA
The Musician is stylishly staged using the latest in technological innovation, a medieval story told in a 21st century way.
Conor Mitchell's darkly comic children's opera retells a familiar story: 'who was the Pied Piper? and 'Why did the rats all dance to his tune?' This world premiere from the award-winning Belfast Ensemble brings opera home to Northern Ireland. Musically extraordinary, this cautionary tale explores themes of nature, nurture and just desserts!
Check out photos below!
The Musician is stylishly staged using the latest in technological innovation, a medieval story told in a 21st century way. The international cast exist at the foreground in a bubble of colour and light, accompanied by a socially-distanced 16-piece orchestra, glowing and visible. Filmed live for Belfast Children's Festival in the Lyric Theatre Belfast, this production stands as proof that great theatre can happen even in a pandemic and marks a new direction for opera in Northern Ireland. The Musician gives a message of hope for young audiences.
The Belfast Ensemble's take on Grimm's fairy tale The Pied Piper of Hamelin gives the story a horror prequel harking back to the legend's roots. A musician in the making is mistreated by the people around him. With the power to control mice and rats with his melodies, will he choose to help the town or take bloody revenge? A tale of poetic justice at a time when artists are in crisis, this is a Covid-reactive production that asks children big questions about art and society.
Multi award-winning opera/music-theatre composer, librettist and stage director, Conor Mitchell, who is Artistic Director of the Belfast Ensemble said, The Musician is the only Northern Irish opera created in lockdown. It's really the company's candle in the dark for children everywhere showing that anything is possible with imagination.
The Belfast Ensemble is one of the UK's most vibrant music-theatre companies. 2019 saw their ground-breaking chamber opera Abomination: a DUP Opera win Best Opera at the Irish Times Theatre Awards and be listed in the Top Ten Classical Works of 2019 alongside works from the Royal Opera House and others.
Get Broadway News on WhatsApp
Receive the latest updates, breaking news, and exclusive coverage from Broadway directly in WhatsApp.
Love Theater in Ireland? Join The Community!
Whether you've got past experience writing about theater or just starting, the BroadwayWorld Community offers a unique opportunity to become a champion for your local arts community, helping raise awareness of local offerings and adding another local voice to the conversation at a time arts coverage is shrinking in the press across the continent. Join us and become a pivotal part of the movement that celebrates and promotes the arts in the digital age.
Learn More
|
Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage Bord Gais Energy Theatre (3/02-3/13) |
|
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams The Everyman (8/20-8/22) |
|
Dracula Gaiety Theatre (11/03-11/07) |
|
|
Mná na hÉireann Ambassador Theatre (10/14-10/16) |
|
Disney Princess: the Concert 3Olympia Theatre (4/21-4/22) |
|
|
Steve Steinman''s Bat! Bat Out of Hell 50th Anniversary Tour 3Olympia Theatre (10/20-10/20) |
|
Celtic Exodus Musical Mansion House, The Round Room (7/22-8/14) |
|
Cats Bord Gais Energy Theatre (3/16-3/20) |
|
|
Give My Head Peace Vicar Street (4/04-4/04) |
|
Stories from the Sea The Everyman (9/26-9/26) |