Conor Mitchell News

In a work which further showcases Conor Mitchell as one the UK and Ireland's most exciting composers, The Belfast Ensemble are presenting the first two-acts in concert of his major new work.

After running at the RSC's Swan Theatre last year, Erica Whyman's quietly captivating production of Mark Ravenhill's play Ben and Imo now makes its way south to the Orange Tree Theatre.

Belfast Ensemble will present a new work ‘in concert' from acclaimed composer, Conor Mitchell exploring love and social ambition in fin de siècle Paris.

Written by Mark Ravenhill and directed by Erica Whyman, Ben & Imo tells the story of the composition of Benjamin Britten’s (Samuel Barnett) Gloriana with musical assistant Imogen Holst (Victoria Yeates) over a period of nine months in the coast town of Aldeburgh. The play is based on Ravenhill’s BBC Radio 3 presentation, Imo and Ben.

Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates will make their Royal Shakespeare Company debuts to play, respectively, Benjamin Britten and Imogen Holst in the Company’s forthcoming production of Ben and Imo, written by Mark Ravenhill and directed by Erica Whyman.

The 71st Wexford Festival Opera will open on Friday, 21 October, running for 17 consecutive days showcasing over 80 events including three mainstage operas, two pocket operas, a new commission and an Irish premiere, closing on Sunday, 6 November.

The Southbank Centre, its six Resident Orchestras and wider orchestral partners have today announced Classical Music Spring/Summer 2023, an exciting, varied programme of over a hundred events featuring a wealth of established and emerging artists from the UK and internationally. 

Wexford Festival Opera will present a new commission from the WFO Artist-in-Residence 2022 Conor Mitchell. A chamber piece entitled Les Selenites, Mitchell's work explores the bizarre world of 20th century French film pioneer and stage illusionist, Georges Méliès. 

After a sell-out run at Outburst Queer Arts Festival, this award-winning smash-hit opera makes its Dublin premiere.

Over 30 events including immersive orchestral performance, new commissions, live podcasts, art, screenings, talks and poetry showcasing local, national and international queer work in Belfast.

Today WFO Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi announced details of her programme for the 71st Wexford Festival Opera which will run for 17 days from 21 October – 6 November 2022.

After headlining Outburst Queer Art Festival with Abomination: A DUP Opera, Ivor Novello-nominated composer Conor Mitchell returns to the festival with the 64 musicians of the Ulster Orchestra and six queer international filmmakers to present an epic evening smashing together sacred, profane and queer ceremony.

Tickets are on sale for most shows now. Learn more about the full lineup and how to attend here!

Learn more about the opera, how it will be staged, and where it premieres, here!

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!

The Belfast Ensemble, in association with Young at Art, Belfast Children's Festival present The Musician: A Horror Opera for Children, streaming Friday 12th March - Sunday 14th March, 7pm.

Innovation and imagination are always needed in a crisis. Irish National Opera is set to prove the rule with an ambitious run of new work, world premieres and new productions.

The Ivors Academy today [3 November] announce the nominations for The Ivors Composer Awards 2020.

The Traverse Theatre was founded with the hope of carrying the spirit of Edinburgh's Festivals throughout the year- and in 2020 they have been inspired by their past to create a new future as they announce the launch of Traverse 3, their new online venue, and the extension of its Traverse Festival programme throughout the rest of the year.

The 23rd Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards was due to take place tomorrow night at the National Concert Hall in Dublin.