Aug/090
Video man John O’Dwyer at work in Kilmallock
John O’Dwyer film the opera @Kilmallock. At some stage there will be a DVD available to SMS.
Aug/092
“The Mermaid” stage set
Wonderful set design for this opera…
The stage of Friars’ Gate theatre Kilmallock.
Where did the ship come from? Let’s have the story behind its acquisition or construction…
Aug/090
Opera Tour for SMS : Kilmallock
SMS came, saw & conquered the hearts of Kilmallock on Tuesday evening.
A magnificent final performance of Carl Davis opera “The Mermaid”, in the Friars’ Gate theatre.
How much of Kilmallock did the cast see?
Very little. They were completely focussed on the performance.
So Paul O’Mahony went on walkabout to record some shot of Kilmallock. You can see his photographs here. (The set will take a while to complete.) On the blogroll of this blog there is a link to his photographs on Flickr.
Aug/091
Final Opera performance in Kilmallock this evening
The final performance of SMS 2009 takes place at the Friars Gate Theatre in Kilmallock this evening at 8pm. SMS Youth Opera Theatre has the honour of bringing the curtain down on Summer Music on the Shannon 2009 with its third and final performance of Carl Davis‘ “The Mermaid“.
We’re heading off to Kilmallock by car in about 20 minutes. I’ve just had a call from Paul O’Mahony who has already arrived.
Aug/090
Opera in Kilrush last night
SMS’s Youth Opera Theatre took its performance of Carl Davis’ “The Mermaid” on the road and performed in Kilrush Community College last night. I didn’t go as I had seen the first performance in UCH on Saturday night last. I hear it was a great success, however, with the hall filled to capacity by an enthusiastic crowd. And the people in Kilrush are a sophisticated lot when it comes to musicals and Opera, having a very vibrant Musical Society of their own.
Aug/090
Everyone’s at “The Mermaid” children’s opera
And I’m @home in Cork, wishing I was in the audience.
The good thing is that I’ll be @Kilmallock, Co Limerick on Tuesday evening for the final performance of this opera I’ve never seen or heard.
There is something special about being @openingnight. Especially for opera. There is always the possibility of disaster…
The tenor may miss the top note in Act 3 of Rigoletto. The leading lady may bounce back up over the castle walls in Tosca, when she’s meant to have fallen to her death. These are famous opening nights I’ve experienced.
But also there’s the possibility of being present for a miracle. Whenever it’s repeated, it’s not as good. No one talks of their attendance for the miracle third performance in a run. But if you were there for the opening night, it’s different. Perhaps it’s like the first glass from an amazing bottle of fine wine.
I also love being there for the end.
The closing night, when the cast come on stage, exhausted, and the musicians will to dash to the pub, but are detained by the glory of the audience.
For me “The Mermaid” in Kilmallock will be my compensation for the disappointment of not being able to be at so many SMS concerts.
Next year I’m camping out in Limerick.
Aug/090
Limerick Leader : big piece with Carl Davis
Alan Owens in the Limerick Leader has written a good piece.
The Limerick Leader is Limerick’s local paper. It used to have thee editions per week, including one Limerick County. I’m not sure how often it comes out now. But it’s great to see the local paper highlighting SMS.
The only thing I take issue with is the end of his article.
He says the SMS Festival ends on Saturday. As far as I’m concerns it ends in Kilmallock on Tuesday, at the end of “The Mermaid”.
I’m biased. I’ll be there. And I certainly don’t want SMS to finish before I get to see this opera in Kilmallock.
Aug/090
Preparing “The Mermaid” opera: SMS teachers at work
I had to do a lot of work to make sure I cut out the students from this photo.
But it’s worth it to show you these two wonderful people, SMS art teachers. They’ve been helping children prepare images through which “The Mermaid” , Carl Davis’ opera, will enter your imaginations.
Aug/091
On a visit to SMS today, I saw art work… and got the photographs wrong
I got to UL @ about 1600. SMS was humming, sounds coming for several rooms.
There was a group of violinists with a teacher in one room, a solo pianist in another, flute coming through walls, and a big, noisy group making art for the opera.
“The Mermaid” opening night is on Friday 14 August in University Concert Hall, Limerick.
I was keen to take photographs for the blog to give you a feel for what was going on…
and to create a record…
and see who was about…
I set out to take shots of the art, the artists, and teachers at work.
To give an impression in writing is difficult. ‘A photograph is worth a thousand words’… and I wished I could have recorded sounds, and put up a podcast.
David Collopy arrived, and changed everthing… fortunately.
I was full of wonder and excitement, itching to get back home and put the photos up for you to see.
However, I hadn’t thought it through.
“You know you can’t put up photographs of students under 18 years. You have to have permission from parents, from every single parent.”
The minute David said it, I realised he was right. There are so many issues surrounding the display of photographs on the internet. There is no way of making sure every parent has signed a parental leave form, giving permission for photographs to be put on the blog.
If even one parent objected, there could be big trouble, negative publicity. It’s a risk no sensible person or organisation could take.
So I’ve got all these lovely photographs of students working together, enjoying themselves making art for the opera - I can’t show them to anyone. I might as well destroy them.
You’ll just have to take my word for it, and imagine what was going on.
I can show you the adults, and the backs of children’s heads…
But the art is wonderful. The look of the opera is going to be great.