Saturday February 4 with baritone John Molloy, NCH on Thursday 26, Limerick UCH on February 4, Cork Opera House, February 12
BUSY times for a woman in demand. Cara O’Sullivan begins a three-stop Irish tour this week, having just done two unexpected concerts back to back as soloist for Ulster Concert Orchestra.
A friend who was booked to headline was forced to pull out at the 11th hour due to ill health. Our Cork soprano drove the five hours to Belfast for an unrehearsed but successful concert at the Ulster Hall and delivered to ticket-holders an evening of dreams.
“Then over to Derry the following night for the same thing. I sang the music sight unseen and it is thanks to Christopher Bell, the conductor, for leading this programme of Viennese music and operetta and opera that we managed the two nights”.
This southern belle tells a great story, part of her warmth and immediacy with audiences. It’s integral to the rapport she creates.
She is back to Limerick in February after opening night in Dublin’s National Concert Hall tonight, this Thursday 27 with a new platform, ‘Cara O’Sullivan in Concert’. She will come to UCH courtesy of the patron group Friends of University Concert Hall for Saturday February 4; on next to Cork Opera House on Sunday 12, 8pm curtain calls all.
She’s excited about the show and has elegant company on stage. “John Molloy is singing with me, such a lovely strong baritone from Birr. He is going to sing opera and nostalgic tunes such as ‘Old Man River’ and ‘Some Enchanting Evening’. We will do some duets together and some fun things”.
With duty of care to her voicebox governing life, Cara admits with a chuckle that she avoids bugs, airkissing and handshakes “like the plague. You know what? This ‘fistbump’ thing is the best ever. It is fabulous and much more hygienic”.
On stage, she begins the night by literally, opening out the voice with arie antiche or Handel’s arias.
“Look, ‘Cara O’Sullivan and Friends’ is going to be an entertaining concert. We are going to do fun things, nothing too indigestible”.
Expect the thrill of music and presence divine, amplified by “the combination of double piano by Ciara Moroney and John O’Brien. For these songs, the sound is wonderful”. Book for Saturday February 4 at www.uch.ie
