Ireland Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Irish National Opera / Fergus Sheil (Conductor). Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, 6.11.2026. (RB)
Brilliant Carmen from INO in Dublin with first-rate singing and playing from all involved
Robert Beattie
A sparkling revival of Rossini’s L’equivoco stravagante at Wexford
Ireland Wexford Festival Opera 2026 [3] – Rossini, L’equivoco stravagante: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera / Riccardo Bisatti (conductor). O’Reilly Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford, 25.10.2026. (RB)
Fine Wexford performance of The Gambler, though the production is not wholly successful
Ireland Wexford Festival Opera 2026 [2] – Prokofiev, The Gambler: Soloists, Dancers, Chorus and Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera / Valentin Uryupin (conductor). O’Reilly Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford, 24.10.2026. (RB)
Excellent revival of Mascagni’s Iris by the Wexford Festival Opera
Ireland Wexford Opera Festival 2026 [1] – Mascagni, Iris: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera / Francesco Cilluffo (conductor). O’Reilly Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford, Ireland. 23.10.2026. (RB)
Refined, virtuosic accounts of the Brandenburg Concertos from Bach Collegium Japan
Ireland Bach: Bach Collegium Japan / Masato Suzuki (conductor and harpsichord). National Concert Hall, Dublin, 10.10.2026. (RB)
Admirable Haydn and Mozart from the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and Peter Whelan
Ireland Haydn, Mozart: Jonathan Biss (piano), National Symphony Orchestra Ireland / Peter Whelan (conductor). National Concert Hall, Dublin, 9.10.2026. (RB)
Exciting Tchaikovsky from Emanuil Ivanov in Dublin
Ireland Bacewicz, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov: Emanuil Ivanov (piano), National Symphony Orchestra Ireland / John Wilson (conductor). National Concert Hall, Dublin, 2.10.2026. (RB)
Auspicious debut by Anna Handler as Chief Conductor begins the Ulster Orchestra’s 60th anniversary season
United Kingdom Brahms, Britten, Beethoven: Senan Sheridan (piano), Eleanor Dennis (soprano), Carolyn Dobbin (mezzo-soprano), Kieran Carrel (tenor), Padraic Rowan (bass-baritone), National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland Senior Choir, Belfast Philharmonic Youth Chamber Choir, Belfast Philharmonic Choir, Methodist College Chapel Choir, Royal Belfast Academical Institution Choir Tenors and Basses, Belfast Royal Academy Chamber Choir, Ulster Orchestra / Anna Handler (conductor). Ulster Hall, Belfast, 25.9.2026. (RB)
