OPERA LOVERS are set for a treat next month when the Cork Midsummer Festival hosts a free open-air broadcast in Fitzgerald Park of a production of Toscaas it is being performed in Valencia, Spain.
The production of Giacomo Puccini’s melodramatic tale features a stellar international cast led by Ukrainian soprano Oksana Dyka, Spanish tenor Jorge de Leon and Welsh bass baritone Bryn Terfel.
“The transmission from the stage of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia is part of the Viva Europa 2011, and Cork is one of over 60 cities throughout Europe where the opera is being broadcast live on large screens,” said associate festival director Kath Gorman.
The festival kicks off on June 11th with the Street Performance World Championship in Fitzgerald Park. Macnas will bring its outdoor procession Rumpuswhile Cirque Mandingue from Guinea is featuring Foté Foréat the Cork Opera House. Dublin Commedia dell'Arte company the Corn Exchange will premiere its much-anticipated Man of Velourat the Everyman Palace Theatre.
This year marks the return of the Spiegeltent featuring Cathy Davey, Camille O’Sullivan, Mick Flannery and The Walls.