Opera in the Open is an initiative of Dublin City Council that presents live performances of operatic work in the open air in Dublin City Centre
Lensmen love to video all sorts of different events that happen in Dublin. Our videos show the unique talent of some wonderful people living and visiting Dublin. Previously we videoed the very talent Dublin Circus Project team practising in Merrion Square. It was fantastic to watch and video! Our latest street event we videoed was the wonderful “Opera in the Open” an initiative by Dublin City Council to bring open-air opera during August to Dublin.
About Opera in The Open
This annual opera season takes place for the first 4 Thursdays of the month of August at the Dublin City Council Civic Office Amphitheatre, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.
Each performance of opera is undertaken in an abridged format, is narrated in English and lasts one hour during lunchtime from 1 to 2 pm. There is no fee for attending these performances.
The Amphitheatre, includes a raised stage, a seated area and grass verges which are ideal for a picnic lunch. Opera in the Open proves, beyond a doubt, that there is a significant audience for opera in Dublin. Nestled in the heart of the city, what better way to soak up this beautiful summer in Dublin than to catch an aria or two at lunchtime every Thursday during the month of August.
The 2019 programme details are below and everyone wishing to keep up to date with the season should log onto: Opera in the Open on Facebook
The Impresario (Mozart) – August 1st
The Rakes Progress (Stravinsky) – August 8th
Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) – August 15th
Faust (Gounod) – August 22nd
Lensmen shot the below video at the Faust Opera. It was an astonishing hour and mesmerising to watch!
About Faust
Faust is a five-act opera written by Charles Gounod and is based, somewhat loosely, on Goethe’s Faust, Part One. The story concerns Faust, an ageing scholar, who has devoted his life to studying. As he reflects on his life, he feels that nothing has come of his devotion. He contemplates suicide and, as he is about to do so, he curses God and asks the devil to appear. Mephistopheles, the devil, appears and tempts Faust with an image of a lovely young woman, Marguerite, and Faust makes a deal with the devil. The deal will make Faust young again, as the devil will give Faust life on earth and, in return, Faust must spend eternity with Mephistopheles in Hell.
Faust lusts after Marguerite and eventually wins her over. His thirst for youth has left him with little care of the consequences others will face. Marguerite becomes pregnant, causing her brother, Valentin, to challenge Faust to a duel. Faust, with Mephistopheles’ help, ends up killing Valentin. Marguerite later kills her child and is imprisoned. Faust is let into the prison by Mephistopheles and the two men tell Marguerite they will get her out. Marguerite, however, tells them she would prefer her fate to be in the hands of God. Her faith eventually saves her and she ascends to heaven.
Faust (Gounod) – August 22nd 1pm – 2pm
Cast
Faust – Owen Gilhooly
Marguerite – Sandra Oman
Mephistopheles – Brendan Collins
Valentin – Simon Morgan
Siebel – Sarah Kilcoyne
Director
Mary McEvoy
Musical Director
David Wray
