Exciting things will be happening over the next few months. After singing a number of cover contracts at English National Opera (Cosi fan Tutte, Dido and Aeneas, Le Grand Macabre), Daire has now been cast in an new production at English National Opera . This innovative production is to be directed by theatre group Punchdrunk. Fresh from the success of Adam Curtis’ It Felt Like a Kiss at last summer’s Manchester Festival, Punchdrunk promises to bring an unual perspective to the opera.
Daire also recently sang for New York composer Nico Muhly with a view to performing in his new opera Two Boys. This promises to be a thrilling piece centering on the relationship between two teenage boys which turns macabre when one begins to groom the other on the internet. It is based on the true story of two boys in Manchester which ended in a brutal stabbing and the arrest of one of the boys for orchestrating his own murder. To read more see here http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2004/may/29/crime.uknews. Two Boys will be a co-production between English National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
There are a few more projects in the pipeline but unfortunately it’s too early to give any details. In the meantime, Daire is exploring the Spanisches Liederbuch of Hugo Wolf for a recital in aid of the Yorke Trust. This is a very generous organisation which supports young singers by producing an opera each summer. Young singers are invited to take part and receive all tuition, room and board completely free for the duration of their stay in the blissful surroundings of South Creake in Norfolk. Daire has sung Belinda (Dido and Aeneas) and Theodora (Theodora) at Yorke Trust summer opera and is delighted to be able to support this worthwhile organisation. Details are available here.
Daire Halpin - Soprano 