Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

About Us

''The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, Ireland’s only summer opera festival, is a celebration of the finest opera and classical music set in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East. Tucked away in the breath-taking Blackwater Valley, we stage performances of the highest artistic quality featuring both Irish and international stars and emerging talent of the classical music world.

As much a celebration of opera as it is a celebration of the valley from whence it takes its name, the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival takes place in a range of historical locations across the Valley. The heart of the Festival is, however, Lismore Castle and Gardens on the banks of the Blackwater River. Lismore Castle has been the Festival’s home since its founding in 2010 and it is here that an intimate, close-up opera takes place each year. This summer, the former stables and impressive grounds of Lismore Castle play host to an opera double bill of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci.

While opera is the artistic core of the Festival, this week-long celebration of music would be incomplete without the bustling events programme featuring vocal recitals, chamber music, concerts and more. The grand houses, churches, and cathedrals of the region are our gracious hosts for these events, allowing our guests to explore the architectural gems of the historic Blackwater Valley.
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