An Enchanting Evening of Opera
 

Join us for a spectacular night of music, culture, and exquisite dining in a breathtaking setting. Let the magic of opera and the allure of fire dancers create an unforgettable experience.

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 Mamada Butterfly

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Event Schedule

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5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | Arrival & Picnic Setup (or earlier if you wish)

Settle in and soak up the magical ambiance as you prepare for an enchanting evening. Bring your own picnic or enjoy refreshments from our Wine & Fizz Bar.

6:30 PM – 7:00 PM | Live Music & Fire Dancers

Ease into the night with a soul-stirring live performance by Fancy Dan and Master Synge, accompanied by mesmerizing fire dancers, setting the perfect mood for the opera.

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Madama Butterfly – Act I

Experience the delicate beauty and emotional depth of Madama Butterfly, featuring:

Deirdre Higgins (Cio-Cio-San), Jose Pazos (Pinkerton), Sarah Richmond (Suzuki), Simon Morgan (Sharpless), Oisín Ó'Dálaigh (Goro), John Molloy (Bonze), Diana Salop (Kate Pinkerton), David O'Carroll (Imperial Commissioner), and the Chorus.

8:00 PM – 8:45 PM | Pre-Booked Dinner at Lime Street Café

For guests with reservations, enjoy an elegant dining experience at the charming Lime Street Café, featuring a specially curated menu for the evening.

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Madama Butterfly – Act II

Let the spellbinding second act transport you deeper into the story of love, longing, and heartbreak, with the same outstanding cast.

10:00 PM | Live Music & Fire Dancers

Close the evening under the stars with another captivating set from Fancy Dan and Master Synge, alongside mesmerizing fire dancers.

Throughout the Night | Wine & Fizz Bar

Savor a selection of fine wines and champagne available to purchase throughout the evening to elevate your experience.

Cast & Creative Team

Principal Cast

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Cio-Cio-San – Deirdre Higgins

Pinkerton – Jose Pazos

Suzuki – Sarah Richmond

Sharpless – Simon Morgan

Goro – Oisín Ó'Dálaigh

Bonze – John Molloy

Kate Pinkerton – Diana Salop

Imperial Commissioner – David O'Carroll

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Chorus

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Ciara Smith, Roisín O'Neill, Cliodhan Regan, Yasmin O'Reilly, Maedhbh Hanafin, Leah Walsh, Aodhán Gavigan, Ryan O'Donnell, James Connolly, Greg Hayes, and Will Donovan.

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Creative Team

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Set & Costume Design – Slawek Narwid

Musical Director – David Wray

Produced by – Sandra Oman

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Prepare for a night of opera, elegance, and enchantment at Loughcrew!

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Message

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As Head of Vocal, Opera and Drama at TU Dublin Conservatoire of Music and Drama, I am thrilled to return once more to Loughcrew Festival Opera to direct Puccini's Madama Butterfly. Emily Naper has always been an outstanding supporter of the arts, with a vested interest in the development of young Irish artists at the genesis of their operatic careers. That is why this collaboration between Loughcrew Opera Festival and TU Dublin Conservatoire is a really meaningful one. The chorus of this production is entirely composed of Conservatoire students, along with some of the smaller principal roles. We have a TU Dublin Conservatoire alumnus in the titular role of Cio-Cio-San - Deirdre Higgins - with internationally acclaimed tenor Jose Pazos in the role of F.B. Pinkerton. The distinguished Irish bass, John Molloy, will interpret the impactful role of the Bonze, with Sarah Richmond, Simon Morgan, and Oisin O'Dalaigh in the roles of Suzuki, Sharpless, and Goro respectively. In this way, students and young artists are afforded the opportunity to observe, learn from, and perform alongside, internationally established artists. 

Polish artist Slawek Narwid will design the costumes and set for this production. No stranger to Irish audiences, he designed costumes, and sets, for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival over a six-year period. For TU Dublin Conservatoire, he designed 'Within these Walls', the Conservatoire's operatic showcase, in January 2026, and will design Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea for January 2027. His beautiful 'Dido and Aeneas', which was presented in the Black Box theatre of the East Quad campus, will be presented at the National Concert Hall in November 2026. Set in the original time-period, with stunning costumes and a minimalist set design, the grounds of Loughcrew Estate provide the ideal backdrop for this extraordinary work. 

The score of Madama Butterfly is one of the most beloved in the operatic repertory. There is a timelessness to its most celebrated extracts - Un bel di; the Flower Duet; the Humming Chorus; the Love duet - and unsurprisingly, it features in the top ten most performed operas, year after year. We cannot wait to share our vision of this work with the audience this coming August.

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Sandra Oman 

General Director

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