WhistleBlast Quartet Opera Project
WhistleBlast Quartet in collaboration with That’s Life proudly presented MR. PRESIDENT a new operatic work with participants in leading roles from Galway’s special arts organization: That’s Life and Electric Dreams, also including young musicians from Ceol na Mara Youth Orchestra.
This unique, wonderful new opera, full of power and protest, included music composed and performed by all participants in That's Life, including original gamelan music accompaniment led by That’s Life leader Andrew Madec. All performing with WhistleBlast, Opera Soprano Catherine Donnelly and Jazz guitarist Aengus Hackett.
Producer: Mary Curran
Director: Maisie Lee
Musical arrangements: Kenneth Edge
Musical Director: Conor Linehan
Supporting partners: Irish National Opera, Town Hall Theatre, Galway, RTÉ Supporting the Arts and the Arts Council of Ireland.
The performance of this unique opera featuring multigenerational participants with additional needs, took place on Friday 21st June at 7pm in Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
There was also be a public dress rehearsal on Thursday 20th June at 6pm.
You can view the Mr. President performance programme here.
This project began with an OPEN CALL for organisations, such as community, music and theatre groups, who nurture and develop the arts for anybody with additional needs and who would love to participate in this type of programme, in any Irish location. WhistleBlast’s director Mary Curran and pianist Conor Linehan delivered a series of introductory and development workshops including some sessions with Irish National Opera and professional opera performers, to experiment and create musical scripts and vocals led by the participants.
The development of this project is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland.
This groundbreaking and unique production received a wonderful audience response from a nearly full house.
We are so proud of all the wonderful performers and musicians who collaborated with WhistleBlast to realise this project and make it such a success.
WhistleBlast Promote Mr. President Opera on RTE Lyric
WhistleBlast Quartet was invited to perform live on RTÉ LyricFM throughout the morning and afternoon during Bord Bia’s Bloom festival in Phoenix Park, Dublin on Friday June 1st. The quartet were interviewed during Lorcan Murray’s segment and quartet director and french hornist Mary discussed the upcoming world premiere performance of original operatic work Mr. President on June 21st.
