Antrim is a long way from my base in the South East but arriving home from a week exploring Scotland's West coast, the ferry dropped me in Larne a short hop from the village of Glenarm and fortuitously in the nick of time to catch the last day of the weekend festival dedicated to singing, part of a development programme for young singers by Northern Ireland Opera. At St Patrick's Church, a 'select audience' gathered to hear a song recital by soprano Soraya Mafi and pianist Simon Lepper. Fresh from a lead role in Glyndebourne, the soprano presented an appealing programme concluding with a clutch of settings of Irish texts, only one of which I had heard before. For a singer used to a big auditorium, Mafi handled the acoustic of the bijou venue comfortably demonstrating her strength and colour but never overpowering, giving succinct and clear introductions to each number. She revealed that although her name is Persian, her mother is from Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. Entry was free gratis to all and I look forward to catching the radio broadcast in early September in my kitchen thanks to a couple of unobtrusive suspended mics. Although not new, the wonders of radio technology never cease to amaze me. A top notch presentation by a duo on top of their métier that could as easily have graced the stage of the Wigmore Hall as a rural parish church on the Antrim coast.
Later in the evening, the competition finale took place across the road in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and it was good to see a good crowd gathered to hear the five finalists. The distinctive plummy tones of MC Sean Rafferty gave the event that Radio 3 vibe. Unusually for a vocal competition we heard all the competitors in a a selection of ensemble numbers as well as solo items. It made for a very convivial event as did the cup of tea served in the adjacent school hall. It was good to meet Cork soprano Niamh O Sullivan and Fr Eugene O Hagan of the vocal trio The Priests.
Each of the five singers were impressive and I hope to hear them all gain. I loved Owen Lucas' rendition of a setting of Ledwidge by Michael Head. My pick for the winner though was Michael Bell, one of the most experienced singers on the platform. The jury's selection was Owen Lucas who was also the audience favourite. Hannah O Brien won the Song prize with a song titled Bid Adieu with music and lyrics composed by James Joyce. I have no doubt I will hear Heather Sammon, a mezzo from Wicklow and David Kennedy a baritone from Galway again. Owen Lucas can be heard next in the NI Opera production of La Traviata and Michael Bell and Hannah O Brien are off to the Wexford Opera Factory. Doireann O Carroll accompanied the Song Prize.
I wound up the evening at McCollum's Pub in Cushendall where it was fun swapping tunes with a merry band of brothers from Derry in the Front Parlour. #DiscoverNorthernIreland. Bravo tutti! A most entertaining day!
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