Permanent tsb Celebratory Night of Music
featuring
Tito Beltrán - tenor
Special Guest Cara O’Sullivan
RTÉ CONCERT ORCHESTRA ~ Conductor Proinnsías Ó Duinn
at
National Concert Hall, Dublin Thursday 9th May 2002 @ 8.00pm
City Hall, Cork Saturday 11th May 2002@ 8.00pm
University Concert Hall, Limerick Sunday 12th May 2002@ 8.00pm
Most people will by now be aware of the merger of the Irish Permanent and TSB Bank, and as part of their introductory festivities, the new company are sponsoring a “permanent tsb Celebratory Night of Music” which will visit three cities in May. Chief executive Harry Lorton explained that“The launch of permanent tsb is a significant milestone in the life of our business...(and) the tour celebrates the launch of Ireland’s newest bank to the marketplace”.It certainly is good news for music lovers that permanent tsb decided to include a musical element in their celebrations.
Featuring one of the top lyric tenors of the world Tito Beltrán, with special guest soprano Cara O’Sullivan and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by Proinnsías Ó Duinn, the tour opens at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on Thursday 9th May, goes on to the City Hall, Cork on Saturday 11th May, with the final performance in the tour taking place at the University Concert Hall, Limerick on Sunday 12th May.This production will be a little different from the usual Barra Ó Tuama Gala, since as well as including arias and duets from the leading operatic repertoire,the programme will also feature songs and music from the popular operettas and musicals, with concert narration by the entertaining and informative David McInerney.
Born in Chile but now resident in Sweden, Tito Beltrán “possesses a superb lyric tenor voice...marvellous projection and a truly Italianate sweep to his phrasing...” .He is also described as a“consummate actor “(Ian Fox in the Sunday Tribune).Adored by the cameras, the audiences and even the most cynical critics, he was pipped at the post for the first prize at the 1993 Cardiff Singer of the World competition, but nevertheless came to the attention of many operatic head hunters including impresario Barra Ó Tuama.His made his Irish debut in 1994 at an Opera Gala presentation and his last appearance in Ireland was at the Bord Gáis New Year Opera Gala in 1999 where, with characteristic charm, he completely bowled over audiences and critics alike.
His repertoire includes the leading tenor roles in the major operas such as L’Elisir d’Amore, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Boheme, Gianni Schicchi, Der Rosenkavalier, La Traviata, Rigoletto and Nabucco amongst many others.
His professional engagements take him to the most famous opera houses in the world including Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Arena di Verona, Vienna Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, The New National Theatre Tokyo, San Francisco, New Michigan and many others.Tito has made four solo albums for Silva Screen Classics, “Tito” an album of arias and songs which was released in 1995, ‘Romantica” an album of Italian, Spanish and Swedish songs was released in 1996 and his album ‘A Tenor at the Movies” featuring a tribute to Mario Lanza, operatic arias and songs from films, was released in 1999.His latest album is “Amazing Grace”, which is a collection of favourites such as Pie Jesu, Panis Angelicus and Ave Maria.He recently made a recording for Decca, with Placido Domingo in La Dolores, an opera by Spanish composer Tomás Bretón.
The internationally renowned Irish soprano Cara O’Sullivan will join Tito as his special guest.Coincidentally, Cara also represented her country in the 1993 Cardiff Singer of the World competition.She has excelled on the international stage and her voice has been described as a ‘stream of opulent tone’ and is a ‘fearless vocal artist whether singing Mozart, Donizetti,Verdi or Puccini’.She has performed with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Welsh National Opera, Garsington Opera, Opera Nantes, Opera da Vlaamse, English National Opera, Opera Ireland, Opera National de Paris and her US début as Queen of the Night with the Cincinnati Festival Opera was a huge success.Some of the comments in the US reviews included:‘Cara O’Sullivan dominated her scenes with a voice of steel and sparkle’ and ‘her voice practically reaches into the audience and pulls you from your seat!’
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra once again takes the stage in a Barra Ó Tuama Production, on this occasion with their principal conductor Proinnsías Ó Duinn.As well as accompanying the solo artists, this excellent orchestra will bring their own special sparkle to the programme with their own exciting orchestral contributions.
The “permanent tsb Celebratory Night of Music” offers something a little different while retaining all the elements that makes a Barra O’Tuama production a firm favourite of young and old, and to quote permanent tsb chief executive Harry Lorton once again; “Our newly formed bank is a bank for the people. ..and we want as many people as possible around the country to share in our launch celebrations.We are delighted to be able to sponsor the tour and we hope that everybody who attends the concerts will have a special night to remember”.
These performances are also supported by the Sunday Independent, the Irish Examiner, RTÉ and Clarion Hotels, Ireland.Tickets for the three concerts are now on sale from at the NCH Booking Office in Dublin, Tel:01 4170000, at the Central Box Office Grand Parade, Cork Tel:021 4543210 and at the UCH Booking Office in Limerick, Tel. 061 331549.However, already there is only limited availability in Dublin and Cork, and tickets are selling fast in Limerick. |
