“ Without music, life would be a blank to me .” Jane Austen, Emma
Opera and literature have been connected for centuries. Discover how stories from the page find new life in song at this wonderful presentation curated by Irish National Opera. Spanning a range of styles and voices, the programme moves from intimate reflection to dramatic intensity, showcasing some of the most compelling intersections of literature and opera. This event is anchored by two emotional and substantial letter scenes; Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin (after Pushkin’s novel in verse), and Massenet’s Werther (after Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther ), and also features a selection of shorter, well-known arias and ensembles drawn from literary sources across Europe.
Mezzo-soprano Sarah Richmond has performed widely with Irish National Opera, including roles in L’Olimpiade , The Magic Flute , and contemporary works such as MARS and Rupture . Her repertoire spans major operatic roles from Hansel in Hansel and Gretel to Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia , with appearances at companies including Wexford Festival Opera and Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. A frequent collaborator with the Belfast Ensemble, she has premiered several works by Conor Mitchell. She will make her Royal Ballet and Opera debut in the 2026/27 season and has recorded with the Ulster Orchestra under Jac van Steen.
Romanian-Irish soprano Ioana Constantin Pipelea is an award-winning performer praised for her vocal brilliance, expressive presence, and accomplished technique. A regular soloist at Wexford Festival Opera, she has appeared in roles including Colombina in Le Maschere , Michelina in Il Bravo , and Fenitchka in Risurezzione , alongside performances with companies and festivals across Ireland and Europe. Her repertoire also includes Pamina in Die Zauberflöte , the title role in The Cunning Little Vixen , and concert work with ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. A graduate of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin, she continues to perform internationally and has received numerous awards, including the Wexford Festival Opera Gerard Arnhold Award.