Il Trovatore : The Royal Opera’s production of Il Trovatore will be screened in the Lighthouse Cinema live from the royal Opera house on Tuesday, January 31st. This will be director David Bosch’s first UK production of the Verdi classic. This Opera, regularly included in the Opera’s repertoire, has been a favourite since its beginnings in the 1850s. This is a great opportunity to see high class opera at a fraction of the price of a seat in an auditorium with ticket prices from €10-€18, and particularly appealing for any student on a budget who wishes to be introduced to the Opera.
St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra: Also on Tuesday 31st January, the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the National Concert Hall. Russia is known for its exceptional musical scores and ballets and this Orchestra, founded in 1882, is no exception. Yuri Temirkanov will be chief conductor on the night, and Nikolai Lugansky the multi award winning pianist will accompany him to play Prokofiev’s piano concerto no.3. Tickets are a pricey €37.50-€75, but is worth it for classical music lovers who want to observe an evening of a world class performance.
Frightened Rabbit: Frightened Rabbit are touring their fifth album, ‘Painting of a Panic Attack’, which will hit the Academy on the 5th February. The indie rock band from Scotland have really come into their own and will certainly light up the Academy stage. Fans of The National, Rogue Wave and We Were Promised Jetpacks, will ease into this band’s music and should give them a try. Tickets from €27.50.
Royal Ballet: The Lighthouse Cinema will show a live screening of Wayne McGregor’s first feature length ballet, ‘Woolf Works. McGregor is known for moving away from the classical and traditional, while keeping ballet as the main format, it is totally contemporary and extremist. This new ballet is based on the writings of the author Virginia Woolf, with particular focus on three of her novels: Mrs Dalloway, Orlando, and The Waves. This will be screened on the 8th of February with tickets between €8-€10. The Lighthouse cinema once again gives the opportunity for ballet lovers or newcomers to view a new, exciting production.
Film Fatale: Film Fatale will be hosting a red carpet screening of the classic film Casablanca. Not just a screening however, Film Fatale encourages you to dress in your finest 1940’s gear, and after the screening there will be live swing music from the Tin Pan Alley Cats, and DJs to end the night. An optional three course dinner and table service can also be acquired during the screening. The event will take place at Number 22 theatre on St. Anne’s Street with tickets from €25.39 – €51.27.
Chinese New Year Festival: Since 2008, Dublin has played host to the Chinese New Year celebrations in Ireland. In its 10th year this year, the festival will run from the 28th January-12th February. As well as producing events to entertain, the Chinese new year festival aims to educate and inform the Irish public to bring closers ties between the two nations. What this festival has cleverly done is instead of focusing on purely traditional Chinese events, they have in many cases amalgamated Irish and Chinese traditions for a twist on each experience. Many of the events are free,vbut booking is required. Some of the highlights include, the Irish Whiskey tour in Mandarin taking place on 5th and 12th of Feb from 12pm, tickets are €5 (at the Irish Whiskey Museum opposite Trinity College).
The RTE national symphony orchestra will play on the 6th of February for the Chinese new year celebration with tickets at just €12. The UCD Confucius Institute of Ireland will present a Chinese new year gala in the Convention Centre in the city centre on the 11th February. All events can be found on www.chinesenewyeardublin.com.
A Viennese Strauss Gala: The Pavilion Theatre will host an evening to celebrate 19th century Viennese music and waltzing. This is set to be a classical lovers dream, with performances by the English National Opera and the European Orchestral ensemble and costumes and waltzing to match, the Pavilion will transport the audience back in time. The event will take place on the 11th February, with tickets on sale for €20-€22.
Kaleo: Kaleo will perform in the Olympia theatre on February 6th. The Icelandic band has folk, blues and indie rock influences, and have slowly started their rise to fame with their music featured on the soundtracks of Suits, Orange is the new Black and FIFA 16 to name a few. Tickets €20 and a band well worth checking out.
Joseph Sudek: Czech photographer Josef Sudek’s work will be exhibited throughout February 2017 in The Douglas Hyde Gallery, in Trinity. This exhibition will demonstrate his neo-romantic work, and the pictures he took of Prague post WW1, after he himself lost an arm in the war and took up photography. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the haunting works of a very private man.
The Pillowman: The acclaimed play will be held in the Gaiety Theatre and will run from the 24th of January to the 5th of February. This piece written by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh was first performed in 2003 and has achieved great success since, winning an Olivier Award and two Tony awards. This play has a dark plot behind it, a writer is interrogated by the police for the similarities between his short stories and a number of child murders that are occurring. Tickets start at €24.50, and is a must for anyone who wishes to see a modern classic.
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Holly Lloyd | Arts & Events Editor
