Blackwater Valley Opera Festival

Blackwater Valley Opera Festival Ireland’s Summer Opera Festival | 26 May - 1 June 2026 | Opera | Concerts | Recitals | Free Events

BVOF joyfully engages audiences with a creative and imaginative programme of opera and classical music in the beautiful Blackwater Valley. Showcasing emerging Irish talent alongside established international artists, the festival delivers memorable and inspirational experiences that enrich the cultural life of the region. Lismore Castle provides a magical backdrop for the festival, which includes

opera, classical music recitals and concerts, schools and free events, pop-up events, dining experiences and a whole lot more... This is opera as you’ve never seen or experienced it before. Priority Booking: 20 January 2024 | Tickets on general sale from 4 February 2024
www.blackwatervalleyopera.ie

★★★★ for DON GIOVANNI 💛Another four-star review for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival's production at Lismore Castle, thi...
04/06/2026

★★★★ for DON GIOVANNI 💛

Another four-star review for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival's production at Lismore Castle, this time from the Irish Examiner, which described the opera as "a playful, engaging production" in which "there is much to enjoy".

The review celebrated "Amy Ní Fhearraigh as Donna Anna drew warm applause", "Carolyn Holt as Donna Elvira draws much laughter", "Aimee Kearney and Dominic Veilleux are endearing", while "Valerian Ruminski... add[s] gravitas and impressive vocal heft" to the final scene.

📍 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford


📸 Frances Marshall

The glowing reviews just keep coming for DON GIOVANNI at Lismore Castle, with continued critical acclaim for the cast, m...
03/06/2026

The glowing reviews just keep coming for DON GIOVANNI at Lismore Castle, with continued critical acclaim for the cast, musical direction and staging.
The Arts Desk praised the production, describing how "there's so much to enjoy" and highlighting Mozart in the hands of the Irish Baroque Orchestra under Peter Whelan, where "Quality in Mozart is already assured" and the orchestra is "sounding free and easy".
The review also singled out Amy Ní Fhearraigh, who "shone" and performed with "vocal integrity and dramatic vividness", while praising Gavan Ring's "perfect phrasewise" Il mio tesoro.
Bravo to the cast, orchestra and creative team for bringing this production to the stage.
📍 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford

☔ WEATHER UPDATE🎶 Don't change your plans - we'll still be there, just indoors! Come on down and join us for the final O...
01/06/2026

☔ WEATHER UPDATE
🎶 Don't change your plans - we'll still be there, just indoors! Come on down and join us for the final Open Air Lunchtime Recital of BVOF 2026. 📍 Castlemartyr Resort Ballroom 🕛 12.00pm

All tickets remain valid - simply make your way to the Ballroom for the recital.

🎶 Our amazing BVOF Chorus 2026 will be there, so come celebrate with us.
We look forward to welcoming you to the final Lunchtime Recital of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2026.

Back to DON GIOVANNI 🎭With one more night to go before the Bank Holiday Monday finale at Lismore Castle, here's another ...
31/05/2026

Back to DON GIOVANNI 🎭
With one more night to go before the Bank Holiday Monday finale at Lismore Castle, here's another selection of production images from the sold-out run.

These photographs capture some of the drama, comedy and characters at the heart of Tom Creed's production, performed by an outstanding cast, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, and the wonderful BVOF Chorus 2026.

More images will follow over the coming days, highlighting the production's distinctive visual world, including Aedín Cosgrove's innovative set design and celebrating Catherine Fay's dynamic costumes.

📸 Frances Marshall

A glimpse of opening night at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival ✨The excitement was palpable on a balmy summer evening at...
31/05/2026

A glimpse of opening night at Blackwater Valley Opera Festival ✨
The excitement was palpable on a balmy summer evening at Lismore Castle as audiences gathered for the opening night of DON GIOVANNI.

See who was featured in The Gloss via the link below.
📸 Patrick Browne


Visit Waterford Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber Of Commerce Waterford Chamber of Commerce
https://thegloss.ie/see-the-guests-at-the-opening-night-of-blackwater-valley-opera-festival/

More reviews keep coming in for DON GIOVANNI… and they’re glowing ✨🎭Described by Bachtrack as having “excellent soloists...
31/05/2026

More reviews keep coming in for DON GIOVANNI… and they’re glowing ✨🎭
Described by Bachtrack as having “excellent soloists” and “a thoroughly enjoyable and intelligently modernised Don Giovanni”, critical response continues to build for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s 2026 production.
Recent reviews have praised the production’s musical direction, staging and performances, highlighting the strength of the artistic team behind this year’s staging at Lismore Castle.
📍 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford
🎟️ Tickets are completely sold out for Don Giovanni, but there’s lots happening across the festival - discover the full programme at https://buff.ly/zncx0HC

31/05/2026

Thanks to wonderful Finghin Collins and Benjamin Russell for being the best recital colleagues and to Blackwater Valley Opera Festival for having us on Thursday 28th May to give a concert showcasing our 2024 SOMM Recordings “Cushendall” release of the songs of C.V.Stanford.

For this recital we paired two of Stanford’s Irish song cycles with music by his influences Brahms and Schumann as well as his pupil Rebecca Clarke and “grandpupil” (as Finghin coined it!) Benjamin Britten.

We had a wonderfully warm audience in lovely Villierstown church!

Another positive response to DON GIOVANNI 💛Opera Now praised the performances at Lismore Castle, noting that "the singer...
30/05/2026

Another positive response to DON GIOVANNI 💛
Opera Now praised the performances at Lismore Castle, noting that "the singers worked hard and fruitfully" and were "the singers who had to hold the fort, which they did admirably".
The review highlighted "Carolyn Holt's forceful and magnetic Elvira", described Amy Ní Fearraigh's "Non mi dir" as "brilliantly concentrated", and praised Valerian Ruminsky as "strong and characterful" in the role of the Commendatore.
📍 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford
🎟️ Tickets are completely sold out for Don Giovanni, but there’s lots happening across the festival www.blackwatervalleyopera.ie

Hot off the press: Don Giovanni reviews are coming in 💥Presented at Lismore Castle, this staging brings together an outs...
29/05/2026

Hot off the press: Don Giovanni reviews are coming in 💥
Presented at Lismore Castle, this staging brings together an outstanding creative team and performers in a striking interpretation of Mozart’s opera. Bravo to all the team who brought the show together.
📍 Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford
🎟️ Tickets are completely sold out for Don Giovanni, but there’s lots happening across the festival - discover the full programme here: https://buff.ly/zncx0HC

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