New artistic director for Northern Ireland Opera

Cameron Menzies

It certainly is all-change for opera in Northern Ireland, hot on the heels of the creation of Ulster Touring Opera, artistic director Dafydd Hall Williams (see my article), comes the announcement that the Australian-born director Cameron Menzies to be artistic director of Northern Ireland Opera.

Menzies whose career has spanned both Europe and Australia, has worked in opera, music theatre and cabaret as well as directing the premieres of several children's operas.. He was associate artist with Diva Opera for whom he has directed productions including Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Strauss' Die Fledermaus and Puccini's La Boheme. In 2016 he received a Sydney Award for the best direction of Pecan Summer Australia’s first Indigenous Opera.

Northern Ireland Opera was founded in 2010 to provide high-quality opera throughout Northern Ireland, whilst promoting young talent from the region and forming partnerships with arts organisations from Northern Ireland. Its first artistic director was Oliver Mears who is now director of opera at the Royal Opera House. 

Further information from Northern Ireland Opera's website.