It must be love

It’s opera time again, as Opera Ireland take over the Gaiety for their Spring Season. Love is in the air, with two different takes on that all-time classic love story. First up is Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette (opening on Sat 27 Feb), updated to the Victorian era and directed by OTC’s Annilese Miskimmon. American tenor Michael Spyres and French soprano Nathalie Manfrino sing the title roles, bass baritone Marcel Vanaud returns as Count Capulet and the cast also includes Irish singers Imelda Drumm, Victoria Massey and Nyle Wolfe. Bellini’s dazzling I Capuleti e I Montecchi is given two concert performances (4&6 March) with top Australian soprano Jessica Pratt, Irish mezzo Fiona Murphy and Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro. There’s also a weekday concert series of Lunchtime Arias and a family performance (Sat 6) including screenings of cartoon classics such as What's Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville and Figaro’s Wedding. www.operaireland.ie