Organization

Conductor

Peter Whelan

Stage director

Tom Creed

Set designer

Paul O'Mahony

Lighting designer

Aedín Cosgrove

Costume designer

Catherine Fay

Singer

Countertenor

Eamonn Mulhall

Acis

Soprano

Susanna Fairbairn

Galatea

Bass

Edward Grint

Polyphemus

Tenor

Andrew Gavin

First Damon

Sinéad O'Kelly

Ensemble Soprano

Peter O'Reilly

Ensemble Tenor

Fearghal Curtis

Cormac Lawlor

Ensemble Bass

Orchestra

Irish Baroque Orchestra

Irish National Opera

Acis and Galatea

Ireland

Opera Theatre Company's 2017 production of 'Acis and Galatea' by George Frideric Handel. 

In this production with renowned baroque specialist Peter Whelan as Music Director, accompanied by the dazzling Irish Baroque Orchestra, tenor Eamonn Mulhall and soprano Susanna Fairbairn perform the thwarted lovers with bass baritone Edward Grint as Polyphemus and tenor Andrew Gavin as Damon. Sung in English, 'Acis and Galatea' is directed by Tom Creed, with stage design by Paul O’Mahony, lighting design by Aedín Cosgrove and costume design by Catherine Fay.

Discover more about the Irish Baroque Orchestra here https://www.irishbaroqueorchestra.com/ and learn more about the original production here http://www.opera.ie/productions/archi...

Opera Theatre Company is one of the founding companies of Irish National Opera.

Galatea loves Acis. Acis loves Galatea. Polyphemus too loves Galatea… and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to have her. 

Acis and Galatea is set in mythological Greece.

In the first act, Galatea sings to quiet the birds that ignite her passion for Acis (ʽHush, ye pretty warbling quire!ʼ). Damon, Acis’s friend, helps the lovers pursue each other by singing a serenade (ʽLove in her eyes sits playingʼ). The young lovers celebrate their passion with a duet (ʽHappy weʼ).

In the second act, the opera shifts from its pastoral and sensual mood into a darker shade as the chorus warns Acis and Galatea about the arrival of a monstrous giant, Polyphemus (singing ʽNo joy shall lastʼ).  Polyphemus is determined to have Galatea for himself. Acis ignores the warnings that love is a fleeting pleasure (ʽConsider, fond shepherd) and ends up facing the wrath of Polyphemus.  Galatea, along with the chorus, mourns the loss of her love (ʽMust I my Acis still bemoanʼ). The chorus reminds her of her deity and that with her divine powers she can transform Acis's corpse into a beautiful fountain.

Acis and Galatea Händel

Public

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading