‘Les Nuits d’Été’ or Summer Nights is a song cycle which we will stage in the round, performed by mezzo soprano Sinéad O’Kelly and pianist Bryan Evans in the historic Courtyard Theatre in Newtownabbey.

This performance is part of NI Opera’s new ‘Salon Series’, staging short opera, song cycles, cabaret art song and music theatre in spectacular venues around Northern Ireland.

Hector Berlioz originally wrote this ‘Les Nuits d’Été, based around Théophile Gautier’s poems, for a mezzo or tenor and piano, though it is more well known in its orchestral version. ‘Les Nuits d’Été’ are Berlioz’s only song cycle published as a set. The songs explore the universal themes of love and loss and will be performed in French.

This event is part of NI Opera’s new Salon Series: six one act productions featuring opera, art song, cabaret and music theatre, which will be performed in spectacular locations around Northern Ireland during 2023.