Press Release: 16 December 2016 – A new adaptation of the iconic James Joyce story THE DEAD takes to the road. [PDF] [WORD.DOC]
REVIEWS
“It is a most engaging composition and reflects the action with considerable acuity… A blend of spoken word, recitatives, popular songs and attractive arioso passages, woven through with mood-setting sequences, reflecting the story excellently and driving it forward with considerable expertise… The whole project proved a great success.”
– Opera
“This new opera is appropriately enigmatic and beautiful in equal measure. In fact, the hour or so spent in the company of the performers onstage is so captivating that you would relish a further hour to watch the whole affair unfurl again.”
“Composed by Ellen Cranitch with libretto by Tom Swift, this handsome chamber opera adaptation from Performance Corporation and Breda Cashe sweetly honours the dead.”
– The Irish Times. Read the full review here.
“Needless to say, the cast performs with the utmost gusto and are truly awesome in their vocal, as well as character, dexterity. Haunting musical performances are punctuated with tears of laughter as Joyce’s characters are ably brought to life in quick succession.”
– The Reviews Hub. Read the full review here.
“It is slick and stylish and most importantly fun to watch.”
“This new creation deserves to be seen at venues throughout Ireland. In fact it would be a worthy ambassador for Ireland in foreign lands. Ellen Cranitch has created a fine new singspiel.”
– No More Workhorse. Read the full review here.
“If you are looking for a piece of theatre to get you feeling a little festive in an atypical way then I could not recommend The Dead / An Opera more.”
– LeCool Dublin. Read the full review here.
“The last story in The Dubliners is already full of song, but opera proved to be a great way of bringing out the ‘internal arias’ in characters’ heads.”
Peter Crawley of the Irish Times visited the rehearsal room for The Dead. Read the feature that he wrote here.
The Irish Independent – Feature
“Here in the rehearsal room of The Dead: An Opera, anything seems possible”
Maggie Armstrong of the Irish Independent writes a feature from The Dead rehearsal room. Read it here.
Live recording of experts from the show, and director Jo Mangan and composer Ellen Cranitch discuss the show.
“Opera version brings James Joyce’s short story ‘The Dead’ back to life”
“Joyce’s classic short story was an obvious choice for a musical adaptation”, writes Padraic Killeen in the Irish Examiner
“with singers and a string quartet conjuring up the atmosphere of one of the most famous Christmas parties in literature”, The Dead Opera selected by the Irish Times as one of the highlights of the festive season in Dublin.
thedeadopera.wordpress.com 