Opera Collective Ireland’s fabulous production of Handel’s Semele wins Best Opera in The Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards 2022.

We are overjoyed to celebrate the recognition of our production of Handel’s Semele with not one but FOUR nominations in the 2022 Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards and for winning the category of Best Opera. In collaboration with Kilkenny Arts Festival and in association with Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and Sestina, Semele was one of the highlights of the 2022 Kilkenny Arts Festival and went on the open the 2022/23 season at the Pavilion Theatre Dun Laoghaire. In both venues it was met with huge critical and audience acclaim.

The production was conducted by Christian Curnyn and directed by Patrick Mason. Set and lighting design was by Paul Keogan and the costumes were designed by Catherine Fay.

OCI were nominated in four categories:

Best Opera: Semele

Best Director: Patrick Mason

Best Costume: Catherine Fay

Best Lighting: Paul Keogan 

The cast of Semele were:

• Semele: Kelli Ann Masterson
• Juno/Ino: Dominica Williams
• Cadmus/Somnus: Edward Hawkins
• Apollo/Jupiter: Andrew Gavin
• Iris: Jade Phoenix
• Athmas: Gerben van der Werf
• Chorus: Sestina (dir. Mark Chambers)