Songs of a Meteorologist were sparked into life by soprano Roisin Walsh who was confused by the naming system of storms and hurricanes. Leaving long phone messages to composer Fiona Linnane on the subject, Fiona’s response was Stormy Weather, which hasn’t helped Roisin’s understanding of the naming system. The second of the songs, Don’t Make Unnecessary Journeys, is an operatic tribute to the incredible response on the internet to Teresa Mannion’s inspirational weather reporting videos!
- soprano Róisín Walsh
- violin Róisín McMullin
- Opera Workshop Production: Abandoned at The Old Sailors Home, Limerick May ’19
Bay of Fundy – a short opera for soprano and piano received its world premiere in Nova Scotia, Canada in August 2014. This video features soprano Vania Chan and pianist Simon Docking. It was inspired by Fiona’s sister in law with a few extras added in with poetic license!
Songs from Kate O’Brien is a song cycle composed in collaboration with writer Mary Coll. The songs are from the perspective of characters from novels by Kate O’Brien. There are eight songs in total – four for contralto and four for baritone. Here are some excerpts from the contralto songs performed by Sarah Ellen Murphy and Adam Collins at the Opera at Castalia Festival 2014.
Flutter fossil fox is a set of pieces for children’s choir inspired by the beasties of the Burren. The piece was composed as part of Bells across the Burren, an Arts Council of Ireland Artist in the Community scheme supported by the Clare Arts Office and the Burrenbeo trust.
Where are the Bongos? Feynman played the bongos in a mariachi band! After Benvenuto Cellini’s autobiography Feynman is my favourite autobiography. Lately I came across this which gives a totally different perspective on him
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/02/i-love-my-wife-my-wife-is-dead.html
Best wishes
I must check that out!