Red-hot 'Herring' shows opera is back in vogue

THE SOCIAL NETWORK:The recent resurgence of opera was evident at the opening of the Royal Irish Academy of Music's production of Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring at the Project Arts Centre on Tuesday night. The composer Tom Lane was there with Séan Doherty, from Derry, who is composing an opera for the UK City of Culture 2013, with a libretto by Carlo Gébler. Another audience member, Declan McGovern, is moving from BBC in Belfast to be the new general manager of the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra.

The pianist and retired professor of music at UCD Seoirse Bodley was there with Dr Lorraine Byrne Bodley. He celebrates his 80th birthday this year and in April there will be a concert at the Hugh Lane Gallery, featuring the baritone Owen Gilhooly and the soprano Sylvia O’Brien.

Gavin O’Sullivan of Wide Open Opera caught up with Miriam Roycroft, head of strings at the academy. O’Sullivan is behind a new music festival called New Music Dublin which will take place in March at the National Concert Hall.

Who we spottedSoprano Kathleen Tynan; interior designer Tim Guilbride.