World-acclaimed soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will sing in Cork next year as part of a series of concerts to coincide with the city's designation as European capital of culture.
New Zealand-born Dame Kiri will perform at Cork City Hall on May 4th as part of a series of concerts organised by Cork music impresario Barra Ó Tuama.
The soprano will be joined by Welsh tenor Dennis O Neill. Tickets go on sale mid-February, priced from €45 to €130.
Ms Deirdre Ó Tuama of Opera Galas said yesterday the concert would be Dame Kiri's only one in Ireland next year.
"Given the year that it is for Cork with the European capital of culture, we wanted to do something special.
"It's not part of the official programme but it is our contribution to the capital of culture," said Ms O Tuama.
Barra Ó Tuama's company, Opera Galas, will also host concerts at the 1,200-seater Cork City Hall by Chilean tenor Tito Beltran with the Irish soprano, Cara O'Sullivan, on January 22nd and Italian baritone Paolo Gavanelli on November 27th.
Meanwhile, Cork's designation as European capital of culture will be toasted with its own selection of wines and champagne following the launching yesterday of a limited edition series of varietal wines from France.
Bubble Brothers, which imports and supplies fine wines and champagne to restaurants and hotels throughout Ireland, has produced a series of Cork 2005 wines and champagne with specially-designed labels to mark Cork's tenure as capital of culture.
Mr Billy Forrester of Bubble Brothers said the wines included a cabernet sauvignon from Languedoc, a chardonnay from the Loire, a merlot from Languedoc and a sauvignon blanc from Languedoc.
"We also have a Cork 2005 Champagne Reserve Brut NV which we've sourced with a producer called Jose Pierlot in the Marne Valley. It was the first champagne that we ever imported into Cork and it's proven very popular," said Mr Forrester.
Cork designer Kieran O'Connor was commissioned to create a series of labels. He has produced designs which feature prominent Cork landmarks including the Opera House, the English Market, Kent Railway Station, Crawford Gallery and the City Hall.
The wines, which retail at €9.99, and the champagne, which sells for €37.99, will be available from Supervalu and Centra Stores as well as directly from Bubble Brothers.