Mezzo-Soprano Fiona Murphy (daughter of Garda Commissioner Fachtna
Murphy) who sang the role of The Gypsy Queen in the concert performance of The Bohemian
Girl.
A spectacular evening of entertainment was on tap for the Council's 2008 MidSummer
Gala evening when the Council hosted a concert performance of Michael William Balfe's
Opera, The Bohemian Girl, presented in conjunction with the Royal Dublin Society
(RDS) at its Ballsbridge Concert Hall. After the concert, a Gala black-tie dinner
was held at the Four Seasons Hotel.
The opera performance was the third and final part of a trilogy celebrating the
founding of the RDS 275 years ago. Council President Michael J. Gibbons, in his
welcoming remarks, said "The Council is delighted to partner with our friends in
the Royal Dublin Society in this staging of the third and final part of a trilogy
of performances celebrating this important anniversary of the Society's founding.
We are very pleased to use this occasion to herald the bonds of friendship between
America and Ireland. I wish especially to thank the President of the Society, Dr.
Tony Scott and President-Emeritus Dr. Austin Mescal and their many colleagues at
the RDS who have made such detailed preparations in the staging of tonight's performance."
President Gibbons also made special mention for thanks of the conductor of the concert,
Proinsias Ó Duinn, in addition to the talented and celebrated performers, singers,
musicians and narrator. The participation of Our Lady's Choral Society was also
singled out for praise.
At the dinner following the opera, staged at The Four Seasons Hotel, the President
of the Council's Ireland Chapter, Brian Goggin welcomed Council members and guests
with a special welcome extended to visitors from the United States.
He added "This is a notable occasion also because tonight's Special Concert Performance
of Michael William Balfe's The Bohemian Girl helps mark this important 275th Birthday
of The Royal Dublin Society. By happy coincidence, this year also marks the 200th
Anniversary of the birth in Dublin of the opera's composer."
Brian Goggin also introduced a special award, which was made by Martin Cullen, TD
- Ireland's Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism. The Council's Award was presented,
in conjunction with the Irish Arts Review, to Ireland's greatest sculptor, John
Behan, to mark his notable and outstanding contribution to the arts.
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