FROM bunscoil Scoil Iosaif in Newcastlewest and singing with Comhaltas Templeglantine, to international leading roles in opera, well, that’s a journey. Now County Limerick soprano Mairead Buicke is enjoying a more intimate one of late, her transformation as the iconic Callas for Niall Morris’ show, ‘Casta Diva – the Life, Loves and Music of Maria Callas”.
With Buicke in the title role supported by tenor James Edwards and baritone Simon Morgan as her husband/ manager Meneghini and Onassis respectively, this is a “show that has been created in an opera fashion with scenes from Maria Callas’ life. It reflects her and the almost operatic character she was herself, a music and a fashion icon too”.
Told from each player’s perspective, the most beautiful, resonant arias from opera are its eloquence.
Talking to Arts page from a café between rehearsals, Buicke is looking forward to her Limerick date as Casta Diva in the concert hall this Friday November 9 at 8pm.
“In the original show we had four sell out nights in the National Concert Hall. Then Niall (Morris, producer) looked to revise it, making it more than a ‘stand up and sing’ concert”, this level headed star reports. Callas’ love affair with the Greek tycoon proved the rock on which her extraordinary career and self-belief became fragile, lost.
At least 5,000 people have seen it on tour so far. And with Buicke having moved in from principal with English National Opera for contract with Europe’s leading opera houses, her native Limerick is lucky to catch sight and sound. Her ‘Tosca’ at Grange Park Festival, UK last year knocked it out of the park. On then to her first role with BBC’s Proms and being Mimi in ‘La Boheme’ proved another great success.
Having sung with Micaela in ‘Carmen’, Geraldine in ‘The Barber of Seville’, roles by Britten, Gounod, Dvorak and more, hanging out in Ireland (Buicke lives in Dublin with her husband) for this tour is a happy time for the daughter of Denis and Carmel Buicke. Working on the continent with its great opera houses is past and future reality for her.
Book for Casta Diva at box office and at ww.uch.ie; November 9, 8pm.
