Cork Opera House: Home of Performing Arts in Cork
City
Located less than a kilometre from
The River Lee Hotel, the Opera House at Emmet Place is
a must-visit when in Cork. Much more than an opera house, it's a
complete arts centre that offers locals and visitors a full
complement of events and activities. It’s just a five minute drive
or ten minute walk from our Cork hotel.
A Short History of the Cork Opera House
The original
building at the Emmet Place site was opened in 1855. The first
so-named
Cork Opera
House opened its doors in 1877. A landmark of the city
by the middle of the 20th century, the building burned to the
ground in 1955. The opera house you can visit today was built in
the 1960s. With this new building, the Opera House has regained its
role as the central arts venue in Cork city.
Performing Arts in Cork
The Opera House actually has
two theatre houses within it. The main stage has seating for 1,000
and an orchestra pit that can hold 70 musicians. This is the stage
where you can enjoy major productions of operas, musicals,
concerts, dance, and dramatic performances. The more intimate Half
Moon Theatre seats 100 people. This smaller space is where the more
avant garde performances are produced. Having this combination of
theatre houses within its walls allows the Opera House to present a
variety of performances so all artistic interests can be met. The
Opera House also hosts a number of festivals and films each year.
If you’re staying at a
hotel in Cork, it makes sense to check out the
schedule for the Cork Operate House.
Art on the Walls
In addition to its performance
spaces, the Cork Opera House also a growing collection of visual
art created by both established and rising local artists, such as
Dermot Browne and Bridget Flannery. The paintings are displayed
throughout the building and you can pick up a brochure that
discusses each piece and artist in detail in the building's
foyer.
A Place for Families
As part of its stated mission to
serve its city by offering its audiences a full range of events,
the Opera House makes a point to present family-friendly
performances. These performances may be showing classic works, like
Swan Lake, at times convenient for families, or it may be
productions that are especially geared towards children.
Sitting along the banks of the River Lee, the Opera House at Emmet
Place is a gathering place for local Corkonians of all ages.
Enjoying both its atmosphere and its artistic offerings is easy
when staying at the River Lee Hotel.
The River Lee Hotel offers a number of special
packages.
Click here to view our bespoke Cork Hotel
Packages.
