Please note, this event will also be live-streamed as well as have an in-person audience. You can watch the live stream here on the day or after for the replay. Please only book an Eventbrite ticket if you would like to attend in person.

This programme could well bear the overall title The Romantic Voice – featuring, as it does, four of the greatest operatic composers of the late Romantic period - Strauss, Verdi, Puccini and Wagner - and song composers Schubert and Debussy. We are delighted to welcome back one of N.I.’s leading sopranos of the young generation, Mary McCabe, who is a distinguished graduate of QUB; she is partnered by Newry-born pianist David Quigley, among the best-known of Northern Ireland artists both in solo and chamber capacities. Mary will sing song and opera selections by Debussy, Strauss and Puccini, while David will contribute solo arrangements by Liszt of vocal highlights by Schubert and Wagner.

Mary McCabe

Mary McCabe is a soprano hailing from Downpatrick, N.Ireland. Mary has been connected with Northern Ireland Opera since its conception, beginning as a Young Artist and later an Associate Artist. She sang as 'Mademoiselle Silberklang' in their production of 'The Impresario' as part of The Walled City Festival. She has also performed in their production of Puccini's Turandot as 'First Maiden' (Grand Opera House) and as 'Belinda' in their concert performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Most recently Mary featured in the award-winning short film ‘Old Friends and Other Days’ directed by Cameron Menzies, NIOpera. She also performed in a live recorded concert recently on Sky Arts in ‘Live at the Waterfront’ with NIOpera. Mary graduated First Class in Music and French from The Queen’s University of Belfast and with Distinction in her Masters degree from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Whilst studying in Scotland, Mary was awarded First Prize in the Norma Grieg French Song Competition. More recently, Mary was a winner of the New York International Opera Project Competition and awarded first place for singing Bellini in the Italian Concorso Internazionale Lions Canto Lirico. Mary has been generously supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland throughout the years through grants and awards. An award-winning performer on the operatic, oratorio and recital platforms, Mary has performed both nationally and internationally to critical acclaim and is excited to make her musical theatre debut in Northern Ireland Opera’s ‘Into the Woods’ by the late Stephen Sondheim as Rapunzel and Cinderella’s Mother.

David Quigley

Since his early successes in major competitions including BBC Young Musician of the Year, the Royal Over-Seas League music competition and his selection as the UK’s representative for the ECHO Rising Stars concert series, Irish pianist David Quigley now enjoys a varied international career as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician.

He has performed throughout Europe, USA and Asia in many of the world’s greatest concert halls including the Philharmonie Köln, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Symphony Hall Birmingham, Musikverein Vienna, Mozarteum Salzburg, Palais des

Beaux-Arts Brussels, National Concert Hall Athens, Wigmore Hall London, Konserthaus Stockholm and Carnegie Hall New York.

As a concerto soloist he has appeared with many orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Camerata Ireland, Southern Sinfonia and Cairo Symphony Orchestra.

David is also a much sought after chamber musician and has performed with internationally renowned artists including oboist Nicholas Daniel, clarinetist Michael Collins and soprano Ailish Tynan.

He performs regularly with his sister, the violinist Joanne Quigley-McParland in both duo recitals and in trio recitals with the Norwegian cellist Jonathan Aasgaard. He also is co-founder and pianist of the Fews Ensemble, Ireland’s newest chamber music group.

David’s discography includes Piano Music From Northern Ireland (Lontano records), Saint-Saëns Carnival Of The Animals with the Lancashire Sinfonietta, Rediscoveries: Old and New Music of Ireland with Joanne Quigley-McParland (Ischia Records), Piano music by Philip Hammond (Lontano records), Piano Classics (El Greco Records) and Piano Nocturnes (Avie Records). He broadcasts extensively on both radio and television for the BBC, RTÉ, Classic FM, RTÉ Lyric FM and NPO Radio 4.

Aside from performing, David is passionate about musical education. He is a member of the piano faculty at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the University of Birmingham. He is co-founder/artistic advisor of Newry Chamber Music, a concert society that provides concerts and education projects in his home town and surrounding areas. David is frequently invited to give Masterclasses and to adjudicate piano competitions throughout Ireland and the UK. He has also served as a juror for the internationally renowned BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in both 2018 and 2020.

Highlights from David’s recent schedule include a special solo recital at Hillsborough Castle for His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and his guests, solo recitals at the Valentia Island festival (Ireland), the Belfast International Festival, the Hugh Lane Gallery International artists series (Ireland), a multi-city solo piano concert tour of China including recitals in Beijing, Wuhan, Xiamen and Guangzhou plus live performances for BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Ulster and Classic FM.