Sir, – The unfortunate demise of Opera Ireland back in 2010 left the legacy, among other burdens, of having at some point to reawaken, reassure and revitalise an Irish audience in support of this great art form.
Now, the best part of a decade of lost years hence, and against the backdrop of the projected budget for Irish opera for 2018 being lower, in real terms, than for 2010, the horizon has remarkably brightened with the Arts Council's recent, if unheralded, decision pertaining to its selection of a new company to be the "preferred provider of main-scale opera in Dublin from 2018" ("Arts Council announces new opera company", July 3rd).
It is now critical that this decision is seen by all “participant” parties, including the public, any unsuccessful “bidders” and the responsible civil servants and politicians, as an opportunity for a renewed departure, rich with long-term, realisable possibilities, in an era in which we are blessed with outstanding internationally renowned Irish opera singers, both female and male. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny.