Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland. The first venue opened in 1855 on Emmet Place (then known as Nelson's Place) to the rear of the Crawford Art Gallery. This original building was destroyed by fire in 1955, and a replacement opened in 1965. With a number of additions in the early 21st century, the 1000-seat venue hosted over 100 theatre, music, opera, and comedy events in 2015.
Cork Opera House
Cork Opera House in 2017
Former names
Athenaeum (1855–1875) The Munster Hall (1875–1877)[1]
Cork Opera House as pictured in the late 19th century
Cork's opera house was originally built in the 1850s to designs by architect John Benson.[3] Intended for the "promotion of science, literature and the fine arts, and the diffusion of architectural knowledge", the building was based on a template that the architect had used for the exhibition buildings at the Irish Industrial Exhibition.[4]
Opened in 1855, this building was originally called "The Athenaeum", and was renamed "The Munster Hall" in 1875. It was renamed as the "Opera House", after extensive reconstruction, in 1877.[1]
The opera house was renovated to plans by Arthur Hill in 1908.[5] While this building survived the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920, it burned down several decades later in its centenary year of 1955. The fire started on the evening of 12 December 1955, caused by an electrical fault and fueled by wooden materials.[6]
Redevelopment (1963–present)edit
The site remained undeveloped for several years, until the remains of the old building were bulldozed in early 1963 and development on a new theatre commenced.[7] The newly constructed Opera House opened on the same site in 1965.[8]
This 1960s building was designed by Scott Tallon Walker,[9] and was officially opened by then President of Ireland, Éamon de Valera, in October 1965.[4]
In 2000, large-scale renovation works were completed on both the facade of the building and the surrounding Emmett Place.[8] Subsequent works include the development of a new café, updated acoustics and seating.[8]
Operationedit
The Opera House has always hosted performances other than opera, with theatre, music, drama, dance, comedy and other performance types making-up the venue's repertoire.[10]
In 2015, the Opera House hosted 276 performances of 108 events in the main 1000-seat auditorium.[11] The Half Moon Theatre, a smaller 100-seat venue which lies to the rear of the Opera House, hosted 77 performances of 29 events in the same period.[11]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Athenaeum / Opera House". Corkpastandpresent.ie. Cork City Libraries. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
^"Venue seating plans - Cork - Cork Opera House". Euroticket. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
^"1855 - Cork Opera House (The Athenaeum), Cork". Archiseek. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
^ ab"Architecture of Cork City - Opera House". Askaboutireland.ie. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
^"HILL, ARTHUR - Dictionary of Irish Architects". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
^"Cork history: The fire that devastated Cork's beloved Opera House". echolive.ie. The Echo. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^"Archives - New Opera House For Cork (1963)". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^ abc"About Us - History". corkoperahouse.ie. Cork Opera House. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^"1965 – Cork Opera House, Cork". archiseek.com. Archiseek. 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
^"Cork Opera House Theatre". discoverireland.ie. Retrieved 7 October 2020. Cork Opera House [..has a..] programme of events across the performing arts: concerts, comedy, drama, musicals, contemporary and classical dance, family shows, the annual Christmas pantomime, and of course, opera
^ ab"Cork Opera House profits hit right note". irishexaminer.com. Irish Examiner. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
cork, opera, house, theatre, opera, house, cork, ireland, first, venue, opened, 1855, emmet, place, then, known, nelson, place, rear, crawford, gallery, this, original, building, destroyed, fire, 1955, replacement, opened, 1965, with, number, additions, early,. Cork Opera House is a theatre and opera house in Cork in Ireland The first venue opened in 1855 on Emmet Place then known as Nelson s Place to the rear of the Crawford Art Gallery This original building was destroyed by fire in 1955 and a replacement opened in 1965 With a number of additions in the early 21st century the 1000 seat venue hosted over 100 theatre music opera and comedy events in 2015 Cork Opera HouseCork Opera House in 2017Former namesAthenaeum 1855 1875 The Munster Hall 1875 1877 1 AddressEmmett PlaceCorkIrelandCoordinates51 54 01 N 8 28 21 W 51 9003 N 8 4726 W 51 9003 8 4726Capacity 1 000 main auditorium 2 Current useTheatre music film and comedy venueConstructionOpened1855Rebuilt1965Years active1855 1955 1965 presentArchitectScott Tallon Walker 1963 Building Murray o Laoire 2000 Facade WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 1 1 Original building 1855 1955 1 2 Redevelopment 1963 present 2 Operation 3 References 4 External linksHistory editOriginal building 1855 1955 edit nbsp Cork Opera House as pictured in the late 19th century Cork s opera house was originally built in the 1850s to designs by architect John Benson 3 Intended for the promotion of science literature and the fine arts and the diffusion of architectural knowledge the building was based on a template that the architect had used for the exhibition buildings at the Irish Industrial Exhibition 4 Opened in 1855 this building was originally called The Athenaeum and was renamed The Munster Hall in 1875 It was renamed as the Opera House after extensive reconstruction in 1877 1 The opera house was renovated to plans by Arthur Hill in 1908 5 While this building survived the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920 it burned down several decades later in its centenary year of 1955 The fire started on the evening of 12 December 1955 caused by an electrical fault and fueled by wooden materials 6 Redevelopment 1963 present edit The site remained undeveloped for several years until the remains of the old building were bulldozed in early 1963 and development on a new theatre commenced 7 The newly constructed Opera House opened on the same site in 1965 8 This 1960s building was designed by Scott Tallon Walker 9 and was officially opened by then President of Ireland Eamon de Valera in October 1965 4 In 2000 large scale renovation works were completed on both the facade of the building and the surrounding Emmett Place 8 Subsequent works include the development of a new cafe updated acoustics and seating 8 Operation editThe Opera House has always hosted performances other than opera with theatre music drama dance comedy and other performance types making up the venue s repertoire 10 In 2015 the Opera House hosted 276 performances of 108 events in the main 1000 seat auditorium 11 The Half Moon Theatre a smaller 100 seat venue which lies to the rear of the Opera House hosted 77 performances of 29 events in the same period 11 References edit a b Athenaeum Opera House Corkpastandpresent ie Cork City Libraries Retrieved 9 September 2017 Venue seating plans Cork Cork Opera House Euroticket Retrieved 9 September 2017 1855 Cork Opera House The Athenaeum Cork Archiseek Retrieved 9 September 2017 a b Architecture of Cork City Opera House Askaboutireland ie Retrieved 9 September 2017 HILL ARTHUR Dictionary of Irish Architects www dia ie Retrieved 31 October 2021 Cork history The fire that devastated Cork s beloved Opera House echolive ie The Echo 13 December 2019 Retrieved 7 October 2020 Archives New Opera House For Cork 1963 rte ie RTE Retrieved 7 October 2020 a b c About Us History corkoperahouse ie Cork Opera House Retrieved 7 October 2020 1965 Cork Opera House Cork archiseek com Archiseek 2009 Retrieved 7 October 2020 Cork Opera House Theatre discoverireland ie Retrieved 7 October 2020 Cork Opera House has a programme of events across the performing arts concerts comedy drama musicals contemporary and classical dance family shows the annual Christmas pantomime and of course opera a b Cork Opera House profits hit right note irishexaminer com Irish Examiner 3 September 2015 Retrieved 7 October 2020 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cork Opera House amp oldid 1208231519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
