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Something for the Weekend: Gemma Ní Bhriain cultural picks

Updated / Wednesday, 30 Apr 2025 07:00
Mezzo-soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain (Pic: Miriam Kaczor)
Mezzo-soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain (Pic: Miriam Kaczor)

Dublin-born mezzo-soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain is busy performing both at home and across Europe.

She will bring her captivating voice and stage presence to her role as Hippolyta in Benjamin Britten's opera A Midsummer Night's Dream, which takes place on the grounds of Lismore Castle as part of the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, which runs from 27th May - June 2nd.

We asked Gemma for her choice cultural picks...

FILM

The last two movies I went to see were Bridget Jones; Mad About the Boy and Conclave. They could not be more different from each other, but I loved them both equally!

MUSIC

Spotify created a playlist for my birthday a few months ago and it’s titled ‘Crooner, Vintage Hollywood and 70s’, and that about sums up my music tastes pretty well. Because I have to learn so much new music for my job, I don’t have a lot of headspace to take in new current releases in music, but that’s definitely something I need to improve on!

BOOK

I was gifted The Colony by Audrey Magee a few years ago. I had never read anything like it. It’s set in 1979 on a fictional island off the West Coast of Ireland where Gaeilge is still the predominant language. It follows a young islander, a French linguist and an English painter and deals with their different perspectives on the importance of culture and how to accept how it’s changing.

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THEATRE

I really enjoyed The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan when it was on in the Abbey last year. It was directed by Tom Creed, who I’ve worked with on opera productions; yet I had never seen any of his theatre work.

I thought it was a really interesting concept to have all the parts played by actors who were women or non-binary, and the way that music was incorporated into the show really added to the production.

I’ve also managed to get tickets to Prima Facie starring Jodie Comer that will be in The Gaiety next year. All the reviews I’ve read have raved about the play and her performance so I’m really excited and looking forward to that.

TV

The world seems to be a bit of a dark place at the moment, so I definitely lean towards comedies when I watch TV. Parks and Recreation with Amy Poehler and Brooklyn Nine-Nine are my go-tos. And Abbott Elementary, created by Quinta Brunson, is definitely a new favourite!

GIG

The last gig I attended was Martin Hayes performing with the National Symphony Orchestra. The mix of Irish traditional music with some classical arrangements really created something special, and the atmosphere from the audience that night was really magical.

I’ll be taking part in Blackwater Valley Opera Festival’s main production this summer (Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) but I’m really excited to catch Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (27th and 29th May). It’s the first time the festival will be presenting two operas as part of their programme and Irish mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy will be singing the dual role of Dido. If you can get a ticket, do!

ART

I can barely draw a stickman so I don’t feel very qualified to talk about art or artists, but I do find myself being drawn to the French Impressionists when I wander through galleries. I did get a chance to go visit Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, just outside Paris, and it was obvious how he was inspired to paint living in such a beautiful place.

RADIO

I really love Aedín Gormley’s Movies and Musicals programme on RTÉ lyric fm. It’s just the perfect mix of old and new music, plus some really great interviews. It’s such a feel-good programme but you come away feeling like you’ve learned something too.

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And then when it comes to podcasts just give me a good true crime documentary and I’m happy. Hooked, Operation: Tradebom, The Teacher’s Pet and Kill List are podcasts that I’ve listened to over the last while.

TECH

The app that I probably use the most, apart from Netflix, is forScore. It’s stores all of my sheet music on my iPad, and acts as a digital library. I love using real scores while rehearsing or performing, but for travel I definitely don’t miss the weight of them in my bag or the space they take up.

THE NEXT BIG THING

I’m not sure, but I think Ireland has such a track record of producing the next big actor, actress, singer or director that I’m sure it won’t be long until there’s someone else on the scene that we’re proud to call Irish!

The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival runs 27th May - 2nd June - find out more here

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