Classics in the Park was held at Loughshore Park in Jordanstown as part of the Shoreline Festival on Monday 26th August. After a fun filled day of family activities, people gathered at the park to witness some of Northern Ireland’s finest budding Opera singers.
Loughshore was positively buzzing with people of all ages as the adults gathered to watch Classics in the Park, while the children enjoyed the park and the funfair nearby. At around 7.30pm it was still light outside and the weather was mild as the pianist introduced herself, the page turner and the night’s singers. The programme was divided into two sections, with a 20 minute interval in the middle to let the players rest their voices.
There was a great turnout and the seating area was full, there was also the Barista coffee bar on site to provide hot drinks and ice-cream, alongside Granny Annie’s sweetshop van, a burger van and some dinky donuts to satiate that sweet tooth.
Highlights of the first half were definitely Brindisi from La Traviata and Donne Mie la Fate a Tanti from Cosi fan tutee (although you may not recognise the names, you’ll probably know the tunes!). Before each song, the singer summarised the theme of the song they were about to sing, which really helped those not so familiar with Opera (such as myself!).
The show reconvened at 9pm as dark was setting in and the second half featured more well known songs such as Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off and Tonight from West Side Story, culminating in the more traditional anthem Oh Danny Boy.
In regards to the running and organising of the event, it was impeccable. There were plenty of security, police and staff on hand to assist and direct, along with floodlights and barriers to keep the whole thing in order. The night was topped of with a fantastic fireworks display set to music. Definitely the best Classics yet!
