Irish National Opera’s Bartered Bride shines

Amy Ní Fhearraigh (Mařenka), Egor Zhuravskii (Jeník) and John Molloy (Kecal)

Irish National Opera’s The Bartered Bride

Amy Ní Fhearraigh (Mařenka) and John Molloy (Kecal)

By Andrew Larkin, 23 November 2025

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“what it lacks in acreage it more than compensates for in spirit”

Reviewed at Axis Art Centre and Theatre, Dublin on 22 November 2025

Smetana, The Bartered Bride (Prodaná nevěsta) (Sung in English, arr. Richard Peirson)

Irish National Opera

Richard Peirson, Conductor

Louisa Muller, Director

Ciaran Bagnall, Set Designer, Lighting Designer

Joan O'Clery, Costume Designer

Amy Ní Fhearraigh, Mařenka

John Molloy, Kecal

William Pearson, Vašek

Egor Zhuravskii, Jeník

Megan O'Neill, Esmeralda

Ben Escorcio, The Ringmaster

Rebecca Afonwy-Jones, Háta

Julian Close, Micha

David Howes, Krušina

Carolyn Holt, Ludmila

Matthew Mannion, The Indian

Rebecca Howell, Choreography

Irish National Opera ensemble

Irish National Opera’s new Rusalka intrigues more than it convinces

Andrew Larkin, 22nd March

Netia Jones’ modern reimagining intrigues more than it convinces, but still makes a strong case for Dvořák’s dark fairy tale.

***11

A rollicking Wild West Elisir in Dublin that hits all the right notes

Andrew Larkin, 27th May

Donizetti heads West in Cal McCrystal's riotous, laugh-out-loud L'elisir d’amore, where dazzling singing meets cowboy capers in a gloriously zany production for Irish National Opera.

*****

Charting new waters: Flying Dutchman brings Wagner back to Ireland

Andrew Larkin, 23rd March

Ireland’s first Wagner opera in over a decade dazzles with a captivating production by Rachael Hewer for Irish National Opera.

****1

Terrifically strong principals in Irish National Opera’s Rigoletto

Andrew Larkin, 1st December

Michael Chioldi, Soraya Mafi and Bekhzod Davronov shine in Julien Chavez’ energetic production in Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre.

****1

Strong voices shine amidst Fuchs' superficially garish Traviata

Andrew Larkin, 21st May

Strong vocals from the three principal singers and a sure musical direction from young conductor Farrell help offset some of the less than convincing elements to Olivia Fuchs' production.

***11

Gold medal for Irish National Opera's L’Olimpiade at Covent Garden

Roy Westbrook, 13th May

Venetian Baroque opera once had a raison d'être of spectacular and complex stagings, but Daisy Evans makes us see that other ways are possible.

****1

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Andrew Larkin

Andrew Larkin is a pianist, composer and teacher from Dublin. Educated at Dublin and at Cambridge, he has performed all around Europe and Mexico. He currently teaches piano and composition in Dublin.

Czech comedy, Irish twist: Irish National Opera’s Bartered Bride shines