We are thrilled to share an extraordinary update from the Derry-based international ensemble Le Foyer des Artistes. Nearly seventy years after its creation, Ina Boyle’s only surviving stage opera, Maudlin of Paplewick, is finally coming to the stage.
This historic World Première will take place on 16th October 2026 at the prestigious Festival Respighi in Bologna, Italy (at the Teatro Laura Betti).
Composed around 1956 and based on Ben Jonson’s The Sad Shepherd, this lyrical three-act chamber opera has sat unperformed and forgotten for decades. Thanks to the incredible dedication of conductor Darren Hargan, a brand-new critical edition has been published by Faber Music London, bringing this significant masterpiece of the Irish classical canon to life.
The landmark production features a talented ensemble of young Irish singers in partnership with the Festival Respighi Bologna, the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna (ABABO), and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Orchestra, with the generous support of Culture Ireland.
Find Out More
To find out more of Le Foyer des Artistes milestone production of Ina Boyle’s opera, please visit via the link below.