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After four previous sell out shows – The most successful NCH Series of 2011/ 2012 – Casta Diva – The Life, Loves and Music of Maria Callas returns by popular demand to the National Concert Hall on Saturday, 13th October 2012. Since the shows inception last year over 5,000 people have seen this wonderful story come to life at the NCH. Tickets are on sale now.

Maria Callas is widely regarded as one of the greatest stars of the 20th Century. She combined a virtuosic technique with great dramatic gifts, making her operatic interpretations the standard by which other singers have since been measured.

The show stars the sensational Irish soprano Mairead Buicke (as Maria Callas) fresh from her English National Opera debut and her critically acclaimed portrayal in the title role of ‘Tosca’ in the UK last year. James Edwards (tenor) and Simon Morgan (baritone) play the men her life, as Callas’ fascinating and ultimately tragic life story is told through much loved opera classics from La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Tosca, La Traviata and Carmen. Starring alongside them are the wonderful The Casta Diva Chamber Orchestra conducted by Andrew Synnott.

Mairéad Buicke was born in Limerick and graduated with a first class honours BA Performance Degree from the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne. She subsequently studied at the National Opera Studio in London.

Mairéad joined the young artist programme at the Aix en Provence Festival, France in 2005 and joined the Young Artists at English National Opera, London for the 2007/2010 season. She won the Most Promising Singer Prize in London and then made her ENO London debut as Musetta in “La Boheme” under the direction of the renowned opera director Jonathon Miller .

In July 2011 Mairead created a sensation in the title role of “Tosca” for Grange Park Opera and later in London. She was immediately engaged to sing in Beethoven 9th Symphony with the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican Hall, London and for her Proms debut at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

While working as an international opera singer, Mairead spent six years living in London where she was a young principal soprano with English National Opera at the London Coliseum. “I sang many major roles such as Pamina (Die Zauberflote), Musetta ( La Boheme) and also had the opportunity to work with many major opera directors such as the great Jonathon Miller and John Copley. I sang the title role in ‘Tosca’ last year, which was an amazing thrill.”

Casta Diva – The Life, Loves and Music of Maria Callas starring Mairead Buicke returns to the National Concert Hall on Saturday, 13th October 2012. Tickets are on sale now and can be bought directly from the NCH on 01 417 0000 / www.nch.ie