Cork Proms set to spring back into action at the Opera House next April 

The music of Queen, Elton John, Madonna, and Michael Jackson will feature in the Cork Proms programme, which returns to the stage of the Opera House in April for three concerts.

The proms, now in their fifth edition, started in 2019 and, after a pandemic hiatus, returned in 2022. They will feature the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra under the baton of some of Ireland’s leading conductors, and with Cork’s own Jack O’Rourke for the last night, entitled The Kings, Queens and Princes of Pop.

The three concerts will be performed over five nights in April. 

Iconic figures 

On Saturday and Sunday, April 19/20, Legendary Moments of Love, Loss, Dreams and Redemption will focus on iconic figures of musical theatre, bringing to life Nancy (Oliver!), Jean Valjean (Les Miserables), and Maria (The Sound of Music) and showcasing some of the most memorable roles in musical history.

On Wednesday, April 23, the Cork Opera House Orchestra will be conducted by Gary Beecher in a programme of soundtracks that will be familiar to all, entitled The Ultimate Classics: Masterpieces of Popular Culture. This concert will feature iconic works, ranging from the Champions League intro to the anthemic Also Sprach Zarathustra, which was used so effectively in Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The hits of Queen, Prince, Elton John, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Michael Jackson, and George Michael will be included in the programme of Kings, Queens and Princes of Pop, the concerts that will be staged on the last two nights of the Cork Proms on Saturday and Sunday, April 26/27. 

Timeless hits

These timeless pop hits will feature in a concert programme curated by Opera House artistic director Eibhlín Gleeson and singer-songwriter Jack O’Rourke.

Ms Gleeson described the 2025 edition of the Cork Proms, which coincides with 170 years of the Opera House, as “an inconic and unforgettable celebration of music from musical theatre, popular culture, and pop legends. We’re thrilled to showcase the icons that have shaped our world, offering spectacular performances that celebrate the best of these legendary figures”.

“With our beloved Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra and some of Ireland’s finest conductors and soloists, these concerts will be very special.”