Opera Star Tara Erraught's Exciting Northern Ireland Debut in Derry!

Tara Erraught, a celebrated Irish opera singer, is preparing for a significant moment in her career: her first professional performance in Northern Ireland. Although Tara was born in Ravensdale, near the Cooley mountains in County Louth, just a few miles from the border, she has never sung professionally in Northern Ireland before. Her career has taken her to some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Bavarian State Opera, Opéra de Paris, and Vienna State Opera. Now, she is set to perform at the Midwinter Gala Christmas Concert in Londonderry, also known as Derry, and she told BBC News NI that she is thrilled to finally make her debut there. Tara explained that sometimes it takes a truly inspiring project to motivate her to do something new, and this concert is one of those special opportunities. She arrived from Karlsruhe, Germany, just in time for the event.

Tara’s love for singing began when she was a child. She attended the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, but her musical journey started even earlier. Initially, Tara wanted to play the violin, but after performing for her grandparents, she noticed how deeply her singing affected them. She felt a powerful connection and realized that singing was her true passion. Tara said she was instantly hooked and wanted to learn everything she could about singing, as the violin did not give her the same feeling. As a child, Tara participated in Féis, which are competitions that celebrate Irish culture and music. These experiences were crucial for her development as a performer. She believes that performing in Féis helped her overcome stage fright and taught her valuable skills that she still uses today. Tara said that the Féis tradition helped her build confidence and made public performance feel less intimidating.

Over the years, Tara’s reputation has grown, and she is now recognized as one of the leading figures in the opera world. She has performed with many renowned opera companies and on famous stages around the globe. Despite her success, Tara still values the lessons she learned from her early experiences in Féis. Her upcoming performance will take place at St Columb’s Hall, a venue closely associated with the annual Derry Féis, making it a meaningful location for her debut. Tara described Derry as a special city, known for its open and enthusiastic audiences. She said that the people of Derry are famous for their appreciation of music and that conductors often praise the city’s welcoming atmosphere. Tara promised that the audience at the gala concert would be treated to some of opera’s greatest hits. The event is organized by Darren Hargan, a Derry native and founder of the international orchestra Le Foyer des Artistes. After the concert, Tara will return to Germany for rehearsals and then spend Christmas in the United States with her family. The first part of next year is already packed with performances, including Don Giovanni in Dresden, The Barber of Seville in Berlin, and a collaboration with Cecilia Bartoli in Salzburg. Tara expressed her admiration for Bartoli, calling her 'my Beyoncé,' and said she feels lucky to have such a busy schedule, especially after the challenges brought by the Covid pandemic.