Cork 2005: Canadian singers Marion Newman and David Pomeroy take the leading roles in Carmen, presented by Opera 2005 as a headline production in a thin summer season at the Opera House and opening on Thursday (continuing Saturday and Sunday).

Both Newman and Mary Hegarty, who sings Michaela, have been working with Opera North, while Roland Wood, singing Escamillo, is company principal with Scottish Opera. This staging is directed by Chris Cowell and is a co-production with Belfast's Castleward Opera; the conductor is Kevin Mallon, artistic director of Opera 2005, design is by David Craig and choreography by Nick Bryson, artist in residence at the Institute for Choreography and Dance at the Firkin Crane in Cork.

While there's lots of musical good things on offer in Cork for July, special mention must be made of Elizabeth Bowen's home church at Farahy, near Doneraile; the tiny building dedicated to St Colman is the venue for Sunday's concert by the Carducci Quartet: 2.30pm, tickets €12 from Jane Annesley: 022-26145/jannesley@eircom.net (booking is essential).