IT was a very legal turnout at soprano Frances Lucey's recital in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham on Tuesday night. Which is not to say that most recitals harbour criminals, just this audience was versed in the law than most. Judges Peter Kelly and Jim Carroll, came along to show their appreciation of this soprano, who is critically acclaimed outside Ireland having sung with the Bavarian State Opera since 1990 and performed in the New York Met, but who last gave a recital in this country 10 years ago.
The judges, senior counsel Diarmaid McGuinness and many barristers (including Stephen McCann, fresh from the Rocca case, and Frances's sister, Catherine Lucey), who made up the audience can be explained by the backgrounds of the recital's organiser. Fiona Daly, who trained as a solicitor and now works as a scriptwriter for RTE's Fair City, is married to Peter Charleton, a barrister and avid music fan who has put on a fair few productions of his own.
Fiona, as well as being a great, fan of Lucey's work, is an old friend since school, as is huge magazine editor Jane McDonnell, who came along to enjoy the performance with her mother, Betty McDonnell.
Other media people in the audience included RTE's Isobel Charleton and her husband Frank Fitzgibbon, and actors Barry McGovern and Brian, McGrath who came along with his wife, Carolyn McGrath. Frances's parents, John and Di Mary Lucey were delighted to have a chance to see her performing at home, as was Frances's former teacher, Veronica Dunne.
Wexford Opera Festival director Jerome Hynes drove through the hailstones to see Fiances perform. He is a fan since her performances: in past festivals and, recalled a recent phone call from Brian Kellow, assistant editor of the biggest opera magazine in the US, Opera News, who was raving about Lucey's performance in New York.