A Co Kerry quarry which supplies the Houses of Parliament in London with slate is to become the setting for one of Opera Theatre Ireland's first "outdoor" performances this summer.
The Valentia slate quarry, on the island off Co Kerry, is to be a working quarry again after 100 years. Its cave-like entrance, built over a Marian shrine, will be the venue for the Opera Theatre Company's Stabat Mater by Pergolesi over three nights.
The hour-long performance is in conjunction with the visual artist Dorothy Cross. "It combines the worlds of nature, industry, religion and art, and is an ideal setting. It is our most ambitious project to date," said Ms Maura Flynn, spokeswoman for the opera company.
Baroque specialist counter-tenor Jonathan Peter Kenny has already visited the quarry to practise, along with Irish soprano Lynda Lee, and the acoustics have been described as "astounding".
The Irish Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Mark Duley, will be present over the three nights on August 19th, 20th and 21st.