Europe Travel Blog

If you find yourself in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in June 2008, you might be tempted by a night at the opera – especially so if that night is held at Northern Ireland’s most prestigious five-star hotel.

Standing high on the wooded slopes of the Holywood hills, overlooking Belfast Lough and the County Antrim coastline, is the magnificent Culloden Estate & Spa, originally built as an official palace for the Bishops of Down. The Culloden stands in twelve acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland, and is only five miles from Belfast city centre.

This is the fourth year that the hotel has teamed up with Co-Opera Ireland, to present three evenings of the finest opera and cuisine, and the result is a winning combination.

Co-opera Ireland aims to bring opera to as wide an audience as possible, and following on from performances of Rigoletto and Tosca in previous years, this year they will perform Pietro Mascagni’s masterpiece Cavalleria Rusticana, which tells the dramatic tale of a young man returning to his Sicilian village after military service, to find that his fiancée has married someone else.

The opera will be performed at the Culloden from Monday 16th June to Wednesday 18th June, with a champagne reception beforehand on the Cumberland Terrace, from where you can enjoy beautiful views of Belfast Lough.

As for the opera itself, instead of the guests being seated formally in rows, in true cabaret style, they will be at tables of ten, and director Michael Hunt ensures that the performers will be making full use of the stage and auditorium during this exciting production. Prepare to be thrilled.

After the performance, it’s time to dine, with an excellent choice of dishes from Chef Paul McKnight’s famous Culloden Estate Buffet, with fine wines of course.

Overall, this night would make an excellent celebration, or evening of corporate entertainment guaranteed to impress.

For further enquiries visit www.hastingshotels.com.

Filed under: Northern Ireland, Culture, Nightlife, Food, Music