Northern Songs: Oft in the Stilly Night

Mezzo soprano Margaret Bridge performs this beautiful song about loss and remembrance, 'Oft In The Stilly Night' by Thomas Moore, accompanied by pianist Ruth McGinley. Filmed at the mysterious and ancient Beaghmore Stone Circles and the brand new OM Dark Sky Park in County Tyrone, this song is the third film in the new series of Northern Songs, which celebrate the stunning landscapes and landmarks of Northern Ireland through songs written by and performed by composers and singers from across the island of Ireland.

The opera singers who perform in this new series of Northern Songs are all previous finalists or winners of the Glenarm Festival of Voice, which is now in its eleventh year. Sopranos Catherine Donnelly and Susie Gibbons, mezzo Margaret Bridge, tenors John Porter and Andrew Irwin and bass-baritone David Howes perform across eight films in this new series which has a special focus on counties Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone, although we have filmed across Northern Ireland, from deep underground in the Marble Arch Caves all the way to the edge of the rocks of Balllintoy Harbour, made famous as the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones.

The films were directed by Marty Stalker and produced by Causeway Pictures, with drone footage by Conor Driscoll. You can find out more on Northern Ireland Opera's website, www.niopera.com

Whether you have visited these locations before, or perhaps might plan to do so once the public health situation allows, we hope these films encourage you to explore both the music created on this island as well as the beautiful and historic locations and landmarks which Northern Ireland has in abundance and which feature in these films.

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