As part of the inaugural Sout West Shakespeare Festival, Lightbear Lane is delighted to welcome mezzo-soprano Iryna Ilnytksa and pianist Alex Wilson to explore the operatic world of William Shakespeare with us.
This thoughtfully curated programme weaves together well-loved and rarely heard arias inspired by Shakespeare’s plays. From the dramatic power of Rossini and Verdi’s Otello and Mercadante’s Amleto, to the glowing lyricism of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and the spellbinding Baroque world of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, the music travels across centuries while staying rooted in Shakespeare’s enduring stories. Alongside these vocal works, expressive piano solos offer moments of reflection and contrast.
Love and longing, jealousy and loss, magic and transformation unfold through music of striking emotional range. Intimate, passionate, and rich in colour, this concert celebrates the lasting conversation between Shakespeare’s poetry and the power of music.
Doors at 6:45pm for a chance to get a drink from our bar while enjoying “Impressions of Venice”, an exhibition inspired by our “The Merchant of Venice” performance on the 24th April.
Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Iryna Ilnytska began studying music at the age of eight. At the age of twelve, she won the first prize at an opera competition in Luhansk/Ukraine for young singers and went on to sing the roles of Carmen and Dalila at the Opera studio in Kyiv. Iryna studied classical voice at the Academy of Music Claudio Abbado in Milan, Italy in the opera class of Maestro Vincenzo Manno. Her first roles in the UK were Third Lady, Third Spirit, Idamante, Lola and Orfeo. She worked with Red Earth Opera, Somerset Opera, Staircase Opera and Opera in a Box in the South West. Iryna also sang solos in Mozart’s Coronation Mass K317 and Vespers K339, alto solo in G.F. Handel’s “Messiah”, as well as other concerts with different ensembles at Exeter Cathedral. Iryna founded Exeter Opera in 2021 and has since directed and toured operas in the South West.
Alex Wilson is a pianist who performs as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. A former British Contemporary Piano Competition finalist, he studied music at the University of York before graduating from the Royal College of Music in 2011.
He has performed at venues including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Cadogan Hall in London and at the Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow.
He has appeared on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 6 Music and regularly plays with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales, UPROAR Wales new music ensemble and London Sinfonietta.
Directions
St Nicholas Priory is on Mint Lane with walking access from Fore Street or Bartholomew Street West.
The nearest car park is Mary Arches Street, which is a five-minute walk. Exeter Central railway station is a ten-minute walk. The bus station is a 15-minute walk with many buses stopping on the High Street which is ten minutes away.
Access
Unfortunately, due to the nature of this historic building, there is no wheelchair access for our upstairs rooms.
Facilities
Our outdoor toilet block can be made available on request.
If you have any questions or concerns about your visit please email [email protected]