Celine Byrne says ‘my love of opera came by accident’ before performance in Dublin

Opera singer Celine Byrne said her love of opera came by chance.

The lyrical soprano has always had a love for music, but it wasn’t until working abroad that she thought of singing opera.

Celine told Independent.ie: “I’ve always loved performing and I really love musicals. As a young girl, I joined a band and sang at weddings. I am also in a musical society.

“The love of opera came by accident. I saw a show while I was working in Italy and I just thought oh, there’s an art form that I’m not familiar with and I fell in love with this art form.

“I went to singing lessons, one thing after another, I was properly trained and I was introduced to the world of opera. I have never looked back since.”

Celine has won numerous awards, including the Gold Medal at the Maria Callas Grand Prix, Athens, as well as the Margaret Burke-Sheridan Gold Medal, the William Young Prize at the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, Dublin, and the Dagblad Publishing Brabants Prize at the IVC International Singing Competition in s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

She says she is incredibly grateful for the experiences that have come with her work.

“I’ve seen the world through opera, I’ve been to places I would never have gone. I went on tour in Asia, I got to see parts I would never have seen if I hadn’t performed there.

“My children also get to travel with me, they have seen the world. Maybe it opened my mind to different cultures, different attitudes. I love what I do, I am so blessed and so grateful for these opportunities. I have a job that I love.

“It’s good to have my talent recognized at home. I’m honored when people say they’re proud of me, it’s heartwarming,” she added.

Celine will take the stage with Claudia Boyle and Paula Murrihy in Der Rosenkavalier at the Bord Gais Energy Theater in March.

“This is a celebration of Irish singers, we have so much talent here. We are performing at an international standard. The three main characters of this opera are Irish, and we fit those roles,” she said.

“The experience of going to an opera is amazing. It’s a beautiful story told in a traditional setting. It’s delicious and everyone will love it.

“Some people have the stereotype that opera is for the elite, it’s just that people aren’t used to it. We wanted this art form to become familiar, it was a great night.”

Der Rosenkavaliernot seen in Dublin since 1984, will perform a limited of four shows only at the Bord Gais Energy Theater on 5, 7, 9 and 11 March.