The Colour Green is a short opera commissioned by Irish National Opera for the 20 Shots of Opera project. Inspired by Mark Boyle, the moneyless man and written by composer Robert Coleman.
Mark Boyle, having given up technology for a life in rural Galway, meditates upon his daily rituals; of writing by hand and the ease to which sleep finds him.
words by Mark Boyle
performer David Howes (bass-baritone)
director Hugh O’Conor
animator Holly Keating
conductor Fergus Sheil
20 composers. 20 short operas.
The subjects range from Beethoven’s letters about his laundry, food and servant problems to a marine biologist meditating “on the enigmatic figure of Libris Solar, an alchemical blend of human, non-human and neoprene”.
The biggest single-event commissioning project in Irish operatic history features works by Gerald Barry, Éna Brennan, Irene Buckley, Linda Buckley, Robert Coleman, David Coonan, Alex Dowling, Peter Fahey, Michael Gallen, Andrew Hamilton, Jenn Kirby, Conor Linehan, Conor Mitchell, Gráinne Mulvey, Emma O’Halloran, Hannah Peel, Karen Power, Evangelia Rigaki, Benedict Schlepper-Connolly and Jennifer Walshe. All shot in Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra under conductors Elaine Kelly and Fergus Sheil with a team of directors and designers under series director Hugh O’Conor.
And all streamed to the world for free from Thursday 17 December.