The Marvellous Mademoiselle Maupin

Celebrating the audacious spirit of Julie D'Aubigny (Mademoiselle Maupin), this concert takes you on a journey into the world of a 17th-century opera singer and master swordfighter. D'Aubigny, who captivated the court of Louis XIV, was famous for her groundbreaking performances and daring persona.

Educated along with boys in her childhood, she excelled at fencing, and spent a portion of her youth making money by singing and giving fencing demonstrations in taverns after running away from home. She's reputed to have duelled three noblemen (and won) in one night, and burned down a convent to run away with a nun she'd fallen in love with. She then rose to become one of the premier stars of the Lully revival on the Paris operatic stage, and originated roles like Clorinde in Campra's Tancrède, and the Magician in Desmarets' Didon.

Join mezzo-soprano Emma Power as they bring D'Aubigny's most celebrated roles to life, accompanied by the Cork Baroque Players, the resident ensemble of the East Cork Early Music Festival. This performance features works by renowned composers of the era, including André Campra and Jean-Baptiste Lully, and honours D'Aubigny's remarkable legacy and her impact on the history of opera.

Emma Power is a mezzo-soprano from Waterford. Emma began their studies at MTU CSM, receiving a BMus degree under Mary MacSweeney, Deirdre Collins, and Ciara Moroney. They recently graduated with a Masters in Music Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying under Imelda Drumm and Dearbhla Collins. Since beginning their studies in Dublin, Emma has performed as soloist with the NSO, as a bursary award winner of the John McCormack Society, and as recital artist for the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2024. They are the most recent recipient of the Gervase Elwes cup at the Feis Ceoil, representing the Dermot Troy award. In 2024, they were awarded the Mezzo Solo cup, The Margaret Burke-Sheridan cup, the Mrs P.J. Geoghegan Memorial Cup, The Lieder Prize and the Mahler Prize.

Outside of competitions, Emma is a keen collaborator in the contemporary-classical world, working and improvising with groups of artists such as Tonnta and Jennifer Walshe. As an artist, Emma is drawn to strong, unconventional themes or characters which require a broad spectrum of expression and skill. Emma has just completed their first season as a member of the INO chorus, and looks forward to returning for the upcoming 25/26 season, in addition to collaborations with The Belfast Ensemble and the Dublin Choral Foundation.