paul mccartney’s
liverpool oratorio
July 18, 2024 | 7:30 pm (few tickets remain)
July 20, 2024 | 7:30 pm (limited availability)
July 21, 2024 | 3:00 pM*
July 25, 2024 | 7:30 pm*
July 27, 2024 | 3:00 pm*
*Best seating options
Music Hall • springer auditorium
Music and libretto by Paul McCartney and Carl Davis
Sung in English with projected lyrics
NOT FOR OURSELVES.
Memories from Paul McCartney’s life in Liverpool, England, inspire this story of growing up and finding our way. Beginning with Latin text that means “not for ourselves, but for the whole world were we born,” Liverpool Oratorio explores formative moments, relationships, and the responsibilities we accept. Cincinnati Opera proudly presents the world-premiere stage adaptation of McCartney’s acclaimed 1991 work for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. It’s a powerful story, full of heartfelt lyrics and soaring melodies, presented in a brand-new stage production.
CINCINNATI’S “HOTTEST TICKET!”
Liverpool Oratorio in the news: Cincinnati Business Courier, January 2024
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE TICKETS
Tickets to individual performances are on sale now. Click below to select your seats. Seat availability and prices may vary by performance.
Evening performances:
Matinée performances:
SEASON TICKETS
Buy any 3 or more performances in the 2024 Summer Festival season and save up to 15% off single-ticket prices! Plus you’ll enjoy great seats and perks including FREE ticket exchanges, invitations to special events, advance access to prepaid parking, and more!
If you need assistance, contact the box office at 513-241-2742 (Mon.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m. - extended hours on performance days).
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
Photos: Philip Groshong
Is Sir Paul Coming?
Everyone is invited to come together to #GetPaulToMusicHall, show the world how special the Greater Cincinnati region is—and why Sir Paul said “Yes!” to this historic production happening right here. Click below to learn how you can help #GetPaulToMusicHall with us!
Opening Night Celebration
To Sir, With Love
Thursday, July 18, 2024 • 9:15 PM
Music Hall Ballroom
Join us for an exclusive fundraising event honoring Paul McCartney in support of Cincinnati Opera’s world stage premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio.
THE MAKING OF LIVERPOOL ORATORIO
A look behind the scenes of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio in anticipation of its 1991 world premiere.
A WORD From the Director
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio stage director Caroline Clegg discusses the powerful vision for Cincinnati Opera’s new production.
Cast & Creative Team
Shanty – Andrew Owens
Mary Dee – Jacqueline Echols McCarley
Miss Inkley/Chief Mourner/Nurse – Kayleigh Decker
Headmaster/Preacher/Mr. Dingle – Kevin Short
Conductor – Joseph Young
Stage Director – Caroline Clegg
Set & Costume Designer – Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer – Thomas C. Hase
Wig and Makeup Designer – James Geier
Choreographer – Michael Pappalardo
Chorus Master – Henri Venanzi
Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Boychoir, and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus
DISCOVER MORE
Opera Insights
Enhance your Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio appreciation with a pre-curtain talk one hour before each performance in Music Hall's Corbett Tower. Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, provides a 30-minute overview and insights into the opera's history, music, and production. Free to all ticket holders. No reservations required.
Digital Program
Learn about the artists, read the synopsis, and more. Read more >>
Director’s Note: War’s Lament, Hope’s Refrain
“War is never resigned to history, and in 2024 the mother’s words—‘the world you’re coming into is no easy place to enter; every day is haunted by the echoes of the past’—are a stark reminder of our present global challenges. Musically, the piece plunges you directly into the heartbeat of birth and death. Dramatically, I have echoed this and tried to portray life’s journey and the hope for a better future.” Read more >>
listen
Meet the CREATORS
Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney, a true musical icon, has left an indelible mark on the world of music that spans over six decades. As a founding member of The Beatles, his songwriting prowess and melodic genius helped shape the course of popular music. McCartney's solo career has continued to dazzle audiences, showcasing his unparalleled talent as a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer.
Carl Davis
With a career that spanned several decades, Carl Davis was a prolific composer and conductor renowned for his remarkable musical contributions to both film and the concert stage. Described as a ‘polymath of music’, he composed music for more than 100 television programs, scores for concert and cinema performances of vintage silent movies, plus multiple ballet and concert scores that have been performed worldwide.
liverpool oratorio lead sponsor
Production Sponsor
SHEILA and CHRISTOPHER COLE
performance sponsors
SOCIETY OF ANGELS
Michael L. Cioffi and
Rachael A. Rowe
Monteverdi Tuscany
Susan and John M. Tew, Jr.
Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio
By Paul McCartney and Carl Davis
By arrangement with Faber Music in Association with MPL Communications
Liverpool Oratorio was commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
A co-production of Cincinnati Opera and Seattle Opera