Irene Ainsley | Opera Scotland

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Mezzo-soprano.

Irene Ainsley was the leading dramatic mezzo of the O'Mara Opera Company for two seasons in the middle of the First World War.

Her repertoire included Meyerbeer (Urbain Les Huguenots); Benedict (Mrs Cregan The Lily of Killarney); Balfe (Queen of the Gypsies); Verdi (Azucena); Gounod (Siébel) and Bizet (Carmen).

Roles in Scotland

Azucena a Biscayan gypsy woman: Trovatore 1916
Urbain page to Marguerite: Huguenots 1916
Siébel a student of Dr Faust, in love with Marguerite: Faust 1917
Mrs Cregan Hardress's mother: Lily of Killarney 1917
Carmen a gypsy: Carmen 1917
Queen of the Gypsies: Bohemian Girl 1917