Wexford Festival Opera Announces 2010 Programme

Wexford Festival Opera, now listed in the top 3 Festivals of Opera in the World according to the authoritative 2009 Frommer’s Travel Guide, announced its full artistic programme for the 59th Festival. Earlier this year, newly appointed Chairman of Wexford Festival Trust, Peter Scallan, announced the expansion of the Festival to 15 days. The Festival will also break with tradition this year, when it opens on a weekend for the first time in its 59-year history. This year the Festival will span three weekends, including the October bank-holiday weekend, runing from Saturday, October 16th to Saturday, October 30, 2010.

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Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport, Mary Hanafin, T.D. will officially launch the 2010 Programme in Wexford Opera House on Wednesday, April 28. In advance of this Minister Hanafin commented, “As a regular patron of Wexford Festival Opera over many years I am particularly pleased to officially launch the 59th Festival programme. Wexford Festival Opera is one of Ireland’s leading cultural events,  as well as, an international beacon of artistic excellence, which is widely recognised and revered around the globe. The festival makes a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural tourism market, which is a critically important factor to Ireland’s economic recovery. The Festival’s new home; the internationally award-winning Opera House, which the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport was proud to support, perfectly reflects the organisation’s artistic reputation and ambition, and ideally positions the Festival as it enters its seventh decade next year”.

Since taking up the post as Artistic Director in 2005 Artistic Director of Wexford Festival Opera, David Agler has put his own stamp on it, resulting in the Festival winning no fewer than 4 Irish Theatre Awards for ‘Best Opera Production’ in the past 5 years.  Commenting on this year’s Festival, Mr. Agler noted, “It’s always a difficult balance between championing unjustly neglected operas from previous centuries and presenting contemporary compositions that offer challenges and opportunities for both our rising opera singers and devoted and growing opera audiences.  My paramount artistic aim this year was the re-instatement of the Shortworks, which I’m delighted to present once again at the Festival.  I believe that this expanded programme offers a wide variety of operatic fair for our loyal, and new and most welcome audience members.”

The 59th Festival includes a rarely performed opera: Virginia, by Saverio Mercadante; a European Premiere of a 21st Century Opera: The Golden Ticket, by Peter Ash; and a new production of an opera previously produced at Wexford in 1984, but still unjustly neglected: Bedřich Smetana’s Hubička (The Kiss). Also included are the extremely popular lunchtime recitals, the Gala Concert, the Prague Chamber Choir Recitals and the welcome return of the daytime ShortWorks performances.

Virginia by Mercadante (Oct 16, 19, 22, 25 & 28) is set in ancient Rome and tells of the revolt of the plebeians and the overthrow of their patrician rulers. It is an epic tale of love, obsession and honour by one of Italy’s most popular and highly-regarded composers, which was initially banned because it subtly mirrored the political scene in Naples at that time. 

The Golden Ticket by American born composer, Peter Ash (Oct 17, 20, 23, 26 & 29) is based on the book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.  Award-winning writer and documentary maker, Donald Sturrock, wrote the libretto for this production which is being co-produced with The Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as part of the developing artistic and strategic alliance between the two organisations, the first co-production of this partnership, The Ghosts of Versailles, winning the Best Opera Award 2009 at the recent Irish Theatre Awards. The Golden Ticket tells the story of Charlie Bucket, the boy hero, who lives in poverty with his aged and infirm grandparents and dreams of winning one of five golden tickets that Willy Wonka, the confectionary wizard, has hidden in his chocolate bars. The story of how Charlie succeeds in his quest to be one of the lucky winners to enter the chocolate factory is told in a melody-based opera full of humour, wit, subtlety and virtuosity.  At an early workshop of this brand new opera famous English Conductor, Sir Simon Rattle, responded,“... a really impressive achievement. It’s full of musical imagination, colour and invention. I love it.”

Hubička by Bedřich Smetana (Oct 18, 21, 24, 27 & 30) was previously produced at Wexford Festival Opera in 1984, under the English translation, The Kiss.  This new production will be sung in its native Czech and tells the story of Lukáš, a young farmer who, although in love with Vendulka, was persuaded by his parents to marry someone else. His wife dies and he hopes at last to marry Vendulka. She still loves him and agrees, but when he tries to kiss her she repulses him. Smetana’s portrayal of love, high principles, stubbornness, and reconciliation was written in 1871 after total deafness had forced him to retire to the countryside. Hubička received an overwhelming ovation at its first performance on 7 November 1876, the happiest and most successful première of any of his operas.

Another difference in this year’s Wexford Festival Opera is the increase in the number of daytime events.  Featured once again are the extremely popular lunchtime recitals, the Gala Concert and the Prague Chamber Choir Recitals.  Making a very welcome return this year are the daytime ShortWorks performances.  These three daytime small-scale operatic productions, approximately 1 hour in duration, will be presented to serve either as a light repast or as an hors d’oeuvre before the evening’s main course opera.

The three Shortworks operas are La serva padrona (‘The Maid as Mistress’) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) tells of a young woman’s efforts to persuade her employer-guardian to marry her, La bohème (‘Bohemian Life’) by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), one of the most popular works in the entire operatic repertory and will be given in a condensed version and Winners by Richard Wargo (b. 1957), which is the first part of his two-act opera Ballymore, inspired by Irish playwright Brian Friel’s two one-act plays called Winners and Losers. Winners describes the last day on earth of teenagers Mag and Joe.

To complete the experience for the enthusiast, there is also a vibrant Fringe Festival with art exhibitions, traditional music and many other events taking place throughout the main Festival.

Wexford is most definitely the place to be in October and now it is even easier to get to Wexford by air with the introduction of a new partnership with Waterford Airport and Aer Arann.  Fly to Waterford airport from Birmingham, Manchester or London-Luton and enjoy a complimentary return bus transfer to Wexford courtesy of Wexford Opera Festival. See http://www.aerarann.com/wexfordopera for booking and further details. 

Other travelers are reminded that the Irish Tourist Board are extending free rail travel to all European citizens over 66 years of age under their ‘Golden Trekkers’ scheme.  See http://www.discoverireland.com/gb/ireland-plan-your-visit/facts/golden-trekker/  for more information. 

Commenting on these developments, Chief Executive of Wexford Festival Trust, David McLoughlin said, “Our aim this year was to make the upcoming Festival more accessible and better value for money than ever before with new patron services and a 60% increase in the number of performances and events compared to last year’s Festival.”

With more events to choose from with greater pricing options and more convenient ways to travel, it’s even easier to make your way to Wexford. Wexford Festival Opera – make it your Destination!

Priority Booking begins on Tuesday, May 4th, for Friends of Wexford Festival Opera.  General booking commences on Tuesday, June 1st.  Wexford Festival Opera – Your Destination!

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