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Felicity Dahl to attend European premiere of   The Golden Ticket

It has been announced that Felicity Dahl (widow of Roald Dahl) will travel to Wexford this October for the European premiere of The Golden Ticket’, a comic opera based on the book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, composed by Peter Ash from a libretto by Donald Sturrock and commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director and Felicity Dahl. This is an opera for all ages which will run as part of the Wexford Festival Opera.

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The Golden Ticket tells the story of Charlie Bucket, 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 production recently had its World Premiere in St. Louis, opening to great critical acclaim.  The European premiere will take place on Sunday, 17th October.

One of the stars of the Opera is an 11 year American – Michael Kepler Meo.  Living in Portland Oregon, Michael performs the iconic role of Charlie,  and when he stands on the stage in the Wexford Opera House he will be only the 3rd child to sing a principal role in a production at this world renowned Festival, the other 2 having appeared in 1970 and 1976, respectively.
Although this will be Michael’s first visit to Wexford he is no stranger to performing and has already played the role of Miles the young boy in The Turn of the Screw for Portland Opera and Houston Grand Opera. 

The Wall Street Journal, in its recent review, said of The Golden Ticket,“The opera’s best music is edgy and snappy…...Only Charlie is sung by a child (the gifted boy soprano Michael Kepler Meo); the other children, sung by adults, cleverly reference operatic stereotypes. High points include intricate ensemble writing for the children and their parents, as well as a bright, syncopated chorus.”

The Golden Ticket, by American born composer Peter Ash will be performed in Wexford on Oct 17, 20, 23, 26 & 29, with award-winning writer and documentary-maker Donald Sturrock, writing the production libretto. 

Zurich are proud production sponsors of Wexford Opera Festival European Premiere of The Golden Ticket.

Wexford Festival Opera is listed in the top 3 Festivals of Opera in the World according to the authoritative 2009 Frommer’s Travel Guide and is also listed in the prestigious Debrett’s Social Diary   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, running from Saturday, October 16th to Saturday, October 30th, 2010.

General booking is now open.  Tickets can be purchased on-line at http://www.wexfordopera.com  or from the Wexford Festival Opera box-office, telephone: Lo-call 1850-4-OPERA or (053) 912 2144.  Tickets from €25. No booking fee applies. 

Wexford Festival Opera – Your Destination!

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera is grant aided by the Arts Council, Failte Ireland, and Wexford County & Borough Councils. This year’s production sponsors are Zurich plc, INM plc, and the EPA.

The Golden Ticket
A comic opera based on the book Charlie and The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Music by Peter Ash Libretto by Donald Sturrock
Commissioned by American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director and Felicity Dahl
Premiered by Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, June 13, 2010. 
European Premiere Production Sponsor Zurich Insurance
Developmental Support for The Golden Ticket was provided in the United Kingdom by the Royal National Theatre Studio and The National Endowment for Science Technology and The Arts
Presented by arrangement with American Lyric Theater Center, Inc., in partnership with Music Link International, copyright owner.

 

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