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Wexford Welcomes Singers from 12 Countries as Rehearsals for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera Begin

A 5-week intensive rehearsal schedule for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera got off to a ‘Golden’ start as rehearsals commenced for the World renowned Festival. Over 200 Company members are involved in this year’s international opera festival, representing 12 countries including Ireland, Argentina, South Africa, Italy, U.S., Canada, Britain, Australia, Portugal, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

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One of the youngest cast members to ever grace the Wexford Festival Opera stage is 11 year old Michael Kepler Meo from Portland, Oregon, singing the role of Charlie in the European premiere of ‘The Golden Ticket’ by Peter Ash, based on ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl.  As Dahl’s birthday is remembered this week Michael arrived in Wexford with his parents and younger brother to prepare for the Festival.
Michael originated the role at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, which is co-producing ‘The Golden Ticket’ with Wexford Festival Opera.  Michael began his career in music at the age of 6 with the Portland Boychoir, led by long-time choir director David York.  Since then Michael has performed at the Portland Opera, Houston Opera and in Vancouver.  Wexford marks his European debut.

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera opens on Saturday, October 16 with the Italian lyric tragedy, ‘Virginia’ by Saverio Mercadante, followed by the European Premiere of ‘The Golden Ticket’ by Peter Ash on Sunday, October 17.  The third main stage opera is the Czech folk opera, ‘Hubička’ by Bedřich Smetana with the 2010 winner of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, South-African Soprano, Pumeza Matshikiza in the lead role.

This year marks the welcome return of the full daytime Festival programme, including the revival of the very popular shortwork operas.  Lasting little more than an hour, this year features a condensed version of Puccini’s La bohème, an Italian comic opera, La serva padrona (The Maid as Mistress) by Giovanni Battista and Winners by Richard Wargo, based on the Brian Friel play.  All 3 daytime, shortwork operas feature opera singers from the evening operas, giving audiences more opportunities to hear the national and international talent that Wexford attracts.  Tickets for the daytime, shortwork operas cost only €25. 

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera runs from October Saturday October 16 until Saturday, October 30, 2010.  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. 

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