Wexford Festival Opera News

EPA and Wexford Festival Opera Roll out the GREEN carpet - Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Opera goers encouraged to wear a touch of green to symbolise how even small changes can help protect the environment!

The Green Carpet will be laid out for patrons attending Wexford Festival Opera on Wednesday, 30 October as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comes together once again with Wexford Festival Opera to go ‘Green’ on the night to highlight how even small individual changes can have a big positive impact on the environment. This initiative which was introduced four years ago, has been met with an overwhelming response from the audience, staff and volunteers and the momentum has continued to grow.

The initiative invites opera-goers on the night to make a small, symbolic change to their attire, signifying a commitment to making ‘small changes’ in their lives to help the environment. People are encouraged to make a small change to their opera-wear that evening, such as a green bow-tie, a green piece of jewellery, a green pocket square, green shoes, green nail varnish; the possibilities are endless! Patrons will also enter that night via a green carpet at the front entrance of the National Opera House, which will be bathed in green light. The message is that small changes can make a great difference.

RTÉ live streams ‘Dorilla in Tempe’ on rte.ie/culture and select cinemas Saturday, 2 Nov 8pm

After the success of the first live-stream of a Wexford Festival Opera last year, RTÉ and Wexford Festival Opera invites the world to a ‘Night at the Opera’ as the two organisations join forces once again to bring the magic of Wexford to new audiences across Ireland, and the world.

In an exciting new development this year, Wexford Festival Opera and RTÉ have partnered with Classical Arts Ireland (promoters of classical music, theatre and ballet in Ireland) to broadcast Wexford’s stunning production of the Baroque opera, Dorilla in Tempe by Antonio Vivaldi in the Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin, Pálás Cinema, Galway and Century Cinema, Letterkenny on Saturday, 2 November at 8pm. This marks the first time that an Irish-produced opera will be broadcast live in cinemas – and a welcome Irish addition to the much-loved screenings of live international opera and theatre currently on offer in Irish cinemas.

And audiences across the country and the globe who can’t make it to either the festival or the cinema screenings will be able to tune in, from the comfort of their own homes, to the worldwide live-stream of this sold-out production - in full HD vision and RTÉ lyric fm broadcast sound - on www.rte.ie/culture and on the RTÉ Player from 8pm on Saturday 2nd November.

Wexford Festival Opera Opening Night Quayside details announced

With less than two weeks until the curtain rises on the 68th Wexford Festival Opera, details of the opening night ceremony on Wexford’s quayside have been announced.

The free, public event will kick-off from 7.15 pm on Tuesday, 22 October. The crowd will be addressed by the Mayor of Wexford, Councillor George Lawlor and Chairwoman of Wexford Festival, Mary Kelly. The Festival will then be officially opened by RTÉ lyric fm presenter, Marty Whelan, who is widely known for his popular radio programme ‘Marty in the Morning’ and ‘Winning Streak’, and as the always entertaining commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest each year. With family roots in Wexford, Marty is a regular attendee of the opera and will present his radio programme live from the Starview café in the National Opera House the following day. The short quayside ceremony will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display over Wexford Harbour at approximately, 7.40 p.m. ahead of the opening of the sold-out performance of Don Quichotte by Jules Massenet at 8 p.m.

PwC/Wexford Festival Opera 2019 ‘Emerging Young Artist’ Bursary Winners Announced

PwC and Wexford Festival Opera came together to celebrate emerging Irish talent as soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson and tenor Andrew Masterson who were named as the 2019 PwC/Wexford Festival Opera ‘Emerging Young Artist’ bursary winners. This initiative serves to support and celebrate Ireland’s Emerging

Young Artists from the opera world and helps to contribute towards the many costs associated with furthering their careers.

Soprano Kelli-Ann Masterson from Gorey Co. Wexford,is making her debut at the Festival this year and will perform in two of the main evening operas, Don Quichotte and Dorilla in Tempe as well as sing the principal role of Le Fée (Fairy Godmother) in the daytime Shortwork production of Cendrillon (Cinderella).

Tenor Andrew Masterson, a native of Omagh but based in Manchester will return to Wexford for the second year running to perform in all three main evening operas, Don Quichotte, Dorilla in Tempe and Adina.

Nominations open for the 2019 Wexford Festival Opera ‘Volunteer of the Year’ Award

As volunteers prepare for the 68th Wexford Festival Opera which opens in just over three weeks, nominations opened today for the Ecclesiastical/Wexford Festival Opera Volunteer of the Year Award.

Wexford Festival Opera was founded and initially run entirely as a voluntary organisation and volunteerism remains fundamental to its continued success. This award seeks to recognise and highlight the extraordinary contribution and initiative of Wexford Festival Opera Volunteers. The 300+ volunteers live locally, nationally and even internationally, and encompass all ages, backgrounds and professions. They generously contribute their time and energy to various aspects of the Festival including front-of-house, bars, cloakroom, patron care, backstage, wardrobe, and artist transportation amongst many.

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