Wexford Festival Opera News

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.

An Interview with David Agler by Sylvia L’Écuyer

David Agler first appeared at the Wexford festival in 1996 and took over as Artistic Director in 2005. Since my first visit to Wexford in 2008, I have returned every October to see him greet the audience before each performance at the entrance of the splendid National Opera House. Recently, on a...

Additional casting information announced

As the 68th Festival approaches in just 12 short weeks, additional casting information has been announced as well as a cast change. The role of Admento in Dorilla in Tempe by Antonio Vivaldi will now be sung by Spanish Tenor Juan Sancho. In addition, casting details of the popular daytime ShortWork opera productions have also been announced. The ShortWork operas have become a main feature of the daytime programme. Intimately staged with piano accompaniment and lasting approximately 90 minutes, the ShortWork operas are presented in the nearby Clayton Whites Hotel and offer audiences the opportunity to enjoy a one-act opera performed by cast members of the evening operas.

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