Wexford Festival Opera energised by Energia Group’s sponsorship of new Community Opera project
Wexford Festival Opera energised by Energia Group`s sponsorship of new Community Opera Project.
Wexford Festival Opera was founded by local volunteers and even today the local community are hugely involved in many aspects of the festival. This year the community will also be part of the performance, when they take to the stage in a new version of Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, set in Wexford. Puccini’s satirical masterpiece, about a family scheming to inherit a fortune, includes one of opera’s most-loved arias ‘O mio babbino caro’.
Energia Group is proud to sponsor this new community opera project as part of Wexford Festival Opera. This support of this project demonstrates Energia Group’s commitment to local communities and to the achievement of key sustainability goals. investment in the sustainability and wellbeing of the Wexford Community. Speaking of the announcement, Derek Scully, Head of Corporate Affairs, Energia Group said: “We are thrilled to partner with Wexford Festival Opera for a second year and to sponsor the new Community Opera project that speaks to the history and importance of the festival to the people of Wexford. At Energia Group we recognise that sustainability extends beyond the renewable electricity we generate and supply to customers, it
also includes our commitment to fostering vibrant communities where the arts play a pivotal role.”
Paul Cleary, Chairman of Wexford Festival Opera, said of the partnership “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Energia Group for a second year in 2023. Energia Group are sponsoring a new important initiative within our programme, our Community Opera. This support further showcases Energia Group's commitment and investment in the Wexford community and we hope this partnership will continue to flourish and strengthen over time as we develop this new vital element of Wexford Festival Opera."
WFO strongly believes that opera has the ability to speak to everyone and the festival team are delighted to expand this involvement by people in Wexford. The Wexford Collective are the stellar creative team behind this exciting project.
Over the last few months the 13 members of the community cast have been preparing to perform alongside a professional cast in Gianni Schicchi with dialogue revised and updated in a new English version by Timothy Knapman. They have taken part in workshops to develop their vocal and acting skills with associate directors Elizabeth Dwral and Peter McCamley (who will also play the role of the doctor).
The creative team includes Rosetta Cucchi, Stefania Panighini and Roberto Recchia who have all been collaborating together on this project.
This new version of the opera is relocated to contemporary Wexford and will be performed in The Grain Store at Stonebridge, just off Wexford’s Quay front, which the festival will use as a venue this year for the first time. This production is sponsored by Energia Group.
Timothy Knapman, skilfully recreated the dialogue for the highly acclaimed production Lalla-Roukh in WFO 2022 and the team are delighted that he is back on board this year for this special project.
This much-loved opera will be presented as an immersive performance and the audience will move with the action around the Grain Store, experiencing the opera by being a part of it themselves.
