The Wexford Opera House will present the 59th Wexford Festival Opera Saturday 16 - Saturday 30 October 2010. According to the Wexford Opera House website, "the Wexford Festival Opera has been running since 1951, playing a central role in the cultural life of Ireland, in the world of Opera and Arts internationally.
From small and humble beginnings it has achieved world-wide success and critical acclaim by demonstrating passion, innovation and a willingness to lead audiences and artists into neglected territories to explore the rich vein of operatic work worldwide."
The schedule for this year's festival is as follows:
Saturday 16 Oct
Virginia by Saverio Mercadante
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €75-€130
Set against the backdrop of 19th century Naples, Virginia is a gripping tale of love, obsession and honour. Sung in Italian.
Sunday 17 Oct
La serva padrona by Giovanni Battista
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 11:00
Tickets: €25
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic opera follows a young woman's attempts to persuade her employer to marry her.
Orchestral Concert
Rowe Street Church - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Members of the Wexford Festival Orchestra move out of the pit and into the spotlight for two concerts featuring the Festival's instrumental and vocal soloists.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
The Golden Ticket - by Peter Ash
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €75-€130
Composer Peter Ash captures the magic of Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' in an enchanting opera for all ages.
Monday 18 Oct
Dr Tom Walsh Lecture
Wexford Opera House - 11:00
Tickets: €15
Roald Dahl biographer and ‘The Golden Ticket' librettist Donald Sturrock gives the Dr Tom Walsh Lecture, named after the Festival's founder and former Artistic Director.
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
This condensed version of Puccini's La Bohème preserves the exaltation and heartbreak of the love between poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Hubi?ka - by Bed?ich Smetana
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets €75-€130
The course of true love never runs smooth and Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana is a comic look at one farmer's bid to be reunited with his first love. Sung in Czech.
Tuesday 19 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Winners by Richard Wargo
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Inspired by Brian Friel's two one-act plays Winners and Losers, Richard Wargo's opera describes the last day on earth of teenagers Mag and Joe, who are engaged to be married but fated to die in a boating accident.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Virginia by Saverio Mercadante
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €50-€125
Set against the backdrop of 19th century Naples, Virginia is a gripping tale of love, obsession and honour. Sung in Italian to a libretto by Salvatore Cammarona.
Wednesday 20 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La serva padrona by Giovanni Battista
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic opera follows a young woman's attempts to persuade her employer to marry her.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
The Golden Ticket - by Peter Ash
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €50-€125
Composer Peter Ash captures the magic of Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' in an enchanting opera for all ages.
Thursday 21 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
This condensed version of Puccini's La Bohème preserves the exaltation and heartbreak of the love between poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Hubi?ka - by Bed?ich Smetana
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets €50-€125
The course of true love never runs smooth and Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana is a comic look at one farmer's bid to be reunited with his first love. Sung in Czech.
Friday 22 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Winners - by Richard Wargo
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Inspired by Brian Friel's two one-act plays Winners and Losers, Richard Wargo's opera describes the last day on earth of teenagers Mag and Joe, who are engaged to be married but fated to die in a boating accident.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Virginia by Saverio Mercadante
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €75-€130
Set against the backdrop of 19th century Naples, Virginia is a gripping tale of love, obsession and honour. Sung in Italian.
Saturday 23 Oct
La serva padrona by Giovanni Battista
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 11:00
Tickets: €25
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic opera follows a young woman's attempts to persuade her employer to marry her.
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Orchestral Concert
Rowe Street Church - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Members of the Wexford Festival Orchestra move out of the pit and into the spotlight for two concerts featuring the Festival's instrumental and vocal soloists.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
The Golden Ticket - by Peter Ash
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €75-€130
Composer Peter Ash captures the magic of Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' in an enchanting opera for all ages.
Sunday 24 Oct
La bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 11:00
Tickets: €25
This condensed version of Puccini's La Bohème preserves the exaltation and heartbreak of the love between poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress.
Other days, other ways: the critical reception and performance of opera over two centuries
Lecture by Sylvia L'Ecuyer
Wexford Opera House - Jerome Hynes Theatre - 14:00
Admission Free
The distinguished Canadian musicologist and award-winning classical music radio broadcaster, Sylvia L'Ecuyer, brings the past to life as she presents an historical overview of operatic performance; contrasting the changing styles, attitudes, perceptions and reactions of opera performers and audiences through the years.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 16:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Hubi?ka - by Bed?ich Smetana
Wexford Opera House - 17:00
Tickets €75-€130
The course of true love never runs smooth and Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana is a comic look at one farmer's bid to be reunited with his first love. Sung in Czech.
Gala Concert
Wexford Opera House - 21:00
Tickets: €50
Expect party pieces and more than a few surprises from members of the Festival company who give generously of their time for the annual Gala Concert.
Monday 25 Oct
Prague Chamber Choir
Rowe Street Church, Wexford - 11:00
Tickets: €25
The Prague Chamber Choir provides the chorus element in each of the full-scale operas but this concert sees them take centre stage under the direction of Lubomír Mátl.
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Winners - by Richard Wargo
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Inspired by Brian Friel's two one-act plays Winners and Losers, Richard Wargo's opera describes the last day on earth of teenagers Mag and Joe, who are engaged to be married but fated to die in a boating accident. Part of the Shortworks Series at Whites Hotel.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Virginia by Saverio Mercadante
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €25-€120
Set against the backdrop of 19th century Naples, Virginia is a gripping tale of love, obsession and honour. Sung in Italian to a libretto by Salvatore Cammarona.
Tuesday 26 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La serva padrona by Giovanni Battista
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic opera follows a young woman's attempts to persuade her employer to marry her.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
The Golden Ticket - by Peter Ash
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €25-€120
Composer Peter Ash captures the magic of Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' in an enchanting opera for all ages.
Wednesday 27 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
This condensed version of Puccini's La Bohème preserves the exaltation and heartbreak of the love between poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Hubi?ka - by Bed?ich Smetana
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets €25-€120
The course of true love never runs smooth and Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana is a comic look at one farmer's bid to be reunited with his first love. Sung in Czech.
Thursday 28 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Winners - by Richard Wargo
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Inspired by Brian Friel's two one-act plays Winners and Losers, Richard Wargo's opera describes the last day on earth of teenagers Mag and Joe, who are engaged to be married but fated to die in a boating accident.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Virginia by Saverio Mercadante
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €25-€120
Set against the backdrop of 19th century Naples, Virginia is a gripping tale of love, obsession and honour. Sung in Italian.
Friday 29 Oct
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
La serva padrona by Giovanni Battista
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 15:30
Tickets: €25
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's comic opera follows a young woman's attempts to persuade her employer to marry her.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
The Golden Ticket by Peter Ash
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets: €75-€130
Composer Peter Ash captures the magic of Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' in an enchanting opera for all ages.
Saturday 30 Oct
La bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Whites of Wexford Hotel - 11:00
Tickets: €25
This condensed version of Puccini's La Bohème preserves the exaltation and heartbreak of the love between poet Rodolfo and Mimi the seamstress.
Lunchtime Recital
St. Iberius Church, Wexford - 13:05
Tickets: €15
The ever-popular lunchtime recitals offer audiences the opportunity to hear the festival's stars in an intimate concert setting at St Iberius Church in the heart of Wexford town.
Choral & Orchestral Concert
Rowe Street Church, Wexford - 15:30
Tickets: €25
The Festival Choir and members of the Wexford Festival Orchestra join forces for a concert that is set to include Benjamin Britten's cantata Saint Nicholas.
Pre-Opera Talk
Wexford Opera House - 19:00
Admission Free
A variety of experts, including academics, composers, directors and musicians, offer audiences the chance to explore each work more closely.
Hubi?ka - by Bed?ich Smetana
Wexford Opera House - 20:00
Tickets €75-€130
The course of true love never runs smooth and Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana is a comic look at one farmer's bid to be reunited with his first love. Sung in Czech.
T: +353 (0) 53 912 2400
M: +353 (0) 87 211 6903
F: +353 (0) 53 912 4289
For more information visit:
www.wexfordopera.com
www.wexfordopera.com/news/blog
www.wexfordoperahouse.ie
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