FRIENDS 2021 FESTIVAL NEWS

19 OCTOBER | 31 OCTOBER 2021 FUNDERS &SPONSORS

Principal Funder

Grant Funders

Corporate Leaders

Corporate Sponsors

Official IT & Communications Partner

Community & Education Partners

Media Partners

Accommodation & Hospitality Partners

2 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA able to share your cherished memories, from your first time in Wexford to your favourite opera or event. The 2021 WFO programme continues what has always been at the core of this much loved festival, our rare opera productions, recitals, galas and concerts. Determined to welcome you inside our beloved theatre once again, we have put all our efforts and investment into a plan to reopen safely. Your presence is the very soul of our mission and we can’t wait to embrace you once again in the National Opera House this October. We will also continue on our path to accomplish a wider goal, offering new and different ways to connect with us from the comfort of your home, as you enjoy our pop- up events, videos on our YouTube channel, lectures and talks. One project that we were able to continue despite the pandemic was the Wexford Factory, our new Academy for Irish singers and I’m proud to announce that our students will have the opportunity to study with us for another year. They will be able to catch-up with their studies led by our award-winning experts and to run for the chance to be hired for a role in our main stage operas. Our ambassadors will continue to spread the word of our Festival around the world and the sublime music of our operas will be WELCOME listened to in London, Moscow, New York and Rome. Our Festival is a musical treasure and my Dear Friends duty is not only to secure it but also to In February 2020 my welcome message ended enhance it. with these words: “…Seventy events in thirteen In sending my sincere and heartfelt thanks days with you, dear friends, bringing you into the to all of you for your support over the past atmosphere of a local yet international Festival year, I want to highlight that your ongoing where leaving is always sadness, but returning is a support is more essential than ever in the joy.” I was so excited to be able to present my first forthcoming season, as we approach our Festival as Artistic Director of a place that is so reopening and move forward with plans for deeply in my heart. the future. Then the world turned upside down, a pandemic Wexford Festival Opera has flourished thanks struck and all of us were forced to re-imagine to the extraordinary artists, exemplary our lives. Yet, here at Wexford Festival Opera we volunteers, amazing audience and loyal didn’t let that catastrophic event stop us. patrons who have brought opera to millions We reimagined the Festival, to become Waiting of people over the last 70 years and we are for Shakespeare... The festival in the air and as particularly proud of what we achieved last year. you couldn’t come to visit us, we came to you and Thanks to the countless messages from our we entertained you with our voices and our souls. friends, colleagues and also our followers This year we must pull together as we move online. We know that our music has helped forward, but we will not simply pick up where we our audience to endure the burden of the left off. The last 12 months have been hard but last months and my message this year is a they have shown us how we can bring the magic of simple one: keep staying with us and help Wexford Festival Opera to an even wider audience Wexford Festival Opera thrive and bring and we are excited to keep exploring that path. music and joy to an even wider audience To mark the 70th anniversary of our Festival we next year and in the future. will bring you a whole year of celebrations from Together we will do it. September 2021 to September 2022. You, along Yours, with the hundreds of thousands around the world ROSETTA CUCCHI who have experienced our past Festivals, will be Artistic Director

3 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA CONTENTS MOVINg AHEAD 1. FRIENDS 5 A guide to remind you of all the advantages of I’m delighted to add my welcome to that of being a Friend of the Wexford Festival Opera: Rosetta, and also introduce myself to our a world of privileges to experience the Festival Friends as the company’s Interim in the front row. Chief Executive. Having attended Wexford Festival Opera 2. 70 YEARS YOUNG 6 over many years and worked with a number of opera companies in Ireland Discover all the exciting surprises and in England, both as a manager and we have in store for you to celebrate our as an orchestral musician, I am happy to 70th Anniversary. have this opportunity to play a role in this magnificent company. 3. THE 2021 FESTIVAL 8 It is a strange time to join, with the National The Festival in detail: Opera House closed and all communication Opera, Concerts, Talks, Pop-Up events... taking place by zoom and telephone, but we Your Guide to WFO is here. are determinedly confident that ‘normal’ life will resume shortly and offer this Festival programme in the hope and expectation 4. SYNAPSES | The Point of Contact 24 that we will be able to welcome you back to Wexford in October. After its debut in 2020, the Wexford Factory introduces an exciting new project. Notwithstanding this confidence, we are Read all the details here. aware of the rapidly changing environment in which we are living and our plans for this year’s Festival are presented on the 5. BEING FRIENDS 26 understanding that circumstances may Everything you need to know about being a change. Everything described here will Friend of the Festival and of supporting the be presented in full accordance with the Wexford Festival Opera. guidelines in place at the time of the Festival and every effort will be made to ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of everyone. 6. BOOKING | CALENDAR 30 We are immensely grateful to you for your If you’re planning your visit to Wexford, start continuing support during this most difficult from here: time and look forward to easier times ahead. Tickets, Booking and more… Yours, RANDALL SHANNON Interim Chief Executive

4 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA PRIORITY BOOKING

Friends have access to Priority Booking. Jump to page 38 to read all the details.

RENEW

If you have not done so already please make sure to renew your Friends membership with us as soon as possible. This will ensure that you do not miss out on access to the limited number of tickets available. You can renew by contacting us via the Friends contact details or online through the Friends section of the website: www.wexfordopera.com

2021 BENEFITS

• 10% discount on accommodation reservations made during booking period (1 June to 30 June) with our hotel partners by quoting ‘Wexford Friends’

• Complimentary Festival programme: available for collection during the Festival from the Friends Desk in the Opera House Foyer (evenings)

• Access to the Friends Lounge during Festival (Timings and Venue TBC)

• Friends Loyalty Card and lapel pin

• Exclusive access to the Friends online events during the year

• Welcome Receptions FRIENDS (subject to the government guidelines) 2021 INFORMATION & BENEFITS INFORMATION

55 OPERAWEXFORD FESTIFESTIVALVAL OPERA Being Friends of the Wexford Festival Opera means knowing the origins of one of the highlights of the Irish and international stage WFO 2021WFO

70 YEARSYOUNG

When Compton Mackenzie, the David Agler (Artistic Director: renowned novelist and founder 2005-2019) presided over one of Gramophone magazine, of the most exciting phases in suggested to Tom Walsh that, the Festival’s history when the instead of just listening to old Theatre Royal, which served 1951 recordings, he stage an opera the Festival for 50 years, was in Wexford, few could have replaced by Ireland’s first custom- imagined where the idea would built opera house. In 2020 a new lead. But since the first ‘Festival adventure for the Festival began 2021 of Music and the Arts’ took with the appointment of Rosetta place in October 1951, Wexford Cucchi as the new Artistic Festival Opera has grown into Director, having been a regular one of the world’s leading opera presence at the Festival for more festivals. For nearly 70 years the than 25 years as a repetiteur, Festival has breathed new life director and Assistant to the into forgotten masterpieces, Artistic Director. establishing a reputation for high- But of course, the Festival’s quality productions that, every success is due in no small part to year, bring thousands of opera- Wexford itself and the hundreds lovers flocking to Wexford from of local, dedicated volunteers all over the world. who complete the Wexford Since Tom Walsh first guided the experience. With a unique vision, Festival to international success, outstanding production values Wexford Festival Opera has been and spectacular setting in a blessed with a succession of beautiful small town, Wexford talented and passionate artistic Festival Opera is a remarkable directors, all of whom balanced success story that looks set to tradition with bold innovation. continue for many years to come.

6 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA 70 YEARS WHAT’S IN STORE Our 70th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout 2021/22 with a programme of national, international and online activities.

AROUND THE WORLD WEXFORD VOICES AROUND THE WORLD includes 4 recitals in 4 cities in collaboration with Irish Embassies.

THE DUBLIN CONCERT An incredible year can only end with a musical fireworks show, an orchestral concert at NCH, with international stars (August 2022).

AMBASSADORS We are recruiting a team of artists - singers, conductors, directors with an artistic excellence in common in order to spread the name of WFO around the world.

THE ZOOM MEMORIES A cycle of 12 conversations hosting an incredible number of personalities from the most diverse fields, but each with a special link to the Festival.

WFO 70TH CALENDAR Seventy videoclips, one for each year of the Festival, with pictures, interviews and music extracts.

OUR COMMON FUTURE A series of conferences about sustainability, innovation and technology in the theatre.

7 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Alfredo Catalani Alfredo (1854-1893)

OPERA EDMEA

8 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Edmea Opera in three acts It is perhaps surprising that, apart from his contribution to Verdi’s La traviata, by Alfredo Catalani Alexandre Dumas fils hardly features on Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni the operatic stage but, in fact, his obscure drama Les Danicheff appears as the source for Alfredo Catalani’s fourth opera Edmea. FULLY-STAGED PRODUCTION Turning Les Danicheff into Edmea involved radical shifts of time and place and the Sung in Italian with English surtitles ultimate happy end does not preclude a mad scene, one of the most successful First performance 27 February 1886, Teatro alla Scala, Milan parts of the opera. Edmea enjoyed some success at its premiere at La Scala in 1886 and when it was repeated in a revised version later that Tuesday 19 October | 8 p.m. same year, the conductor was the 20-year- old Arturo Toscanini. Friday 22 October | 8 p.m. Although Edmea was quickly overshadowed Thursday 28 October | 8 p.m. by the popularity of La Wally, its lively Sunday 31 October | 8 p.m. dramatic style and a score full of bold and colourful numbers – Catalani’s skills as an orchestrator were considerable – make it an O’REILLY THEATRE opera worth rediscovering. NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €50 – €170 “A happy end does not preclude | Edmea Anne Sophie Duprels a mad scene” Ivan Shcherbatykh | Il Conte di Leitmeritz Luciano Ganci | Oberto John Molloy | Il Barone di Waldek Leon Kim | Ulmo THE PLOT Conor Prendiville* | Fritz, giullare Edmea is an orphan in love with Count Oberto, whose father disapproves. In *WEXFORD FACTORY ARTIST Oberto’s absence Edmea is forced to marry the servant Ulmo, who is also in love with her, but with the loss of Oberto, Edmea is driven mad and tries to kill herself by jumping into the river. Francesco Cilluffo | Conductor She wanders the countryside with Ulmo Julia Burbach | Director who continues to love her and pretends to be her brother. They join up with a band Cécile Trémolières | Set & Costume Designer of jesters and with them return to the castle where Oberto has been mourning D.M. Wood | Lighting Designer his loss. On recognising Edmea, Oberto’s declarations of love help her to regain her reason. Ulmo makes the ultimate sacrifice, The orchestra will be reduced to accommodate the COVID-19 safety shooting himself, so that Oberto and Edmea requirements. are finally able to celebrate their marriage.

9 WEXFORDWEXFORD FESTIVALFESTIVAL OPERAOPERA Ambroise Thomas Ambroise (1811-1896)

OPERA D’UNE NUIT D’ÉTÉ NUIT D’UNE LE SONGE The title may recall A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but the libretto of this opéra-comique plays in a much subtler way. Shakespeare here is one of the characters, together with Falstaff and Queen Elizabeth I.

10 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA LE SONGE D’UNE NUIT D’ÉTÉ

Opera in three acts Best remembered for his operas Mignon and Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas wrote by Ambroise Thomas around 20 works for the lyric stage, Libretto by Joseph-Bernard Rosier mostly forgotten although Wexford audiences may recall his La Cour de Célimène. SEMI-STAGED PRODUCTION Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été was a considerable success and it is not hard Sung in French with English surtitles to see why it remained popular until at First performance 20 April 1850, Opéra-Comique, Paris least the end of the nineteenth century when The Musical Times was still describing it as “a little masterpiece”. It is an opéra-comique, a French genre Wednesday 20 October | 8 p.m. with spoken dialogue. The musical characterisation of Olivia has sometimes Saturday 23 October | 8 p.m. been compared with that of Mignon, which is high praise, and although the Monday 25 October | 8 p.m. score may not contain the sort of tunes Saturday 30 October | 8 p.m. that made Mignon an undisputed hit, the music is richly melodic and full of the gentle pathos so characteristic of O’REILLY THEATRE Thomas’s work. NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €50 – €150 “It’s like Shakespeare in Love one century earlier”

Hasmik Torosyan | Queen Elizabeth I

Valentina Mastrangelo | Olivia THE PLOT Sébastien Guèze | Shakespeare Anyone expecting to see Oberon and Tommaso Barea | Falstaff Titania will be in for a surprise. Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été has nothing to do with Vasyl Solodkyy | Lord Latimer Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Rory Dunne* | Jeremy Dream; it is a fantasy about Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I. Kathleen Norchi* | Nelly The librettists portray the playwright- *WEXFORD FACTORY ARTISTS poet sinking gradually into drunkenness and debauchery until Elizabeth is forced to remind him of his duty as England’s literary genius. The third leading character is Sir John Falstaff, Governor Guillaume Tourniaire | Conductor of ‘Richemont’ (where the action is set), intruding into the story a couple Walter Le Moli | Director of centuries out of period. The lady-in- D.M. Wood | Lighting Designer waiting Olivia is courted by Lord Latimer but nearly loses him when Shakespeare accidentally embraces her and then The orchestra will be reduced to accommodate the COVID-19 safety has to fight the young peer. Not very requirements Shakespearean at all…

11 WEXFORDWEXFORD FESTIVAL FESTIVAL OPERA OPERA OPERA Karl Goldmark Karl (1830-1915) EIN WINTERMÄRCHEN EIN One of Shakespeare’s late romances, its plot is filled with intense psychological drama, but with a happy ending. Goldmark doesn’t fail to highlight both sides of the original play.

12 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA

EIN WINTERMÄRCHEN Opera in three acts by Karl Goldmark Libretto by Alfred Maria Willner after William Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale Some Shakespeare plays have been set as operas dozens of times, others CONCERT PERFORMANCE hardly at all. A Winter’s Tale features somewhere in the middle, popularity- Sung in German with English surtitles wise, without having inspired any of the most famous Shakespearian First performance 2 January 1908, Vienna State Opera operas – which makes Goldmark’s Ein Wintermärchen all the more intriguing. Premiered at the Hofoper in Vienna in 1908, Ein Wintermärchen would prove to be the last of the six operas by Goldmark, considered a great magician of orchestration. Contemporaries raved Thursday 21 October | 8 p.m. about the ‘burning scarlet gleam’ and ‘sensuous iridescence’ of his music. Sunday 24 October | 3.30 p.m. The librettist of Ein Wintermärchen was Alfred Maria Wilner, one of the most O’REILLY THEATRE prolific Viennese wordsmiths of the day, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE who also produced over 50 librettos for Franz Lehár. TICKETS €50 – €130 “Contemporaries

Burkhard Fritz | Leontes raved about Sophie Gordeladze | Hermione his burning Ava Dodd* | Perdita scarlet gleam” Simon Thorpe | Polixenes Daniel Szeili | Florizel Rory Musgrave | Camillo THE PLOT

Lancelot Nomura | Antigonus The jealous King Leontes falsely accuses Niamh O’Sullivan | Paulina his wife Hermione of infidelity with his best friend, Polixenes, and she is forced *WEXFORD FACTORY ARTISTS to go into exile with her baby daughter but soon dies. Her daughter, Perdita, is raised by shepherds and sixteen years later falls in love with Polixenes’ son Florizel, but Marcus Bosch | Conductor thinking she is just a shepherd’s daughter D.M. Wood | Lighting Designer Polixenes refuses to allow the marriage He changes his mind when Perdita’s background is revealed; in the castle a The orchestra will be reduced to accommodate the COVID-19 statue of Hermione comes to life and safety requirements. everyone is reconciled.

13 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Vincenzo Bellini Vincenzo (1801-1835)

OPERA I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI The tragic story of the two star crossEdcrossed lovers condemned to die by the rivalry of their two families, is recreated in Bellini’s opera and gives us a plot of overwhelming topicality.

14 WEXFORD FESTIVALFESTIVAL OPERA The tragic I CAPULETI story of Romeo and Juliet has E I MONTECCHI fascinated many writers Opera in two acts and even by Vincenzo Bellini the Bard was inspired by Libretto by Felice Romani illustrious predecessors that date back to Greek literature, including a mention in Dante’s FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION Divina Comedia. The most evident literary source is the Novelle by Matteo Sung in Italian with English surtitles Bandello who partly inspired Felice First performance 11 March 1830, Teatro La Fenice, Venice Romani when he wrote the libretto for Nicola Vaccaj’s Romeo e Giulietta. When the impresario Lanari offered the young Bellini the opportunity to provide Thursday 21 October | 3.30 p.m. an opera for the 1830 Carnival season, Romani adapted his existing libretto for Saturday 23 October | 3.30 p.m. the young Sicilian. Tuesday 26 October | 8 p.m. Bellini pays homage to the custom of the time, of entrusting a young male Friday 29 October | 8 p.m. character to a female singer and so the two protagonists are played by a soprano O’REILLY THEATRE and a mezzo soprano. NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS € 35 – € 125 “Probably the most popular love story”

WEXFORD FACTORY ARTISTS (TBA) THE PLOT Capellio Capuleti refuses to allow his daughter Guilietta to marry Romeo of ConTempo quartet the Montecchi clan. He orders that her marriage to Tebaldo Bogdan Sofei | violin should go ahead immediately but Ingrid Nicola | violin Romeo and his supporters enter the city Andreea Banciu | viola and disrupt the marriage celebrations. Giuletta is informed by Lorenzo, the Adrian Mantu | cello family doctor, that the only way to secure her freedom from Tebaldo is to take with a sleeping draught that will give the Giulio Zappa | piano impression that she is dead, with the ingenious idea that she will be revived in the family vault where he and Romeo will be waiting. The plan backfires when Lorenzo is arrested. Giuseppe Montesano | Conductor Romeo then believes Giuiletta to be Conor Hanratty | Director dead and takes poison, but as he lies dying Giuletta awakens. Serena Treppiedi | Set Consultant Lorenzo rushes in, hoping to avert a Frances White | Costume Designer tragedy but too late.

15 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA OPERA Andrew Synnott OPERA Artist-in-residence IN GREEN ACRES

THE 47TH SATURDAY The 47th Saturday is a new chamber opera by Andrew Synnott with a libretto by Vivienne Howard. It is based on a short story by master of the form, Irish writer William Trevor. This nuanced and delicate observation piece chronicles the fraught courtship of a mismatched couple in 1960s London, introducing us to two characters who are well acquainted with loneliness but making a grasp for happiness.

Andrew is a familiar face at WFO. He has been appointed as our new Chorus Master, and has participated several times as a composer on numerous occasions: The Dubliners (2017), La Cucina (2019) and in What Happened to Lucrece, which was produced and streamed in collaboration with the Wexford Factory in 2020.

Stefania Panighini | Director

Monday 25 October | 3.30 p.m. Thursday 28 October | 3.30 p.m.

GREENACRES TICKETS €20

16 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA OPERA

LE SONGE EIN I CAPULETI E EDMEA D’UNE NUIT D’ÉTÉ WINTERMÄRCHEN I MONTECCHI

FRANCESCO CILLUFFO GUILLAUME TOURNIAIRE MARCUS BOSCH GIUSEPPE MONTESANO

Francesco Cilluffo has Born in Provence, he He was made He has received numerous been appointed as Principal conducted numerous Generalmusikdirektor awards by winning national Guest Conductor at the premieres and revived titles in Aachen, and has and international prizes and Wexford Festival Opera for neglected by the standard held the position at the competitions. the next three years. Festival repertoire, such as the first Staatstheater Nürnberg He has conducted concerts, Friends will remember his ever recording of Le Chalet from 2011. Conducting operas and operettas in previous appearances with by Adam and Scaramouche internationally, he has Austria, Italy, Germany, the Festival conducting by Messager with the Opéra been appointed professor the United States, Greece, L’Oracolo/Mala vita (2018), de Toulon. His extensive at the Musikhochschule München in 2016. He was Ireland, the Slovak Republic, Risurrezione (2017), and discography has received acclaimed for his recording Romania and Russia. Guglielmo Ratcliff (2015). unanimous acclaim from the of Bruckner’s complete international press. Symphonies.

PRINCIPAL

CONDUCTORS GUEST CONDUCTOR

JULIA BURBACH WALTER LE MOLI CONOR HANRATTY

Her work includes Semele He was one of the founders, Recent projects include (Shanghai lnternational in 1970, of the Teatro Due Ghost Apples (Irish Festival), Das Rheingold Foundation of Parma. National Opera), King (OFFIE nomination 2020) As Opera Director, he Lear (Festival in a Van and Die Walküre (Opéra has staged important tour), Carmen (Opera San National de Bordeaux and productions such as Jenůfa Antonio), Trouble in Tahiti Grimeborn Festival). at the San Carlo Theater (Glimmerglass) and Maria in Naples, Così fan tutte, de Buenos Aires (Cork She was nominated as Rigoletto, Il Trittico at the Opera House). Conor was best newcomer in the 2019 Mariinskij Theater, Lucia di the J. and D. Rosenberg Intenational Opera Awards. Lammermoor at the Teatro Director-in-Residence at the Comunale di Bologna. Atalanta Opera 2018-2019. DIRECTORS

17 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA LUNCHTIME CONCERTS RECITALS

The very popular Lunchtime Recitals move to the O’Reilly Theatre, but keep on providing an insight into the artistic personalities of some of the principal singers of the Festival. Thanks to the informal atmosphere and the crisp acoustic of our Theatre, audiences can appreciate the musical versatility of solo singers who perform a wide variety of music from across the repertoire, including operatic arias, lieder, oratorio, concert and popular songs.

2.

Wednesday 20 October | 12.30 p.m. Thursday 21 October | 12.30 p.m. Friday 22 October | 12.30 p.m. Saturday 23 October | 12.30 p.m. Sunday 24 October | 12.30 p.m. Monday 25 Octpber | 12.30 p.m. Thursday 28 October | 12.30 p.m. Friday 29 October | 12.30 p.m. NEW HOME, SAME ENJOYMENT Saturday 30 October | 12.30 p.m. The O’Reilly Theatre is the temporary home for this Sunday 31 October | 12.30 p.m. much-loved series of concerts. O’REILLY THEATRE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €20

18 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA ANGELA MEADE CONCERTS GALA

WITH THE WEXFORD FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY FRANCESCO CILLUFFO

We are thrilled to present the return of internationally- renowned American soprano Angela Meade. Angela is one of an elite group of history’s singers, having made her professional debut on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as Elvira in Verdi’s Ernani. In 2010, she made her European debut in the title role of Mercadante’s Virginia with Wexford Festival Opera and has fast become one of today’s outstanding vocalists, excelling in the most demanding of heroines of the 19th century bel canto repertoire, as well as in the operas of Verdi and Mozart.

“…the most talked about soprano of her generation” (Opera News)

FRANCESCO CILLUFFO Wednesday 27 October | 8 p.m. Francesco returns to the podium after Edmea’s debut and puts his baton at the service of this luxurious O’REILLY THEATRE concert conducting the glorious WFO Orchestra. NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €50 - €130

19 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA CONCERTS GALA CONCERT

“A Wexford Festival classic”

The Gala Concert is one of the highlights of Wexford Festival Opera and features a collection of favourite party pieces from members of the Festival company. All performers generously donate their time and talent for the Gala Concert, and all proceeds go toward supporting Wexford Festival Opera.

Sunday 24 October | 8 p.m.

O’REILLY THEATRE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €30 - €85

20 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA DR TOM WALSH TALKS LECTURE

COLM TÓIBÍN

Music & Silence: James Joyce’s Songs

In his story The Dead and his novel Ulysses, James Joyce connects his characters to a world of singing and music. This serves to heighten emotion, throw light on character but also creates a redeeming emotional territory, powerful enough to have important political implications in a changing Irish nationalism.

Colm Tóibín is the author of nine Review of Books, Irene and novels, including Brooklyn and Sidney B. Silverman Professor The Master, and two collections of the Humanities at Columbia of stories. University and Chancellor of His play The Testament of Mary Liverpool University. His work has was nominated for a Tony Award been translated into more than for Best Play in 2013. He is a thirty languages. His most recent contributing editor at the London book is House of Names, a novel. Friday 29 October | 3.30 p.m.

O’REILLY THEATRE We are grateful for the ongoing sponsorship of this NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE Lecture by Victoria Walsh Hamer who is the daughter of the Festival’s Founder, Dr Tom Walsh. TICKETS €10

21 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA IMPOSSIBLE

TALKS MICHAEL INTERVIEWS DERVAN

Michael Dervan begins a new series of his impossible interviews, and this time, in collaboration with the writer Jessica Traynor, he goes beyond the boundaries of space and time. In fact, he will meet Alfredo Catalani, the composer of Edmea, and none other than the Bard in person, Mr. William Shakespeare.

Sunday 24 October | 11 a.m. Saturday 30 October | 3.30 p.m. JEROME HYNES THEATRE NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE TICKETS €10

Our In Conversation talk will give behind-the-scenes insight into the 2021 productions. Learn more about the creative process and challenges faced by the artistic teams as they work to realise their concepts of the operas and to bring them to life on stage. Get an ‘inside look’ and discover the inner workings of the Festival at these talks. You will receive an e-vite prior to the event.

Details to be announced. IN TALKS CONVERSATION

22 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA The second year of the Wexford Factory will once again offer professional and financial support to young singers in the early stages of their career. In 2020, the Wexford Factory artists participated in productions of Verdi’s Falstaff Chronicles and Andrew Synnott’s What Happened to Lucrece and in 2021 they will appear in a production of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi and in the three main Festival productions. The Wexford Factory is a collaboration with Technological University, Dublin; the Royal Irish Academy of Music; and Cork School of Music. It aims to train young singers through intensive masterclasses held by major international artists and opera professionals, further confirming Wexford Festival Opera as a centre of cultural and also educational importance in the opera world. Wexford Festival Opera has always been noted for its success in discovering young talent and boasts a long list of singers for INSTRUCTORS whom Wexford was the springboard to a major international career. The creation of the Wexford Factory confirms the company’s commitment to the continuing support of young talent. Ernesto Dmitry Rosetta Roberto Palacio Vdovin Cucchi Recchia

MASTERCLASSES TEACHERS

THE FACTORY CONCERT

Ermonela Tara Gregory Sara Jaho Erraught Kunde Catellani To close the Factory our fantastic singers will present a special concert in front of VOCAL COACHES AND PIANISTS the O’Reilly Theatre audience

Sunday 26 September | 7 p.m.

Carmen Andrea Giulio Santoro Grant Zappa O’ REILLY THEATRE

WEXFORD FACTORY WEXFORD NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE

EDUCATIONAL TICKETS €20

To support this exciting initiative, please contact THE WEXFORD FACTORY IS KINDLY SUPPORTED BY

Ann Marie Dalton Head of Development by phone on +353 87 901 2925 or email [email protected]

23 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA OUTREACH

SYNAPSESTHE POINT OF CONTACT

The new project aims to make connections between new and old generations to develop love for the world of Opera.

28 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA 24 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Our Pop-Up events are a series of multi-disciplinary performances featuring music, drama, singing and dance, performed in non-traditional settings around Wexford town. This exciting new initiative is designed to bring the Festival back into the community of Wexford, making it more accessible and inviting for new and diverse audiences. A map indicating the location of these free performances will be created to lead the public to venues where these artistic spectacles will take place, adding a ‘Treasure Hunt’ element to the experience.

SYNAPSES • THE POINT OF CONTACT OUTREACH One of Wexford Festival Opera’s missions is and will always be maintaining a strong connection with the local community and POP-UP EVENTS bringing different audiences and generations together through innovative forms of art. Tuesday 19 October Monday 25 October Our new project Synapses was All the world’s a stage Listen to many developed to advance these goals Juliet at the Balcony Juliet at the Balcony even further.

Wednesday 20 October Tuesday 26 October “We want to Symphony on a Shoestring Julilet at the Balcony To be or... to dance connect different Tea Time Concert Wednesday 27 October audiences and Thursday 21 October Symphony on a Shoestring Juliet at the Balcony Juliet at the Balcony generations” Listen to many

Through a series of Pop-Up Thursday 28 October Events, which will take place Friday 22 October Voice in the void in multiple locations around Juliet at the Balcony Juliet at the Balcony Wexford town, we will bring the Voice in the void music to the people and these events will become a point of Friday 29 October contact between the locals and Saturday 23 October All the world’s a stage the Festival. Wexford Festival All the world’s a stage Juliet at the Balcony Opera was created by the local PAINTheatre people and it is their vision and spirit that will keep the Festival Saturday 30 October strong into the future. Sunday 24 October Juliet at the Balcony We will lead a campaign of Pop-Up Event inclusion that will bring all Be enchanted by our Pop-up Events Sunday 31 October generations together through a and become part of our Synapses Juliet at the Balcony shared experience in venues all project. Every day pocket-size shows in Special Event around Wexford. unexpected places.

25 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING FRIENDS

SUPPORT WHY WE NEED YOU

Giving forms the cornerstone of Your invaluable support for what makes the Wexford Festival Wexford Festival Opera enables Opera truly unique. us to: Our donors, friends and partners are the heart of our • Breathe new life into the organisation, without them we forgotten gems of the operatic would not exist. Founded in world; 1951, and managed for many years, by a group of individuals • Discover and promote emer- who gave freely of their time, talents, and what limited ging national and international funds they had, the Festival artistic talent; has evolved to be a leader in national and international opera; • Pursue our mission to support praised worldwide by audiences and promote artists and to and critics alike. invest in their future careers.

DEVELOP YOUR FRIENDSHIP As a Friend, your contribution ENDOW A SEAT directly funds vital elements of each Festival, including Endowing a seat in your name, the Chorus, Young Artist your family’s name or that of a Bursary, and mainstage opera loved one or friend is a wonderful performances. Gifts can be way to support the Festival while made in a tax-advantageous way being part of Ireland’s National through our Irish, UK, and US Opera House, the home of Charitable Trusts. Wexford Festival Opera.

26 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

€ 80 € 125 € 185 € 300 € 500 PRELUDE CHORUS ENSEMBLE ENSEMBLE + ARIA

Offered to A great way Supporters are at Ensemble + Friends provide younger music to support the the heart of the provides extra opportunities enthusiasts Festival Chorus Festival, bringing benefits for those for a range of who enjoy and enjoy many the warmth and seeking the best promising young different musical of the benefits of camaraderie seating and artists from the experiences full membership that provides priority upgrade festival. and who are throughout the ‘Wexford privileges for The support developing a love the year at an Experience’ like the 2021 season. provided ensures for opera. affordable price. no other Festival. Contributions the continued This membership Ensemble Friends at this level development of level is available contribute (and above) both Irish and to individuals directly to the may attract a international aged 35 and wonderful Festival potential tax singing talent. under. Orchestra. rebate up to 45%, making your gift to Wexford Opera more impactful.

SUPPORT € 1,000 € 2,000 Make your Friends CABALETTA BRAVURA support go even This level provides support Provide funding support for one further to a performance which will mainstage production each year, be named to celebrate the helping to maintain the highest commitment of this special possible standards. Bravura Tax Relief (Ireland) group. Cabaletta Friends also Friends have the opportunity to enjoy access to the highest level meet with members of the cast & Gift Aid (UK) of priority booking. and creative team.

Support at all levels is greatly appreciated and vital to sustaining the work of the Festival. By increasing your Friends level to Ensemble + or above for the coming season, you will be providing the Festival with much needed additional funds. At these levels, contributions from Friends based in Ireland attract added value of up to 45% at no additional cost to themselves. Friends in the UK can increase the value of their gift by 25% when they renew through the Wexford Festival UK Trust, with mutual benefits available to higher rate tax payers. 32 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA

27 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA BECOME AN ARTISTIC BENEFACTOR

The Artistic Benefactors programme enables Wexford Festival Opera to attract some of the opera world’s most exciting singers, directors, and conductors. Artistic Benefactors receive recognition in the Festival Programme as well as complimentary mainstage Festival tickets to see the artist or creative team member they are sponsoring. Artistic Benefactors receive a special opportunity to engage with the artists while gaining insight into the world of opera from the artist’s perspective.

Maestro level Production benefactors (€10,000) Consortium Provide support for Wexford Joining a Production Festival Opera’s engagement of Consortium is a unique and top-level directors, conductors, rewarding way of supporting and producers for the main Wexford’s main stage stage operas. productions. As a member of a Production Principale level Consortium, you will join with benefactors (€5,000) other like-minded patrons to Support either a young/emerging become part of the journey artist or a well-established singer from score to stage. This group of their choice. is involved throughout the At all stages, opera is a creative process, gaining in- vocation that demands intense depth insights as they watch personal investment, and it is the artistic team bring the encouraging for a performer production to life. to know that someone in the audience is behind them in President Circle this most practical way. Lasting Make a major impact by friendships have blossomed becoming a member Gifts may be directed towards between artists and benefactors of the President’s Circle. specific performances and Help to bring extraordinary since the beginning of this activities including: initiative. opera productions to life in a direct and meaningful way. • Mainstage Opera Support at this level gives the Productions artistic team scope to attract • Wexford Factory exciting and innovative artists and co-productions,thereby • Festival Concerts raising the bar. • The Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera • The Chorus of Wexford Festival Opera • Festival Education Community Access Projects • Any other donor-advised performance, project or activity

28 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA PLANNED GIVING YOUR PASSION, YOUR LEGACY

Securing the Future with the 1951 Endowment Fund

Wexford Festival Opera remains committed to the founding vision and legacy of Dr Tom Walsh to ensure the forgotten gems of the operatic repertoire are given a chance to glitter and shine once more. “Giving is not just By planning a legacy gift to the 1951 Endowment Fund, your about making thoughtfulness and generosity will help sustain the Wexford Festival and its dedication to rare opera into the future. To a donation. learn how to help build the 1951 Endowment Fund, contact Ann Marie Dalton by phone on +353 87 9012 925 It is about making a or [email protected], who will be happy to discuss the matter with you on a confidential basis. Your difference.” bequest can be directed to benefit a project of your choice and will be recognised in a manner that suits your wishes.

SUPPORT To support Wexford Festival Opera through any of the options mentioned above and in the previous pages, or to learn more, please contact a member of the development team

Supporting Wexford Festival Opera Development Contact Information

Friends Membership, Corporate Partnership Major Gifts, Artistic Benefactor and Corporate Hospitality Production Consortium, and Seat Endowments and Legacy Giving

Louise Carley Adeline Minchin Ann Marie Dalton Friends Relationship Executive Sponsorship Manager Head of Development +353 53 916 3525 +353 85 7088031 +353 87 901 2925 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] wexfordopera.com/friends wexfordopera.com/support/corporate wexfordopera.com/support

29 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in order to provide the level of social distancing provided for in Government guidelines, the number of tickets available for this year’s Festival is severely restricted. It is possible that at a later date, restrictions may be eased and more tickets will be made available but initially we must plan for a level which can reasonably be expected. It is important that access is enabled for those of our Friends who feel able

INFO to come to Wexford this year, but in order to achieve this we are forced to restrict the number of tickets available for purchase by each Friend for any event to two. For Bravura and Cabaletta members that restriction will be raised to four for each event. The online booking facility will be suspended, at least during the initial booking period.

“The show is about to begin”

Bravura, Cabaletta and Aria members will be contacted by telephone and all other members will be sent a booking form to be returned via email. These booking forms will be dealt with strictly in the order that they are received. The booking form will request your ticket requirements under the restriction of two per event but it will also provide the opportunity to request more. These requests will be added to a waitlist and, should the availability of tickets be increased, these will be honoured before any public booking is enabled.

BOOKING BOOKING A telephone booking facility will be provided for those members without BOOKING access to email.

30 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA BOOKING INFO Dress Code FRIENDS PRIORITY BOOKING In keeping with Wexford Festival Opera tradition, formal dress is WHEN WHO HOW strongly recommended for the evening performances. WFO Team will be 1 June Bravura & Cabaletta in contact by phone Special Access Requirements Aria & WFO Team will be The National Opera House is 8 June in contact by phone Ensemble + fully accessible for persons with or by email restricted movement, both ambulant and wheelchair-bound. Ensemble, Chorus WFO Team will be 14 June There is convenient lift access & Prelude in contact by email to all public spaces. Provision has been made to accommodate up to five wheelchair users and Please note the following: their companions in a variety of locations, each with sightlines as • We must request that good as any on their respective payments for all bookings be levels. A request should be made made, if possible, at the time at the time of booking. of booking or, if by cheque, within one week. Refund/Returns Policy - Exclusively for the Friends We are doing our • While arrangements for social distancing in the Subject to availability, tickets best to make your auditorium will be strictly may be exchanged for the same Wexford experience observed during the initial opera on an alternative date. booking period, should Tickets can only be accepted for pleasant and smooth. government guidelines be resale if the performance is sold With your relaxed the capacity will be out. If your ticket(s) are resold, increased and such social you will be refunded, less a 15% collaboration we are distancing may not be administration fee. If a returned sure that, once again, necessary. ticket is not re-sold, Wexford Festival Opera reserves the right the Wexford Festival • Any requirement for to allocate the seat to a member the wearing of masks of the Festival Company. Opera will remain will depend on current an unforgettable government requirements. Please Note memory for all of you. • To avoid missing any The Management reserves the important ticketing right to refuse admission and to correspondence with the change or cancel the advertised Wexford team please ensure programme. Latecomers that your contact details cannot be admitted once the with us are up to date and performance has begun. Please that you are able to receive allow ample time for traffic and emails from the organisation. parking delays.

31 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA CHOOSE YOUR TICKET

Operas & Le Songe Angela I Capuleti Ein Winter- Gala Mainstage Concerts Edmea d’une Nuit Meade e i märchen Concert d’Été Gala Montecchi Founders Circle Rows A | B | C €170 €150 €130 €130 €125 €85

Side Stalls & Boxes €150 €130 €115 €115 €105 €75

Circle Rows A | B €140 €130 €120 €120 €100 €80

Rows C - F €125 €115 €105 €105 €90 €70

Rows G | H €100 €90 €80 €80 €70 €55

Side Stalls & Boxes €50 €50 €50 €50 €35 €30

Stalls Rows A | B €125 €115 €105 €105 €100 €65

Rows D - L €135 €125 €115 €115 €110 €75

Rows M - P €130 €120 €110 €110 €105 €70

Side Stalls €50 €50 €50 €50 €35 €30

Other Events

Lunchtime Concerts €20 Opera in Green Acres €20 Impossible Interviews €10

The Factory Concert €20 Dr Tom Walsh Lecture €10 (September 26)

32 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Sunday 26 September Monday 25 October 7 p.m. Wexford Factory Concert Pop-Up Events 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Tuesday 19 October 3.30 p.m. Opera at Green Acres Pop-Up Events 8 p.m. Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été 8 p.m. Edmea Tuesday 26 October Wednesday 20 October Pop-Up Events Pop-Up Events 8 p.m. I Capuleti e i Montecchi 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Wednesday 27 October 8 p.m. Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été Pop-Up Events 8 p.m. Angela Meade Concert Thursday 21 October Pop-Up Events Thursday 28 October 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Pop-Up Events 3.30 p.m. I Capuleti e i Montecchi 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital 8 p.m. Ein Wintermärchen 3.30 p.m. Opera at Green Acres 8 p.m. Edmea Friday 22 October Pop-Up Events Friday 29 October 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Pop-Up Event 8 p.m. Edmea 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital 3.30 p.m. Dr Tom Walsh Lecture Saturday 23 October 8 p.m. I Capuleti e i Montecchi Pop-Up Events 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Saturday 30 October 3.30 p.m. I Capuleti e i Montecchi Pop-Up Events 8 pm. Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital 3.30 p.m. Impossible Interview Sunday 24 October 8 p.m. Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été Pop-Up Event 11 a.m. Impossible Interview Sunday 31 October 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital Pop-Up Event 3.30 p.m. Ein Wintermärchen 12.30 p.m. Lunchtime Recital

FESTIVAL CALENDAR FESTIVAL 8 p.m Gala Concert 8 p.m. Edmea

BOOKING

33 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA Clayton Whites Hotel

4-STAR CLAYTON WHITES HOTEL 4-STAR FERRYCARRIG HOTEL Clayton Whites Hotel is one of the leading The nationally and internationally renowned 4-star hotels in Wexford, conveniently 4-star Ferrycarrig Hotel boasts one of the located in Wexford town centre making it most inspiring locations of any hotel in an ideal base for Wexford Festival Opera Wexford or, indeed, Ireland, with sweeping 2021 (only a 3-minute walk to the National views across the River Slaney. Opera House). The hotel is within a 5-minute The hotel is a perfect location for your visit stroll of the train and bus stations and is a to the 2021 Festival. 20-minute drive from Rosslare Europort. One Night Bed & Breakfast with dinner and Stay in the heart of the Festival at Clayton evening transfers to the Opera from €130 Whites Hotel. pps midweek Bed & Breakfast Packages from €105 pps Wexford Festival Opera Friends receive a Wexford Festival Opera Friends receive a 10% discount! To book during the Priority 10% discount off B&B packages during the Booking period of 1st June - 30th June, priority booking period! To book during the please call Ferrycarrig Hotel reservations on Priority Booking period of 1st June - 30th +353 53 915 3623 June 2021, please call Clayton Whites Hotel T: +353 53 915 3623 reservations on +353 53 912 2311 E: [email protected] T: +353 53 912 2311 W: ferrycarrighotel.ie E: [email protected] W: claytonwhiteshotel.com

4-STAR TALBOT HOTEL WEXFORD 4-STAR KELLY’S RESORT HOTEL The 4-star quay front Talbot Hotel is ideally The 4-star Kelly’s Resort Hotel is uniquely located in the heart of Wexford town. This is situated along five miles of safe sandy beach one of the finest hotels in Wexford, boasting in Rosslare, Co. Wexford. panoramic views of the quays and the River Slaney. For information on availability during this year’s Festival please contact via details Two Nights B&B with one dinner below. from €229pps T: +353 53 913 2114 Wexford Festival Opera Friends receive a 10% discount! E: [email protected] To book during the Priority Booking period W: Kellys.ie in June, please call Talbot Hotel reservations on +353 53 912 2566 - Monday to Saturday between the hours of 10am and 5pm. E: [email protected] W: talbothotel.ie ACCOMMODATION

VISIT

34 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA TRAVEL

TRAVELLING BY CAR FROM DUBLIN AIRPORT/DUBLIN Wexford Town is a two-hour drive from Dublin Travel options to Wexford from Dublin Airport Airport. If you are travelling from Dublin Airport you include car hire, train (Irishrail.ie) and express coach can avoid Dublin city centre by two routes: (Buseireann.ie and Wexfordbus.com). Route 1: Follow the M50 Southbound and join the M11 heading towards Wexford/Rosslare. WEXFORD BUS Route 2: Follow the signs for the City Centre and FROM DUBLIN CITY AND AIRPORT take the route for the Port Tunnel, follow signs for the East Link Bridge and the M11. Wexford Bus offers the fastest, most reliable bus service between Wexford and Dublin city and Continue on the M11, and at the Gorey bypass you airport. It is the ideal option for overseas visitors to can choose to stay on the M11 and travel through the Festival. With up to twelve daily services each Oylegate to Wexford via Ferrycarrig Bridge, or way, a range of great value tickets and free wi-fi on you can take Exit 23 to R741 and follow the signs board, Wexford Bus is a comfortable and efficient for Ballycanew, and this route will bring you into way to travel to and from Dublin Airport. For details Wexford Town via Wexford Bridge. of the timetable and fares visit Wexfordbus.com.

35 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA 36 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA