63RD FESTIVAL | 22 OCTOBER – 2 NOVEMBER 2014 News for Friends PRIORITY BOOKING FOR FRIENDS OPENS 1 MARCH 2014 This is Wexford…
‘Opera did not help me to improve my social situation, nor did it enrich my experiences as a tourist. It was more serious than that. It simply entered my spirit and it lingered there and it became powerful. It offered me a relationship to soaring beauty, to the idea that there was a world beyond the visible world. It suggested mystery, as human relations are filled with mystery, as light is filled with mystery, as sound is filled with mystery. It paved the way for a life lived more sonorously, a life open to possibility and otherness and strangeness.’ (Colm Tóibín) From the Artistic Director
Dear Friends,
This year, the 63rd season of Wexford Festival Opera, is my tenth as Artistic Director. What an invigorating ten years it has been! We have performed thirty-one operas at ten Festivals in four venues (the Theatre Royal, Dún Mhuire, Johnstown Castle and the Opera House) and twenty-six ShortWorks productions. We have created our own Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra and Chorus of which we are justifiably proud. Oh, and we have built a new opera house!
This year’s programme is a piquant mix Mark’s libretto for Silent Night. This of some of Wexford’s most appetising will be screened during the Festival, as ingredients. Don Bucefalo by Antonio in 2012 when Delius’s opera A Village Cagnoni is a forgotten comic opera Romeo and Juliet was complemented written as a student graduation work by screenings of Ken Russell’s filmSong which was astonishingly successful. of Summer. Not only have the opera Salomé and This year the ShortWorks return to its composer, Antoine Mariotte, been Whites Hotel and we are happy to forgotten, but Richard Strauss’s Salome report that last year’s successful has overshadowed any other operatic experiment of assigned seating will interpretation of the story. It is too early continue in Whites. to make an historical assessment of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night by The decision to advance to 1 March the Kevin Puts, but on present evidence this Priority Booking for Friends stems from moving evocation of the spontaneous an ongoing desire on the part of many Christmas truce in World War I will only of our international patrons to be able to continue to grow in stature. make their travel plans earlier in the year.
Our production of Silent Night will be I look forward to greeting you all at this its European premiere and marks the year’s Wexford Festival. centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. We are honoured that Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell, composer and librettist, will be giving the Dr Tom David Agler Walsh Lecture. Of additional interest Artistic Director, Wexford Festival Opera is the filmJoyeux Noël, which inspired From the Artistic Director 1 Our Sponsors and Supporters
Principal Funder
Grant Funders
Production Supporters
Corporate Sponsors
Community & Education Partners
Accommodation Partners
Hospitality and Media Partners
2 Our Sponsors and Supporters Friends’ Benefits 2014
PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE
We encourage you to avail of all your existing and new benefits to enhance your Festival experience. Friends enjoy the following:
• Priority Booking • Invitations to the ‘In Conversation’ series • Exclusive ticketing offer for Friends: in Dublin and London if you purchase more than six tickets • Invitations to Friends’ Recitals and during priority booking for the main Events in London, Dublin and Paris stage operas, you will receive a 15% • Complimentary tickets to Friends’ discount on all additional tickets Parties, Buffet and Lunches during purchased – NEW the Festival • 10% discount on accommodation • Priority Booking for the Wexford for bookings made during priority Festival Opera Annual New York booking with our hotel partners for Dinner Gala – NEW the Festival period. Quote ‘Wexford • Complimentary Festival programme Friends’ to receive this exclusive offer – available for collection during the • Friends’ Welcome Mornings: Festival from the Friends’ Lounge complimentary tea, coffee & scones (12:00–16:00) or Friends’ Desk in the during the Festival – NEW Opera House Foyer (evening) • Access to the Friends’ Lounge in the • Free subscription to Friends’ online Opera House during the day and magazine and exclusive access to during opera intervals Friends’ area of the website for news • Friends’ Newsletter and ‘Discover the and behind-the-scenes updates Repertoire’ CD • 15% discount on all Wexford Festival • Access to Friends’ overseas opera tour Opera merchandise – NEW to Paris • Friends’ Loyalty Card and Friends’ Pin
Friends’ Benefits 2014 3 Just for Friends
HELENA DIX AND DAVID STOUT, CRISTINA, REGINA DI SVEZIA PHOTO: CLIVE BARDA/ARENAPAL European Friends of Wexford Opera Event London Friends’ Recital EMBASSY OF IRELAND, PARIS ST JOHN’S SMITH SQUARE Friday 25 April – 19:00 Tuesday 11 March – 19:00
We return to St John’s Smith Square Dublin Friends’ Recital this year for a very special evening. NATIONAL CONCERT HALL, DUBLIN The recital will be given by soprano Wednesday 4 June – 20:00 Helena Dix, who took Wexford by storm In our continuing partnership with the at the 2013 Festival with her powerful Friends of the National Concert Hall, performance in Cristina, regina di this year’s Summer Recital will be given Svezia, and David Stout (baritone), by Helena Dix (soprano), accompanied who sang Axel Oxenstjerna in Cristina. by Rosetta Cucchi. Helena was the David was also the memorable and eponymous heroine in Cristina, regina di charismatic Dark Fiddler in A Village Svezia in 2013. Romeo and Juliet in 2012. They will be accompanied by Rosetta Cucchi, the director of Salomé.
4 Just for Friends PHOTOS: PATRICK HOGAN Friends’ ‘In Conversation’ Series Our ‘In Conversation’ Series of talks aims LONDON ‘IN CONVERSATION’ to provide expert insight into specific Wednesday 17 September elements of the 2014 productions. Join Embassy of Ireland – 18:30 (subject to us as we go behind the scenes to learn confirmation) more about the challenges that face directors and designers as they work to Please note that this event is by realise their concept of an opera and to invitation only. If you are based outside bring it to life on stage. the UK but would like to attend, please contact Lucy before Wednesday DUBLIN ‘IN CONVERSATION’ 13 August.
Tuesday 2 September We will provide further information Venue to be confirmed about the speakers closer to the time of the events.
To attend, please contact Lucy Durack, Development Executive, by email at [email protected] or phone +353 53 916 3525.
Friends Welcome Receptions We invite Friends, new and old, to join you to our Friends for your support and is us for complimentary tea or coffee and an opportunity for you to meet each other scones to welcome you to the 63rd and to talk to members of our team. Wexford Festival Opera. These informal Wednesday, 22 October – 10:00–10:30 events will be held in the Foyer of Wexford Saturday, 25 October – 10:00–10:30 Opera House at the beginning of each Tuesday, 28 October – 10:00–10:30 three-day opera cycle. This is a small thank Friday, 31 October – 10:00–10:30
Just for Friends 5 Just for Friends
Friends’ Parties, Buffet and Lunches We look forward to meeting you at our GREENACRES CLOSING WEEKEND special Friends’ Events during the 2014 GALA PARTY Festival. Enjoy delicious food, much of Saturday, 1 November – 22:30 it produced in Co. Wexford; relax in the company of other Friends and mingle Join the cast from Don Bucefalo and with the artistic team and singers. members of the Wexford Festival Opera The post-opera Friends’ Parties at team and enjoy another evening of Greenacres have become the social superb food, champagne and wine with hub of the Festival. Surrounded by fine James and Donal at Greenacres. contemporary art in the stunning gallery FRIENDS’ LUNCHES – TERRACE space at Greenacres, you and your RESTAURANT, WHITES HOTEL guests will relax in style! Thursday, 23 October – 14:00 GREENACRES OPENING NIGHT Monday, 27 October – 14:00 BANQUET Our popular daytime Friends’ Lunches are Wednesday, 22 October – 22:30 once again on the menu. Enjoy a delicious Celebrate the opening of the 63rd lunch and glass of wine at Whites of Festival at the opening night post-opera Wexford and take the opportunity to party at Greenacres. The event includes meet members of the artistic teams and locally-produced food, traditional cast from the day’s Lunchtime Recital music, wine, great company and the performance. opportunity to catch up with Friends FRIENDS’ BUFFET – you may not have met since the previous TALBOT HOTEL Festival. Wednesday, 29 October – 17:30 GREENACRES BANK HOLIDAY CELEBRATION PARTY For an elegant pre-opera dining experience come to the Friends’ Saturday, 25 October – 22:30 Buffet at the Talbot Hotel and enjoy a Join our Artistic Director and members sumptuous three-course buffet meal of the cast from Salomé and enjoy post- with fine wines. opera food, champagne and wine in the beautiful surroundings of Greenacres.
6 Just for Friends PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE HOW TO BOOK Friends’ Lounge Do not forget to book your We hope you will enjoy using the complimentary tickets to the Friends’ Friends’ Lounge in Wexford Opera Parties, Buffet and Lunches through House during the Festival. Open from the box office. Your complimentary 12:00 to 16:00 every day, it provides tickets can be used for whichever events an opportunity to relax in comfortable you wish to attend during the Festival. surroundings in the company of other As part of the membership benefits, Friends. Volunteers are on hand to Ensemble Friends are entitled to four answer questions and to help with any complimentary tickets, Aria Friends are restaurant or other bookings you wish entitled to six complimentary tickets to make. Complimentary tea, coffee and and Bravura Friends are entitled to newspapers are available. ten complimentary tickets. Prelude Friends can purchase two tickets at the The Lounge is also open for the discounted price of €15 each. exclusive use of Friends during the opera intervals and may be a welcome If you require additional tickets to the alternative to the busy bars. Your drinks Friends’ Parties, Buffet and Lunches can be pre-ordered and delivered to the they may be purchased from the box Lounge to await your arrival. office at €30 each.
Just for Friends 7 Friends’ Travel
PALAIS GARNIER INTERIOR | PHOTO: CHRIS CHABOT Paris Opera Tour 23–26 April 2014 In 2013 a small group of Friends bravely Bastille. The trip will also include a embarked on our first Friends’ Opera Tour walking tour of the opera district with to Berlin. The weekend which included a backstage tour of the grand neo- unusual productions of Monteverdi’s baroque Palais Garnier. The group is Odysseus and Poppea by the Komische invited to attend the European Friends’ Oper Berlin and a wonderful sightseeing Event in the Irish Embassy, including a tour, was thoroughly enjoyable and a Wexford Festival Opera Recital, on the great success. final night in Paris. Friends will stay in the 4-star Hotel Millennium, located on We are pleased to offer our Friends’ the Boulevard Haussmann and within Opera Tour again this year. Travel for walking distance of the Palais Garnier. the Arts has designed an exclusive tour programme to Paris for the Friends, For more information or to book please which includes two performances by contact our tour operator at Travel for Opéra de Paris, Rossini’s L’Italiana in the Arts, Vanessa Kyriacou, by phone: Algeri at the Palais Garnier and Bellini’s +44 (0)20 8799 8353 or by email: I Capuleti e I Montecchi at the Opéra [email protected].
8 Friends’ Travel Wexford Festival Opera Tours
ST AIDAN’S CATHEDRAL, ENNISCORTHY Explore County Wexford
It is said that Wexford is known The Wexford Festival Opera Tours are led for three things: opera, writers and by expert guides and explore places of history. County Wexford is rich in historical interest in the town and county history; home to Vikings, Normans – some well known, some less well known. and rebellions. The Wexford Festival The tours leave the Talbot Hotel car park Opera Tours, organised by Nicholas at 10:30 sharp and return to Wexford Furlong on behalf of Wexford Historical by 13:00 – just in time for the lunchtime Society, have been a part of the Festival recitals. No car? No worry. People who since the early 1950s. In fact Nicholas have cars make room for those without – Furlong could be considered one of the another chance to make new friends! Festival’s original ‘Friends’ when he, like The tours are free and are open to all. so many other locals, pledged Dr Tom Full details of these popular tours their full support and offered a donation will be announced in September. in order for him to get the first Festival For more information visit off the ground. www.wexfordhistoricalsociety.com
Wexford Festival Opera Tours 9 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach
LORD AND LADY MAGAN OF CASTLETOWN AND SIR PETER MOORES | PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE The President’s Circle Under the leadership and guidance of the Lord Magan of Castletown the work of our President’s Circle continues apace. This major gifts campaign aims to fund the artistic ambition and vision of the Festival.
Some examples of specific artistic projects which are available for funding from President’s Circle gifts are: • Main stage opera productions PHOTO: FRAZER ASHFORD • Festival ShortWorks productions • The Orchestra of Wexford Festival Endow Your Seat Opera The highly successful Seat Endowment • The Chorus of Wexford Festival Opera Programme at Wexford Opera House • Wexford Festival Opera Education still has a limited number of seats and Community Access Projects remaining. You can endow your seat • Emerging Artist Apprenticeships and dedicate it with a plaque in your Friends and supporters who care deeply own name or that of a loved one. about the Festival are invited to contact Seat endowments also make the ideal David McLoughlin, Chief Executive, or birthday, anniversary or corporate gift. Christopher Massi, Strategic Development If you would like to endow a seat please Executive, to discuss The President’s contact our Membership Development Circle. If you are based in the United Executive, Lucy Durack. Kingdom or North America your gift to The President’s Circle can be made in a particularly tax-advantageous manner.
10 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA CEO DAVID MCLOUGHLIN SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCH OF THE EUROPEAN FRIENDS OF WEXFORD OPERA. Legacy Giving Project European Friends Wexford Festival Opera leaders are of Wexford Opera launching a planning process for a We were delighted to welcome a new worldwide legacy giving society. number of new Friends to Wexford last With charitable arms in Ireland, the UK October following the successful launch and North America, legacy gifts, also of the European Friends of Wexford known as planned gifts in the United Opera in the European Parliament States, will have a significant effect Building in Brussels in April 2013. on the long-term growth of Wexford Festival Opera. This year the European Friends of Wexford Opera event will take place While the early inclination is to at the Irish Embassy in Paris on Friday, ring-fence all legacy gifts into the 25 April, hosted by His Excellency endowment, Wexford Chief Executive Rory Montgomery, Irish Ambassador David McLoughlin is keen to involve to France and Patron of the European volunteer leaders in planning the Friends of Wexford Opera. future for legacy giving at WFO. If you currently have Wexford Festival Opera We are continuing to develop the named in your estate plans or would like European Friends’ Chapter in 2014 to become more involved in planning and we look forward to welcoming and launching the effort over the coming more international visitors to Wexford year, please contact David confidentially this October. at [email protected]. If you are interested in attending the Further information is also available European Friends’ event in Paris please from www.wexfordopera.com and contact Lucy Durack. www.mylegacy.ie Sponsorship, Development & Outreach 11 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach
Syndicate Now Forming A syndicate is forming to be listed as an Associate Producer (€50,000) for the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night. As part of the centenary observance of the First World War and the 1914
COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WEXFORD OPERA Christmas truce, Wexford’s European PHOTO: JAMES HIGGINS premiere of this opera is already receiving United States international attention. For more Developments information on joining the syndicate, please contact Christopher Massi at Wexford Festival Opera presented its [email protected]. inaugural American Friends of Wexford Opera New York Dinner Gala last Sponsor a Singer September, firmly establishing Wexford’s presence in the United States and Our Cast Sponsorship Programme reinforcing its significance as Ireland’s enables supporters to engage leading international cultural event. The directly with a key part of our Festival proceeds from the Gala, at which the mission, its commitment to provide a special guest was soprano Angela Meade, platform for emerging artists. If you one of Wexford’s leading alumnae, went would like to sponsor an outstanding directly towards the costs of presenting young singer, David Agler, the Artistic one of the 2013 main stage productions. Director, will discuss your choice of The 2014 American Friends of Wexford artist with you. Your generous gift will Opera New York Dinner Gala will take be acknowledged in the 2014 Festival place on 10 September in the Mandarin programme book and a private lunch or Oriental Hotel. All proceeds from this dinner with the singer will be arranged glittering event will be channelled directly during your visit to Wexford. towards the costs of producing one of Our 2013 sponsors were Sandra the highlights of this year’s programme, Mathews, Beverly Sperry, Mark Villamar the European premiere production of and Esther Milsted, and an anonymous Silent Night, first presented by Minnesota donor. We extend our grateful thanks to Opera in 2011. If you wish to attend the all our cast sponsors. Gala or to become involved in Wexford’s expanding development activities in the For further information on becoming a United States, please contact the Chief Cast Sponsor at the 2014 Festival please Executive, David McLoughlin. contact Lucy Durack.
12 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach MICAH AND ANTHONY ARNHOLD WITH JENNIFER DAVIS DAVID AGLER PRESENTS CÁTIA MORESO WITH THE (CENTRE), 2013 WINNER OF THE GERARD ARNHOLD AWARD ARIA FRIENDS’ BURSARY | PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE Gerard Arnhold Award Aria Friends’ Bursary Jennifer Davis, soprano, was the recipient Last year was an exciting year for the of the third annual Gerard Arnhold Award, Friends, with one of the highlights being generously donated by Anthony Arnhold the presentation of the inaugural Aria in memory of his father. The award was Friends of Wexford Festival Opera Bursary. announced by Artistic Director David Agler Cátia Moreso, a young mezzo-soprano on the closing night of the 2013 Festival. from Portugal, was the first recipient of this prestigious award, which was Jennifer, who sang Adina in L’Elisir generously funded by the Aria Friends. d’amore, was thrilled to have been Cátia was delighted to receive the awarded the Gerard Arnhold Award. bursary, which will enable her to further She writes: ‘I'm studying at the National her studies in 2014. Opera Studio in London and the award has allowed me some much needed Cátia, who sang the principal role of security and help with my training here. Hanna Wilson-Tracy in Richard Wargo’s It was an incredibly proud and emotional Losers, caught Artistic Director David moment for me to be chosen from Agler’s attention at her first audition: so many worthy, talented performers. ‘I was so taken with the lovely quality of Thank you so much to my benefactors Cátia’s voice when she auditioned for for supporting me and for continuing to me in London – dark, intense but with support young professionals.’ brilliant high notes. Hers is a unique sound that cannot be mistaken for Gerard Arnhold, a long-time patron and someone else. Cátia’s performance in supporter of Wexford Festival Opera, Richard Wargo’s Losers was a stand-out died in 2010 after a long and fulfilling of last season’s ShortWorks.’ life. Wexford Festival Opera is most grateful to his son Anthony and his family, for supporting this award in their father’s memory. Sponsorship, Development & Outreach 13 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach
2013 WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA PRODUCTION OF THÉRÈSE BY JULES MASSENET | PHOTO © CLIVE BARDA/ARENAPAL
Peter and Nancy WFO Orchestra players Thompson visit local schools Peter and Nancy live in Hong Kong and Four members of the Orchestra of have been coming to Wexford for the Wexford Festival Opera gave workshops last seventeen years. During the last in primary and secondary schools in and few years they have supported the Cast around Wexford during the 2013 Festival. Sponsorship Programme at the Festival The orchestral players presented the as they believe it is important to support fundamentals of music and told the the development of young singers. children about their lives as professional In 2013 Peter and Nancy provided musicians and the importance of generous support to help make possible teamwork and discipline. They played the production of the Massenet double a variety of musical examples, ranging bill, Thérèse and La Navarraise. They from Bach and Paganini to The Simpsons made their gift to the Festival in honour and One Direction. The workings of of their great friend, the late Jerome orchestral instruments and how they fit Hynes, Chief Executive of Wexford into an ensemble were explored, and Festival Opera from 1988 to 2005. also the way in which a musician’s role
14 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE DAN NEWELL AND ANDY CROWLEY
DUAL trumpet soloists and WFO Orchestra in an ensemble alternates between that players raise the roof of soloist and team player. The children One of the non-operatic highlights heard about some real-life unusual of the 2013 Festival was the morning performing experiences: flying around concert in Rowe Street Church given by South America, playing for operas in the two virtuoso trumpeters and a string jungle, giving concerts on the decks of ensemble. DUAL – Dan Newell, principal aircraft carriers and playing in front of trumpet of the Orchestra of Wexford 80,000 people at Irish dance shows. Festival Opera, and his colleague from Plans for visits to schools and nursing London, Andy Crowley – performed homes during the 2014 Festival are a dazzling concert of Music from the being developed. Movies, thrilling an audience that included a number of the children (on This initiative was funded by a grant their mid-term break) who had enjoyed from the Department of Arts, Heritage the school workshops given by some of and the Gaeltacht: Philanthropy the Orchestra’s members. Initiative 2013
Sponsorship, Development & Outreach 15 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach
Community & Education We are indebted to The Ireland Funds Promising Ireland Campaign, The Environmental Protection Agency and the support of anonymous donors for their continued support for Wexford Irish Youth Opera Festival Opera’s Community Partnership and Education Projects. These initiatives Irish Youth Opera was founded by form part of our commitment to making distinguished Irish mezzo-soprano the Festival easily accessible to students Colette McGahon to provide professional and younger people. training for young Irish-born or Irish- based opera singers who are either in the As part of a developing partnership with early stages of their professional careers the Royal Irish Academy of Music and or completing advanced studies. Colette, under the banner of ‘Next Generation,’ who made her professional operatic Wexford Festival Opera has jointly debut at Wexford in 1979 in Crispino e la launched an Education Programme. This Comare by Federico and Luigi Ricci, is initiative complements the RIAM’s arts joined by soprano Dr Suzanne Murphy education and learning programmes and Berlin-based tenor Paul McNamara. to reveal to their students the practical The patron of Irish Youth Opera is and educative elements of Wexford President Michael D Higgins. The Festival Opera. Our partnership with the company’s aim is to provide a national RIAM resulted in the visit of a group of platform for young Irish singers and their music and drama students aged opera practitioners by introducing an between eight and eighteen and their innovative level of professional training parents to performances at Wexford through a comprehensive programme of Festival Opera 2013. workshops, masterclasses and an annual Summer School, which will culminate in the production of a fully staged opera. The Board of Directors of Wexford Festival Opera has invited Irish Youth Opera to make the Opera House its home base and the company’s inaugural production, Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, will take place in Wexford Opera House in September, 2014.
16 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE Zurich / Wexford Festival Opera Volunteers Award The Wexford Festival Opera / Zurich become a well-known and respected Volunteers Award for Outstanding face among the Volunteers. Wardrobe Leadership and Development recognises Volunteer Bride Tynan has been involved the significant contribution and for decades with Wexford Festival Opera. leadership of Wexford Opera Volunteers. Fellow Volunteers said that it was her Bar manager Tom Murphy and wardrobe enthusiasm during the Festival that Volunteer Bride Tynan were named earned her the prestigious award – she as the recipients of the third annual works with equal zeal at everything Wexford Festival Opera / Zurich she does, whether sewing buttons Volunteer of the Year Award during onto aprons or working on much more a special ceremony before the public complex costumes. dress rehearsal of Il Cappello di paglia Speaking at the presentation of awards, di Firenze at the 2013 Festival. Head of Direct at Zurich Insurance, Tom began volunteering with Wexford Kevin McCarthy, said, ‘It is our pleasure Festival Opera in 1999, after managing to present this award to Tom and Bride, the restaurant of the Talbot Hotel for who have demonstrated unwavering many years. Tom has been bar manager commitment to Wexford Festival Opera at the Festival ever since, and has over many years.’
Sponsorship, Development & Outreach 17 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach
COLM TOÍBÍN | PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE
JOHN FULLJAMES, ROYAL OPERA AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DAVID AGLER | PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE
VANCOUVER FRIENDS SYLVIA L’ÉCUYER, BRUCE WRIGHT FORMER WFO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ELAINE PADMORE AND AND DR DIANE ROSCOE | PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE ACHIM THORWALD | PHOTOS: PATRICK BROWNE Opera Europa We are very proud that Wexford Opera The conference, which formed part of House was chosen as the venue for a Wexford Festival Opera’s contribution to major international cultural conference the Gathering Ireland 2013 programme in 2013. Opera Europa, the sole of events, proved to be a unique representative organisation for all Opera opportunity to promote, present and Houses, Companies, Festivals and other enhance the reputation of Wexford professionals throughout Europe and Festival Opera. It was showcased to further afield held its annual gathering senior cultural delegates from over in Ireland for the first time during the twenty-five countries as a leading 2013 Festival. destination for opera and music lovers.
18 Sponsorship, Development & Outreach How to Support Wexford Festival Opera
How to Support Us There are many ways, and numerous She can be contacted as follows: levels of giving, by which you can support Lucy Durack Wexford Festival Opera to enable it do Membership Development even better what it does so well: Executive • Become a Friend: +353 53 916 3525 – Prelude Friends – €80 [email protected] – Ensemble Friends – €185 – Aria Friends – €500 To learn more about major gifts, – Bravura Friends – €2,000 the American Gala, legacies, and transformational giving, please contact: • Endow a Seat – €850
• Become a Cast Sponsor – €5,000 David McLoughlin Chief Executive • Become a ShortWork Producer – [email protected] €10,000 • Join us at the American Friends New York Dinner Gala – seats at $750, Christopher Massi tables for $10,000, $20,000 and Strategic Development $35,000. Executive • Join the President’s Circle – gifts of [email protected] €25,000, €50,000 and €100,000 and To avail of corporate giving beyond, can transform a production, opportunities, please contact: a season and the future of Wexford Festival Opera. Eamonn Carroll Corporate Development Lucy Durack will be delighted to hear Executive from you regarding any of your Friends’ [email protected] Membership queries, and also if you are interested in participating in our For further information on all the Cast Sponsorship or Seat Endowment opportunities for giving and for ways to initiatives. support your opera festival, please visit www.wexfordopera.com/support
Gifts can be made in a tax- advantageous way through our Irish, UK and US Charitable Trusts.
How to Support Wexford Festival Opera 19 PHOTO: PATRICK BROWNE In Memoriam
Conrad Susa (1935–2013)
Composer of Susa was born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, Transformations (2006) and was an acclaimed vocal composer. He created over two hundred theatre Susa’s opera scores and five operas, which show the Transformations was wide emotional range and eclectic style of first performed in his music; basically tonal with polyphonic Minneapolis in 1973 textures and references to popular music and became a popular and dance rhythms. American favourite. It was produced at Wexford in 2006, In 1972 Susa was commissioned by winning the Irish Times Theatre Award Minnesota Opera so he approached the for Best Opera Production. Susa was only American poet Anne Sexton with the idea the second American composer to have of using poems from her 1971 collection an opera performed on the main Wexford Transformations as the basis of an opera stage, after Floyd’s Of Mice and Men libretto. She was delighted with the (1980) and Susannah (2005) (Menotti’s idea of hearing her poetry as song and The Medium was a ShortWork in 2005). worked closely with Susa. The poems are Tom Mooney, Editor of the Wexford Echo confessional and re-tell some of Grimm’s Group of Newspapers, wrote in 2013 that tales which Sexton updated to the world Transformations was ‘an opera which of alcohol, Freud and suburbia in mid- polarised opinion like no other, but which twentieth century America. I loved … a worthy manifestation of new From 1988 until his death on Artistic Director Agler’s quest to broaden 22 November 2013 Susa was a member the horizons of the Festival by pushing of the composition faculty of the open the doors to the New World.’ San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 2006 saw the Dún Mhuire theatre in Wexford transformed into the venue for that year’s opera festival after the final performance in the Theatre Royal in 2005. The small number of musicians needed to perform Transformations – eight singers and eight instrumentalists – was well-suited to the size of the Dún Mhuire. Conrad Susa attended performances of Transformations and enjoyed the whole experience.
TRANSFORMATIONS | PHOTO: DEREK SPEIRS 20 In Memoriam In Memoriam
Thomson Smillie (1942–2014)
Third Artistic Director, tenor Curtis Rayam and conductor 1974–1978 James Judd. It was at his instigation that Wexford's own mixed choir, Wexford Thomson Smillie, the Festival Singers, was established.’ Glasgow-born former Wexford Artistic The writer and critic Ian Fox wrote Director, died at his in 2008 that Smillie’s The Turn of the home in Louisville, Screw ‘lives on in the memory of all Kentucky on 18 January, those who saw it as possibly the most 2014 aged seventy-one. He was Artistic exciting and original of presentations Director at Wexford from 1974 until 1978, ever given at Wexford.’ during his years working for Scottish Victoria Walsh-Hamer, daughter of Opera (1966-1978). He was General Dr Tom Walsh, the Festival’s first Artistic Manager of the Opera Company of Director, also remembers Smillie’s The Boston before becoming the highly Turn of the Screw: ‘Of the operas offered successful Director of Kentucky Opera under Thomson's tenure, the one which (1982–1997). affected me most, and which still remains As Artistic Director at Wexford he vivid in my memory, was his bringing developed the three-opera format which together of Benjamin Britten's The Turn has proved so satisfying and attractive of the Screw in 1976. He assembled a over the years: a ‘singers’ opera’, a striking ensemble of Director (Adrian comedy and a ‘thinking piece’. Eithne Slack, who succeeded Smillie as Artistic Scallan, whose lifelong association Director), Conductor (Albert Rosen) and with the Festival includes many years Designer (David Fielding). They and his as its secretary, remembers meeting cast of singers, including James Maguire Thomson Smillie in Glasgow in the early of Wexford 1970s in his role as Publicity Manager who gave with Scottish Opera: ‘When he came an unfor- to Wexford Festival as Artistic Director, gettable Thomson brought not only his breezy performance personality but new adventures to as Miles, Wexford's music scene. Two of the kept the operas of his time remain among the atmosphere most memorable – Thaïs and The Turn extraordinar- of the Screw. He brought the wonderful ily tense.’ recitalist Sena Jurinac, the first lady conductor Jane Glover, the remarkable THAÏS | WEXFORD FESTIVAL ARCHIVES
In Memoriam 21 2014 Conductors and Directors
Salomé
David Angus, Conductor Rosetta Cucchi, Director Born in England and Pianist and stage director. brought up in Belfast. Studied at Pesaro and Conducted L’Arlesiana Bologna in her native (Cilèa) at Wexford in 2012. Italy, and is the Artistic Currently Music Director Director of Fondazione of Boston Lyric Opera, following period Arturo Toscanini, Parma. Debut as opera as Music Director of Glimmerglass Opera, director at Wexford in 2004 (Prinzessin USA. Conducts productions of The Magic Brambilla, Braunfels), and also directed Flute, Lizzie Borden and I Puritani during Tutti in Maschera (Pedrotti) in 2008 and 2013–14 season at Boston. L’Arlesiana (Cilèa) in 2012 at Wexford. Don Bucefalo
Sergio Alapont, Conductor Kevin Newbury, Director Born in Benicàssim, Spain Born in Maine and based and studied conducting in in New York City as New York and Italy. Busy theatre and opera director. international schedule New opera productions as orchestra and opera in Florida, Philadelphia, conductor. Conducted Il Cappello di paglia Portland, Bard Summerscape, Minnesota, di Firenze (Rota) at Wexford in 2013. San Francisco and Chicago. He directed Current opera engagements include La Virginia (Mercadante) at Wexford in 2010, Cenerentola, Don Giovanni, Adelaide di which won the Irish Times Theatre Award Borgogna, Pierrot Lunaire, Gianni Schicchi for Best Opera Production. and Werther. Silent Night
Michael Christie, Conductor Tomer Zvulun, Director Music Director of Minnesota General and Artistic Opera, where his last Director of The Atlanta season’s productions Opera, he also directs included Nabucco, Anna operas throughout the Bolena and Turandot, USA and overseas. Recent as well as his San Francisco Opera and forthcoming productions for Atlanta, debut. In 2011 he conducted the world Boston, Pittsburgh, The Metropolitan, New premiere performances of Silent Night Orleans and others include La Bohème, with Minnesota Opera. He conducted Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Lucrezia The Ghosts of Versailles (Corigliano) at Borgia, Carmen, Falstaff, Tosca, Rigoletto Wexford in 2009. and Die Fledermaus.
22 2014 Conductors and Directors Book Your Tickets
Booking Dates
— Priority Booking for Friends from 10:00 on Saturday, 1 March 2014. — General Booking from 10:00 on Saturday, 29 March 2014.
Tickets may be booked using the following methods:
— Online: www.wexfordopera.com — E-mail: [email protected] — Telephone: +353 53 912 2144 / 1850 4 OPERA* — In person at Wexford Opera House Box Office*
— Post: fill out and post attached booking form PHOTO: FRAZER ASHFORD
*Box Office opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 to 17:30
Book Your Tickets Online
Friends have the first opportunity to We recommend that you book your book their Festival tickets online via the tickets online as this is the best way to Festival website: secure your preferred tickets. www.wexfordopera.com If you prefer the personal touch our helpful Box Office staff will be pleased which contains a step-by-step guide to to take your bookings by phone booking your tickets online (no booking (+353 53 912 2144 / 1850 4 OPERA), by fee). From the opening of priority e-mail ([email protected]) booking you will be able to browse or in person (Wexford Opera House, and search our programme of events High Street, Wexford). Postal bookings twenty-four hours a day and choose may be made, using the attached your own seats from the seating plan. booking form, but this is a slower method and your requested tickets may not be available.
Book Your Tickets 23 Opera Tickets
Booking Dates Please note Tickets are available in three price bands over the Festival. Information on our Prices are based on the most requested Festival dates. Refund/Return Policy may be Price Band A Wed 22, Thurs 23, Mon 27, Tues 28, Wed 29, found on page 26. Thurs 30 October In keeping with Price Band B Fri 24, Sat 25, Sun 26, Fri 31 October Wexford Festival Sat 1, Sun 2 November Opera tradition, Price Band C Gala Concert: Sun 26 October evening dress is strongly recommended for the evening opera Pricing performances.
Floor Level Seating Area Dates & Prices Price Band A Price Band B Price Band C 22, 23, 27, 28, 24, 25, 26, Gala Concert 29, 30 Oct 31 Oct 26 Oct 1, 2 Nov Circle Rows A–B €140 €140 €75 Circle Rows C–G €85 €115 €60 Circle Row H* €40 €40 €60 Circle Side Stalls Row I–J €35 €35 €60 Circle Boxes Boxes A,B,C,D,E,F €25 €25 €50 (4 seats)** Founders Circle A3–A26 €145 €145 €80 A1, A2, A27, A28 €120 €120 €60 Rows B–C €145 €145 €80 Founders Circle Side Stalls €130 €130 €80 Founders Circle Boxes A,B,D,E €50 €50 €50 (4 seats)** Boxes C,F €25 €25 €50 Main Stalls Rows A–B €90 €110 €60 Rows C–P €100 €120 €60 Side Stalls 1–6, 13–18 €100 €120 €60 7–12, 19–24 €90 €110 €60 *Reserved during all opera performances exclusively for Prelude Friends of Wexford Festival Opera **Restricted view, prices per seat
24 Opera Tickets Seating Plan
O’REILLY THEATRE, WEXFORD OPERA HOUSE
8 9 10 11 5 6 7 12 13 14 3 4 15 16 2 17 18 H 1 10 11 12 H 6 7 8 9 13 14 15 16 4 5 17 18 2 3 19 20 1 9 10 11 12 13 14 21 G G 6 7 8 15 16 17 4 5 18 19 2 3 20 21 1 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 22 F 7 8 17 18 F 5 6 19 4 20 21 3 22 2 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 E 1 7 8 9 18 19 23 E 5 6 20 21 4 22 3 11 12 13 14 15 16 23 2 8 9 10 17 18 24 D 1 6 7 19 20 D 4 5 21 3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 2 11 12 20 23 9 10 21 22 24 C 1 8 23 25 7 15 16 17 24 C 6 11 12 13 14 18 25 5 10 19 20 26 4 8 9 21 27 7 22 3 6 23 28 2 5 24 29 1 25 B 4 26 30 B 3 27 2 28 I 1 J A 29 12 A BOX 1 BOX 13 2 D 14 3 A 15 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 13 14 3 4 15 16 16 2 17 5 BOX 1 13 14 15 16 18 C 11 12 17 18 19 BOX 9 10 20 C 17 8 21 22 6 7 23 6 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 10 19 24 E 5 8 9 20 21 25 7 B 4 7 22 26 3 6 23 19 5 24 27 8 2 4 25 28 20 1 3 26 BOX 2 27 29 9 BOX B 1 28 21 B 10 A A F 22 C 11 1 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 I BOX 1 2 3 22 P BOX P 2 J 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Side Stalls 1 2 3 4 16 17 18 19 O O 3 15 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 D N 1 2 3 4 17 18 19 20 N A 16 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 Boxes M 1 2 3 4 5 13 15 16 17 18 19 M Boxes D, E & F Side Stalls 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 5 17 3 4 5 6 18 19 20 21 22 A, B & C seat 4 BOX L 1 2 23 24 L BOX 18 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 6 seat 4 13 3 4 5 6 20 21 22 23 1 each K 1 2 24 25 K each 19 14 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 2 7 3 4 5 6 18 19 20 21 22 E 1 2 23 24 B 20 15 J J 3 8 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 2 3 4 22 23 24 16 I 1 25 I 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 21 3 4 5 6 19 20 21 22 BOX 17 H 1 2 23 24 H 5 BOX 10 22 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 18 2 3 4 22 23 24 6 23 G 1 25 G 11 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 F 19 3 4 5 6 19 20 21 22 7 C 24 F 1 2 23 24 F 12 20 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 8 3 4 5 6 21 22 23 AA 1 2 24 AA 21 E 25 E 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 3 4 5 6 19 20 21 22 22 D 1 2 23 24 D 10 Boxes 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Boxes 23 2 3 4 22 23 24 11 D, E & F C 1 25 C A, B & C 24 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 12 seat 4 3 4 5 6 19 20 21 22 2 23 24 seat 4 each B 1 B 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 each 3 4 5 21 22 23 A 1 2 24 25 A
STAGE
CIRCLECircle FOUNDERS’Founders’ Ci rCIRCLEcle StallSTALLSs Rows Rows A–B A–B CentreCentre Main Main Stall Stallss Rows Row C–Gs C–G SideSide StallsStalls S idSidee Stall Stallss Row R owH H BoxesBoxes Wh Wheelchair-eelchair- accessible Seat accessible Seat Side Si Stallsde Stalls Boxes Boxes
Seating Plan 25 Event Tickets
Tickets – Friends’ Entitlements with sight lines as good as any on their Priority booking for Friends opens on respective levels. The wheelchair-accessible Saturday 1 March 2014 at 10:00 and early seating areas are indicated on the seating booking is advised during this four-week plan. To book these tickets you must advance booking period. Bookings can be contact the Box Office directly by telephone made online at www.wexfordopera.com, (+353 53 912 2144 / 1850 4 OPERA) or e-mail twenty-four hours a day (see ‘How to Book’). ([email protected]). As we cannot guarantee your first choice of If you are a wheelchair user and wish to events, we would ask Friends who are making attend Festival events outside Wexford a postal booking to indicate an alternative Opera House, please advise the Box Office date on their booking form. Please remember at the time of booking so that we can ensure to book before 29 March, when general your visit is as enjoyable as possible. booking opens. Ensemble Friends are entitled to purchase up to six tickets per event, Aria Friends up to Pricing eight tickets per event, Bravura Friends up to Operas €25 – €145 ten tickets and Prelude Friends two tickets (depending on date and seat selection) per event. ShortWorks €25 Remember that each Friend is also entitled to (allocated seating, Whites Hotel) an allocation of complimentary tickets to the Friends’ Parties, Buffet and Lunches, details Lunchtime Recitals €25 of which are on page 6. Additional tickets for Gala Concert from €50 the Parties and Buffet may be purchased at €30 each and the Lunches at €15 each. Joyeux Noël (film) free Irish Heritage Concerts €15 Refund / Return Policy Dr Tom Walsh Lecture €10 Subject to availability, tickets may be exchanged for the same opera on an Friends’ Parties & Buffets €30 alternative date. The original ticket(s) must (in addition to the Friends’ complimentary be with the Box Office at least seventy-two ticket allocation) hours prior to the performance to qualify for Friends’ Lunches €15 an exchange. Tickets can only be accepted (in addition to the Friends’ complimentary for resale if the performance is sold out. The ticket allocation) original ticket(s) must be with the Box Office before we can begin the resale process. If Please note your ticket(s) is resold, you will be refunded, The Management reserves the right to refuse less 15% administration fee. admission and to change or cancel the advertised programme. Latecomers cannot Special Needs be admitted once the performance has Wexford Opera House is fully accessible for commenced. Please allow sufficient time for persons with restricted movement, both traffic and parking delays. ambulant and wheelchair bound. There is convenient lift access to all public spaces. In keeping with Wexford Festival Opera Provision has been made to accommodate tradition, evening dress is strongly up to fifteen wheelchair users and their recommended. companions in a variety of locations, each
26 Event Tickets Booking Form
Name:
Address:
Telephone (day): Telephone (evening):
Mobile: Booking PIN:
E-mail:
The Operas Date Seat Date Number Total 1st Choice Preference* 2nd Choice of Tickets Payable Salomé Don Bucefalo Silent Night
Alternative dates – tickets are subject to availability Subtotal If your first choice date is unavailable, your second choice date will be used. *Seat Preference Comments:
Other Events Number Total Dates Time of Tickets Payable The Wandering Scholar / Trial by Jury Il Tabarro La Cenerentola Lunchtime Recitals Gala Concert Joyeux Noël (film) Irish Heritage Concerts Dr Tom Walsh Lecture Friends’ Parties/Buffet/ Lunches
Subtotal
Booking Form 27 Booking Form
Voluntary Donation
Any donations to the Festival will be gratefully accepted and acknowledged
TOTAL
Total from the Operas, the Events and Donation
Payment Method
Cheque enclosed Credit Card* – Please fill in card details below Account Number (Laser)
Master Expiry Visa Laser CVV Card Date
The CVV is the 3 digit credit card *please note we do not accept American Express security number on the signature strip on the back of your credit card.
Name on card (BLOCK CAPITALS)
Signature on card
Tick here if you do not wish to join our mailing list
BOX OFFICE USE ONLY Date Received Order Number Signed Date Processed
28 Booking Form WEXFORD QUAY | PHOTO: LEE ROBINSON WWW.WEXFORDPHOTOS.COM Wexford Opera House | High Street, Wexford, Ireland Tel: +353 53 912 2400 | Box Office: +353 53 912 2144 Callsave: 1850 4 OPERA [email protected] www.wexfordopera.com
patron Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland president Sir Anthony O’Reilly chairman Ger Lawlor artistic director David Agler chief executive David McLoughlin commercial director Breda Cashe
Editor Sarah Burn | Design Miles Linklater, 24pt Helvetica