59th Wexford Festival Opera Opens

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, T.D. officially opened the 59th Wexford Festival Opera on Saturday, October 16 on Wexford's Quay front ahead of the traditional spectacular fireworks display, winding up a day of diverse range of top-class family entertainment throughout the town.

Minister Hanafin remarked, "Once again the Wexford Opera Festival now in its 59th year has captured the hearts and minds of Opera lovers not just here in Wexford, but also at national and international level. Indeed, I am particularly delighted to welcome the return of the full daytime programme, including the very popular ShortWorks operas. This element as well as the revived full season will no doubt energise and attract a wonderful mix of audiences. I want also to acknowledge the tremendous voluntary effort that ensures year after year Wexford Opera Festival builds on its considerable experience, and provides a memorable time for all involved."

Following the official launch on the quay, the Minister also attended a ceremony in the Opera House to recognise the achievements of the Wexford Festival Foundation in raising over €5.3m in private donations towards the redevelopment costs of the new building, before attending the opening night opera at 8pm, which was broadcast live on RTÉ Lyric FM.

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera opened with the rarely performed Italian lyric tragedy, Virginia by Saverio Mercadante. The next evening sees the European Premiere of a new comic opera, The Golden Ticket by Peter Ash on Sunday, October 17. The third opera on offer is the Czech folk opera, Hubi?ka by Bed?ich Smetana featuring this year's winner of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, South-African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza, in the lead role.

This year also marks the welcome return of the full daytime programme, including the very popular ShortWorks operas. The performances last little more than an hour and this year, audiences will be treated to a condensed version of Puccini's La bohème, Italian comic opera La serva padrona (The Maid as Mistress) by Giovanni Battista and Winners by Richard Wargo, based on the Brian Friel play. All three ShortWorks feature world-class singers from the evening operas, giving audiences more opportunities to hear the national and international talent that Wexford attracts.

David McLoughlin, Chief Executive of Wexford Festival Trust commented, "It is truly heartening that our loyal and growing audience have responded so positively to the expansion of this year's Opera Festival, proving that even in the midst of challenging economic circumstances there is a steadfast national and international demand from devotees of all ages and from all social backgrounds for opera of the highest World standards to be presented in Wexford".

With an increased seating capacity in the internationally award-winning Wexford Opera House and an extended festival, some tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.wexfordopera.com or from the Wexford Festival Opera box-office, telephone: Lo-call 1850-4-OPERA or (053) 912 2144. Daytime events from €15. Evening Operas from €25. No booking fee applies.

For up-to-date news, video clips, photos and interviews visit our facebook and website: www.wexfordopera.com.  

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera runs until Saturday, October 30.

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