Last week saw the opening of the 64th Wexford Festival Opera at the National Opera House. Specialising in unjustly neglected or rarely performed repertoire, celebrations began on the Wexford quay-front where the traditional fire work display and speeches marked the opening of this world- renowned Festival.
The 64th Festival was officially opened by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, on the quay before the audience made its way to the National Opera House on High Street and the curtain rose on the first production – Koanga by Frederick Delius. Considered to be the first opera written about African-Americans it was inspired by the African-American songs Delius heard as a young man working on an orange plantation in Florida. Koanga is a powerfully atmospheric opera about a proud African prince, sold into slavery in Louisiana, who falls in love with a mixed-race maid, with tragic consequences.
Artistic Director David Agler also announced the repertoire for the 65th Festival which will run from 26 October to 6 November, 2016. The three evening operas are:
Herculanum by Félicien David (1810–1876) dates: 26, 29 October / 1, 4 November
Vanessa by Samuel Barber (1910–1981) dates: 27, 30 October / 2, 5 November
Maria de Rudenz by Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) dates: 28, 31 October / 3, 6 November.
Creative teams and cast will be announced in the coming months. Priority booking for Friends of Wexford Festival Opera opens Saturday, 27 February 2016. General booking opens Saturday, 19 March 2016.
But for now all eyes are focused for the next 11 days on the three mainstage operas, Koanga by Frederick Delius, Guglielmo Ratcliff by Pietro Mascagni and Le Pré aux clercs by Ferdinand Hérold, the programme of ShortWorks, Gala Concert, Piano and Solo Recitals, exhibition, talks and events which make up the 2015 Wexford Festival Opera.
The 64th Wexford Festival Opera is supported by grants from the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, and Wexford County Council.