59th Wexford Festival Opera Announces a 15-day Festival

Wexford Festival Opera today announced its artistic programme for the 59th Wexford Festival Opera, which will run over 15 days, 3 days longer than initially announced last October. Breaking with tradition, the 59th Wexford Festival Opera will now open on a Saturday. The Festival will run from Saturday, October 16th until Saturday, October 30th, 2010.

Commenting on the longer festival, Chief Executive David McLoughlin said, "Following a year of consolidation in 2009 we are very pleased that such financial prudence has begun to bear fruit by enabling us to present not just a longer, but also a broader, festival in terms of the number of daily performances to be presented. The ambitious and comprehensive programme which will be staged over 15 days in October will further confirm and establish Wexford Opera's position in the top three favourite locations in the World for opera lovers."

Details of the artistic programme were also unveiled by Artistic Director David Agler. "I am delighted to be able to expand the festival this year and the daytime programming will be increased significantly. The Festival will include 3 main operas and a return of a new version of the popular afternoon short opera performances, previously known as the ‘shortworks'. The programme will also feature the lunchtime recitals in St. Iberius, the Gala Concert, two Choral Concerts and the return of the Dr. Tom Walsh Lecture, plus a few other surprises to be announced later. All in all a much expanded daytime series."

The 3 main operas are:

Virginia by Saverio Mercadante (1795-1870)
Lyric Tragedy in Three acts
Premiere: Teatro San Carlo, Naples, April 7 1866
Sung in Italian

The Golden Ticket by Peter Ash & Donald Sturrock
An Opera based on Roald Dahl's ‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory'.
A co-production with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, commissioned by American Lyric Theater & Felicity Dahl.
A European premiere performance. Sung in English

Hubi?ka (The Kiss) by Bed?ich Smetana (1824 -1884)
An Opera in two acts
Premiere: Prague, November 7 1876
First Wexford performance October 26, 1984 (in English)
Sung in Czech

Taking up his role as Chairman of Wexford Festival Trust, Peter Scallan noted, "I am thrilled to be in a position to announce such an ambitious programme. David Agler delivers to our local, Irish and international audience a wide choice of opera, recitals and concerts in both established and exciting new formats."

Additional events and performances are currently being finalised and full details of the 2010 Programme will be announced in late April.

Priority booking commences on Tuesday, May 4th, with general booking commencing on Tuesday, June 1st.

The 59th Wexford Festival Opera runs from Saturday, October 16th to Saturday, October 30th, 2010. For all the latest information and to watch a video of Artistic Director, David Agler announce the programme, visit our website at www.wexfordopera.com