Wexford Festival Opera 2011

'Gianni di Parigi'
Image: Festival Della Valle D'Itria 2010

Jim Molloy and Claudia Boyle in La Cour de Célimène
Image: Clive Barda

Krzysztof Szumanski and Daria Masiero in 'Maria' by Roman Statkowski
Image: Mary Browne

Saturday November 5th
Recorded live at Wexford Festival Opera 2011
Gianni di Parigi by Gaetano Donizetti - Listen Back

The French heir to the throne is betrothed to the Princess of Navarre but he has never met her. He pretends he is wealthy burgher and contrives to invite the Princess to dine with him at an inn where she is staying with her entourage en route to her wedding in Paris. She sees through his disguise but thinks highly of his enterprise and they fall in love.
The principals are Edgardo Rocha and Suzanna Markova.
The Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti

Interval: Brian O'Rourke reflects on the very many years he spent performing opera as principal clarinet with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra

Saturday October 29th
From the Wexford Festival Opera 2011
La Cour de Célimène by Ambroise Thomas - Listen Back

In a plot to rival Léhar's Merry Widow,Célimène is a woman who is determined to make men fall in love with her to take revenge on them because of her late husband's infidelities. Her heartless carry-on is criticised by her disapproving sister but all ends well as she changes her ways and is ultimately able to find freedom and happiness with one man.
The principals are Claudia Boyle and Jurgita Adamonyte.
The Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra is conducted by Carlos Izcaray

Interval Talk: John Allen investigates the life of Ambroise Thomas

Saturday October 22nd
Live from Wexford Festival Opera 2011
Maria by Roman Statkowski - Listen Back

This strange tale, first performed in Warsaw in 1906 and not much performed since, concerns a heroine who is murdered by her father-in-law because he wants his son to have a richer wife. That son in turn wants to avenge the death of his beloved wife by killing his father. But his wife Maria returns as a ghost and persuades her hu8sband not to, whereupon he kills himself instead in order to be reunited with her. The principals are Daria Masiero and Rafal Bartminski.
The Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra is conducted by Tomasz Tokarcyk
Interval Talk: John Allen discusses the significance of the name Maria in opera

Click here for details of the Wexford Festival Opera 2010