Saturday October 4th: Wexford Festival Opera Presents Stanford' The Critic
Stanford's The Critic takes was brought to life in Wexford Festival Opera in 2024. Paul Herriott provides us with another opportunity to hear the opera. The scene is set on the stage of a theatre, where a new opera, The Spanish Armada, is in rehearsal. The composer, Mr. Dangle (performed by Jonathan White) and the librettist and impresario, Mr. Puff, have invited the eponymous critic, Mr. Sneer performed by Arthur Riordan, to attend. Mr. Puff launches into a discussion of his profession, the theatre and the many merits of his new piece. The rehearsal begins, and we are transported to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The cast, conducted by Ciaran McAuley includes Rory Lynch, Rory Dunne, Ben McAteer and Ava Dodd.
Saturday October 11th: Wexford Festival Opera Presents Donizetti's Le Convenienze ed Inconvenienze Teatrali
Paul Herriott looks back at Wexford Festival Opera 2024 again this week. Tonight Donizetti's Le Convenienze ed Inconvenienze Teatrali (Conventions and Inconveniences of the Stage) a two-act farce takes to the stage and shines an exaggerated spotlight on the behind-the-scenes working of a theatre and the rehearsal process, showing what can go wrong when the egos of the performers get in the way of putting on a good show. A regional (and mediocre) operatic troupe is rehearsing a new work and faces numerous obstacles. The prima donna acts every bit the diva, refusing to rehearse. The tenor finds himself in the wrong production and quite out of his depth. The Seconda Donna's mother (played by a baritone) demands that her daughter be given a more prominent role, before deciding to take on several roles herself. Not to be outshone, the Prima Donna's husband takes to the stage too. When the show eventually collapses and the company tries to flee under cover of night, rather than pay back all the investors (whose money has already been spent), the Impresario has other plans... Danila Grassi conducts the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Saturday October 18th: Wexford Festival Opera 2025: Handel's DeidamiaLive from the National Opera House in Wexford
Paul Herriott brings us a production of Handel's Deidamia. Achilles (sung by Bruno de Sá), disguised as a young girl named Pyrrha, is hidden on the island of Skyros to avoid being sent to the Trojan War. There, he falls in love with Deidamia (sung by Sophie Junker), daughter of King Lycomedes (sung by Petros Magoulas). Their secret romance is threatened when Ulysses (sung by Nicolò Balducci) and the Greeks arrive, determined to find Achilles. Ulysses exposes his true identity by tempting him with weapons. Though torn between love and destiny, Achilles chooses glory, leaving Deidamia heartbroken. Blending comedy and drama, Handel's Deidamia explores love, deception, and fate in a world where duty triumphs over personal desire. George Petrou conducts the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra and Chorus in tonight's production.
