Juan Diego Flórez, Lisette Oropesa, Ermonela Jaho Headline Wexford Festival’s Revised 2020 Schedule

By David Salazar

The Wexford Festival has announced that it will be rescheduling its 2020 season to October 2021.

However, the company will move forward with plans to present a reimagined event that takes place solely online.

This showcase will be called “Waiting for Shakespeare… The Festival in the Air” and will take place over the course of eight days between Oct. 11-18.

“The repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic are regrettably beyond our control and we fully acknowledge the impact the postponement of this year’s full festival will have on the community which founded the Festival seven decades ago,” Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi and Chief Executive David McLoughlin said in a joint statement. “However, the indomitable spirit of Wexford Opera lives on, even in these uncertain and challenging times. We are determined to leave no stone unturned to ensure the Festival remains active, dynamic and fully prepared to welcome audiences back to Wexford to celebrate the Festival’s 70th anniversary in 2021.”

Here is a rundown of the schedule.

The festival will open with Rossini’s “Petite Messe Solennelle” to honor the victims of COVID-19. Pianists Finghin Collins and Carmen Santoro will perform alongside soloists Claudia Boyle, Tara Erraught, Pietro Adaíni, and John Molloy. Kenneth Montgomery conducts the 12 Cherubs and harmonium player Andrew Synnott.

Streaming Date: Oct. 11, 2020 

Music critic Michael Dervan will engage in interviews with major opera stars including Ermonela Jaho, Graham Vick, and Sir Antonio Pappano.

Streaming Dates: Oct. 12, 14, 16, 2020

Members of the Wexford Factory will deliver six episodes from Verdi’s “Falstaff.” Artists include Rory Dunne, David Howes, Francesca Federico, Jade Phoenix, Ava Dodd, Kathleen Norchi, Sara Shine, Sara Richmond, Anna Brady, Andrew Gavin, Conor Prendiville, Vladimir-Mihai Sima, and Conall William O’Neill.

Streaming Dates: Oct. 12-17, 2020

The festival will continue its Dr. Tom Walsh Lectures with a focus on Shakespeare, Verdi, and the Boito/ Verdi relationship.

Streaming Dates: Oct. 13, 15, 2020

There will be a new opera commission composed by Andrew Synnott based on Shakespeare’s “The Rape of Lucrece.” The libretto will be by Alessandra Binucci and Rosetta Cucchi.

Streaming Date: Oct. 13-15, 2020 

The festival will showcase a gala starring such opera stars as Aigul Akhmetshina, Simone Alberghini, Nicola Alaimo, Daniela Barcellona, Joseph Calleja, Roberto de Candia, Paolo Bordogna, Helena Dix, Anne Sophie Duprels, Juan Diego Flórez, Igor Golovatenko, Dmitry Golovnin, Sophie Gordeladze, Ermonela Jaho, Rachel Kelly, Leon Kim, Alessandro Luongo, Raffaella Lupinacci, Angela Meade, Sergey Romanovsky, Luca Salsi, Levy Sekgapane, Mariangela Sicilia, Nora Sourouzian, and Noah Stewart.

Streaming Date: Oct. 16, 2020 

Soprano Celine Bryne will lead a dinner time gala.

Streaming Date: Oct. 17, 2020

Lisette Oropesa will headline a performance alongside the Wexford Festival Orchestra under the musical direction of Francesco Cilluffo.

 

Streaming Date: Oct. 18, 2020

Categories

News