Rosetta Cucchi is a successful international stage director and the artistic director of Wexford Opera Festival. OperaWire: What was the first opera you attended? Rosetta Cucchi: “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” by Rossini OW: What was the first opera you directed? RC: “La Scala di Seta” by Rossini OW: What is the next opera you are scheduled to direct? RC: “Adriana {…}
(Photo: Patrick Browne) Opera in Ireland has recently been going through a boom time. Whereas only a few years ago, Irish singers were being forced to look abroad to establish a career, owing to the lack of opportunities at home, now, with the emergence of Opera Collective Ireland, the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, and, most significantly, Irish National Opera, along {…}
(Credit: Kristin Speed) The Wexford Festival Opera has announced the final celebration of its 70th anniversary for a special one-night event at the National Concert Hall in Ireland. The showcase, which is slated for August 26, 2022 will feature tenor Konu Kim, Irish soprano Celine Byrne, Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, and Irish bassist Juana Molloy. Music director Michele Mariotti will {…}
(Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland) The Wexford Factory has announced its 2022-23 artists as well as the extension of a partnership with PwC for an additional two years. “PwC has been a valued supporter of Wexford Festival Opera for many years. Their values perfectly reflect our own objectives: to support emerging artists and provide platforms to further their careers. {…}
The Wexford Festival Opera has announced its 2022 showcase, which kicks off on Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 6, 2022. The season opens with “La Tempesta” by Halévy. The work will star Niklay Zemlianskikh, Hila Baggio, Giiorgi Manoshvili, Andrew Morstein, Jade Phoenix, Rory Musgrave, Conor Prendiville, Richard Shaffrey, and Emma Jüngling. Roberto Catalano will direct the opera with Francesco {…}
(Credit: Fay Fox) Wexford Festival Opera is set to celebrate its 70th anniversary with its New York debut at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. The showcase, which will take place on Thursday, April 14, 2022, will star soprano Angela Meade and pianist Myra Huang. The duo will perform music by Wagner, Meyerbeer, and Amy Beach, among others. “Having welcomed {…}
One of the successes of this year’s Wexford Festival Opera was undoubtedly the Wexford Factory, a program of masterclasses introduced by the festival’s artistic director Rosetta Cucchi aimed at developing young talent. The participants are also given the opportunity to sing in an opera on the main stage during the afternoon, replacing the 60 to 90 minute opera short productions, {…}
Karl Goldmark was a Hungarian composer who established himself in Vienna in the second half of the 19th century, achieving notable success with a number pieces such as his Violin Concerto No. 1, his Rustic Wedding Symphony, and his first opera “Die Königin von Saba,” which remained in the schedule of the Wiener Staatsoper continuously from its premier in 1875 {…}
(Photo: Clive Barda) On taking up the post of Artistic Director for Wexford Festival Opera in 2020, Rosetta Cucchi introduced a number of innovations, one of which was the establishment of the Wexford Factory aimed at offering professional and financial support to young singers in the early stages of their careers. A central part of the initiative is the presentation {…}
(Photo: Clive Barda) The theme of this year’s Wexford Festival Opera is “Shakespeare in the Heart,” a title that allows for a wide interpretation. Of the three main operas only one is actually based on a Shakespeare play, Karl Goldmarks’ “Ein Wintermärchen,” which is a representation of “A Winter’s Tale,” although the Wexford Factory is also presenting a production of {…}
Today was the last of my three day trip to the Wexford Festival Opera, and what journey it was! Every day from mid-morning to late evening was a non-stop series of events, with barely time for a coffee or a bite to eat. My morning started with a meeting with the young Irish soprano Jade Phoenix who agreed to what {…}