Some of the most famous and outstanding stars from the opera world are to take part in a very special evening from Wexford Festival Opera, including Aigul Akhmetshina, Joseph Calleja, Daniela Barcellona, Juan Diego Flórez, Igor Golovatenko, Ermonela Jaho, Sergey Romanovsky, and many more.
This October audiences across Ireland and around the world will have a chance to experience a taste of the magic of Wexford Festival Opera at home. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s reimagined Festival ‘Waiting for Shakespeare …The Festival in the air’ will be an online celebration, starting on 11 October and running over eight consecutive days. This reimagined Festival aims to bring together audiences and the wider worldwide Wexford community through the power of music. Wexford Festival Opera, RTÉ and ARTE have joined forces once again to ensure that every magical moment will be available for audiences to enjoy for free from the comfort and safety of their own homes with unforgettable events and performances to be streamed/ broadcast.
One of the much-anticipated highlights will be the Gala Concert - Remote Voices, supported by specialist insurer, Ecclesiastical, which will feature performances from some of the most famous and outstanding stars from the opera world, all of whom have appeared in Wexford in the past. This unique and unforgettable concert will be streamed free on 16th October at 8pm.
The Gala Concert - Remote Voices will be hosted by Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi and RTÉ Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan and will see these leading names in opera join remotely from their own homes. Wexford Festival Opera has historically served as a springboard for many young singers at the beginning of their careers onto the international stage and while they have gone on to lofty careers, Wexford Festival Opera has always remained in their hearts. It is with great honour that we welcome them back to perform for you once again - from their homes to yours.
The star studded line up will include mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, bass baritone Simone Alberghini, baritone Nicola Alaimo, mezzo-soprano Daniela Barcellona, baritone Paolo Bordogna, tenor Joseph Calleja, baritone Roberto de Candia, soprano Helena Dix, soprano Anne Sophie Duprels, tenor Juan Diego Flórez, baritone Igor Golovatenko, tenor Dmitry Golovnin, soprano Sophie Gordeladze, soprano Ermonela Jaho, mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly, baritone Leon Kim, baritone Alessandro Luongo, mezzo-soprano Raffaella Lupinacci, soprano Angela Meade, tenor Sergey Romanovsky, baritone Luca Salsi, tenor Levy Sekgapane, Soprano Mariangela Sicilia, mezzo-soprano Nora Sourouzian and tenor Noah Stewart.
Stream live at RTE.ie/Culture, catch up on RTÉ Player and on RTÉ Player’s exclusive Wexford Festival Opera pop-up channel.
David McLoughlin, CEO Wexford Festival Opera said today, “For many years, the support of Ecclesiastical has enabled the Festival to bring to Wexford leading Irish and international opera talent. This year, although such performers are unable to grace the Wexford Opera stage in person, thanks to Ecclesiastical’s visionary support, the reimagined Festival will bring to its audiences at home and abroad an unparalleled line-up of world-renowned operatic talent in a live web-streamed interactive concert. Ecclesiastical’s steadfast support of Wexford during these challenging times for live performances is more appreciated than ever. “
David Lane, Managing Director - Ireland, Ecclesiastical, said: “At a time when we are physically distanced and face being enclosed in our homes, the role of the arts in bringing us together and in creating moments of social cohesion and joy is of vital importance to wellbeing.”
For full details of Waiting for Shakespeare ...The Festival in the airand to download the brochure go to wexfordopera.com .