Festival origins, growth and development Wexford Festival Opera

1 festival origins, growth , development

1.1 tom walsh, 1951 1966
1.2 brian dickie, 1967 1973
1.3 thomson smillie, 1974 1978
1.4 adrian slack, 1979 1981
1.5 elaine padmore, 1982 1994
1.6 luigi ferrari, 1995 2004
1.7 david agler, since 2005

festival origins, growth , development

under founding director, tom walsh, wexford began steady climb international success. succeeded variety of talented individuals maintained , expendaded upon festival s basic philosophy.

tom walsh, 1951 1966

the origins of opera festival lie in visit ireland in november 1950 sir compton mackenzie, founder of magazine gramophone, , erudite writer on music, gave lecture wexford opera study circle. mackenzie suggested group should stage opera in own theatre, theatre royal (subsequently festival s permanent venue until 2005), theatre felt eminently suited production of operas.

the result group of opera lovers (including dr. tom walsh become festival s first artistic director) planned festival of music , arts (as event first called) 21 october 4 november 1951. highlight production of 19t-century irish composer michael william balfe s 1857 rose of castille, little-known opera had been mentioned james joyce in ulysses in striking pun (balfe best known bohemian girl).

setting aside well-known operas during years placed wexford in unique position in growing world of opera festivals, , move supported well-known critics such influential desmond shawe-taylor of sunday times, communicated happening each autumn season.

during first decade, wexford offered increasingly enthusiastic , knowledgeable audience such rarities lortzing s der wildschütz , obscure works (for time) such bellini s la sonnambula staged, marilyn cotlow adina , nicola monti elvino. bryan balkwill, charles mackerras , john pritchard among young conductors, working subsequently famous producers , designers michael macliammoir. time, results astounding, , festival attracting leading operatic talent, both new , established.

increasingly, possible recruit singers nicola monti, afro poli, franco calabrese , paolo pedani rising british , irish stars heather harper, bernadette greevy, thomas hemsley , geraint evans.

due renovation of theatre, 1960 season did not take place, @ re-opening, verdi s ernani presented in september 1961.

problems in obtaining radio Éireann light orchestra (now rtÉ concert orchestra) led involvement of royal liverpool philharmonic 1 season, while in next year radio Éireann symphony (now rtÉ national symphony orchestra) moved pit, role maintained until 2005.

the 1962 l amico fritz brought talented young irish singers veronica dunne , bernadette greevy international notice, while other distinguished names 1960s included mirella freni in bellini s puritani. massenet s don quichotte standout in 1965 veteran bass miroslav cangalovic cervantes old knight.

albert rosen, young conductor prague, began long association company in 1965, , went on conduct eighteen wexford productions. later appointed principal conductor of rtÉ symphony orchestra , conductor laureate @ time of death in 1997.

brian dickie, 1967 1973

in 1967, walter legge, emi recording producer , founder of philharmonia orchestra asked take on running of festival, within month of appointment suffered severe heart attack , obliged withdraw. 26-year-old former trinity college student brian dickie took on running of festival. new era of outstanding singing emerged, first operas in russian , czech plus new emphasis on french repertory represented delibes’ lakmé in 1970 , bizet s les pêcheurs de perles in 1971.

thomson smillie, 1974 1978

dickie persuaded return glyndebourne, successor in 1974 thomson smillie came scottish opera. maintained three-opera format. neglected during period, massenet s operas became favourites, , smillie staged thaïs in first season, starting series of composer s operas included rare sapho produced in 2001.

in 1976, britten s turn of screw presented along rarity in cimarosa s one-man piece il maestro di cappella. other rare italian operas of 18th century presented in 1979 , subsequent years.

adrian slack, 1979 1981

adrian slack concentrated on italian opera. there exception such handel s orlando, floyd s of mice , men , mozart s zaide. spontini s la vestale memorable incident involving entire company slipping on steeply raked, smoothly finished stage, described bernard levin.

elaine padmore, 1982 1994

elaine padmore had been bbc opera producer , had supervised transmissions of productions bbc 3 and, during tenure artistic director, wide spectrum of music , singers many remarkable productions made appearances @ wexford. sergei leiferkus introduced audiences outside russia along many other newcomers such american dramatic soprano alessandra marc during era. other outstanding productions included new-comer francesca zambello s 2 productions, first of donizetti s l assedio di calais in 1991 , tchaikovsky s cherevichki in 1993.

a new idea introduced padmore in 1982 operatic scenes , presentation of excerpts operas. provided lower-cost alternative younger audience members offering more work chorus, , idea proved successful.

michael william balfe s rose of castile, directed nicolette molnár , designed john lloyd davies, revived in professional production in 1991 commemorate festival s 40th anniversary.

luigi ferrari, 1995 2004

in 1995, padmore succeeded artistic director luigi ferrari, director of rossini opera festival @ pesaro , later director of teatro comunale in bologna. naturally, developed own style emphasizing italian , late romantic works such meyerbeer s l étoile du nord in 1996.

in 1994, four-year series of commercial recordings festival started, in addition radio telefís Éireann broadcasts festival. many seasons have been broadcast bbc radio 3. in 2001, fiftieth festival special event marked introduction of surtitles.

david agler, since 2005

david agler became artistic director , programmed 2005 , subsequent seasons. american conductor, music director @ vancouver opera , resident conductor @ san francisco opera.

one innovation, following original idea of opera scenes , has been mini opera concept, presenting more mainstream works in condensed versions, developed success.