RT & Wexford Festival Opera join forces to bring the Festival magic to your home this October

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, RT 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.

Today details were announced of how audiences can access at home,with unforgettable events and performances to be streamed/ broadcast across RTE.ie/ lyric fm, arte.tv and Wexfordopera.com from Sunday, 11 October - Sunday, 18 October 2020.

11th Oct, 8pm:Petite messe solennelle(Rossini)

This performance of Rossini'sPetite messe solennelle, considered one of the most remarkable compositions of his career, demonstrated by his use of beautiful, memorable melodies and rhythmic vitality, is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. Performed in its original version from the stage of the National Opera House with two pianos, harmonium, four soloists and chorus, it will be conducted by Kenneth Montgomery with instrumentalists Finghin Collins (first pianist) , Carmen Santoro (second pianist) , Andrew Synnott (harmonium) , and soloists Claudia Boyle (soprano), Tara Erraught (mezzo soprano), Pietro Ada ni (tenor) , John Molloy (bass) and the Wexford Factory Ensemble.

LISTEN LIVE at RT lyric fm presented by Paul Herriott

WATCH the live stream at RTE.ie/Culture

CATCH UP on RT Player and on RT Player's exclusive Wexford Festival Opera pop-up channel.

This performance is also being live streamed by the (Strasbourg based) European Culture Channel ARTE as part of their ARTE Opera Season 2020-2021, a digital European opera season offered in partnership with some of the most renowned opera institutions of Europe (available for one year on arte.tv/opera).

The production is, as well, part of the cultural partnership between ARTE and RT established to promote Irish arts and culture across Europe.

12th Oct, 8pm:Dinner Time Recital with Celine Byrne

Irish soprano Celine Byrne will perform in a very special dinner time recital from the stage of the National Opera House.

LISTEN LIVE at RT lyric fm presented by Paul Herriott

WATCH the live stream at RTE.ie/Culture

CATCH UP on RT Player and on RT Player's exclusive Wexford Festival Opera pop-up channel.

12th- 17th Oct, 6pm: Falstaff Chronicles (Giuseppe Verdi)

Six days, six episodes, 15 mins each - watch the story unfold. Giuseppe Verdi was inspired to write his final opera Falstaff, based on one of Shakespeare's most beloved characters, when he was nearly 80 years of age. The members of the Wexford Factory (a professional development academy for young Irish singers) will perform a six-part mini-series rendition of Verdi's masterpieceFalstaffover six consecutive days. Follow the chronicles of the fat knight, Sir John Falstaff, as he attempts to seduce two married women in an effort to gain access to their husbands' wealth. Music Director: Carmen Santoro, Director: Roberto Recchia, Designer: Serena Treppiedi, Lighting Designer: Eoin McNinch.

STREAM at 6pm daily on RTE.ie/Culture.

Miss an episode?

CATCH UP on RTE Player andon RT Player's exclusive Wexford Festival Opera pop-up channel.

13th 15thOct, 8pm:What Happened to Lucrece

Composer and Artist-in-Residence, Andrew Synnott's new opera commissioned by Wexford Festival Opera is based on the Shakespeare narrative poem,The Rape of Lucrece, about the legendary Roman noblewoman Lucretia.What Happened to Lucreceis written for four singers and piano, and will be performed on three separate evenings. Each performance will have a different ending; one tragic, one farcical and one romantic. Viewers are invited to vote on their preferred ending. Libretto by Alessandra Binucci and Rosetta Cucchi. Sung in English.Conductor:Andrew Synnott,Music Director:Andrea Grant,Director/Designer:Rosetta Cucchi,Lighting Designer:Eoin McNinch, First PianistGiorgio D'Alonso, cast:Sarah Richmond(Lucrece), Rory Musgrave(Sextus), Sarah Shine(Fran), Kathleen Norchi(Collatline).

STREAM at 8pm daily on RTE.ie/Culture.

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2020/09/14/rte-wexford-festival-opera-join-forces...
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