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Commentary
24 Sep 2020
Wexford Festival Opera Gala Concert - Remote Voices: as part of Waiting for Shakespeare
The Festival in the air
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
.