Feast of song whets the appetite for this year's Wexford Festival Opera

Irish Independent

22-04-2025

The concert, given in the National Opera House, the National Concert Hall and the Ironmongers' Hall in London, was one of several gatherings that make being a Friend such an "enriching experience', to quote Selina Scott, long-time Friend and volunteer.
The Friends I spoke to were unanimous in their praise for Nuala Sheedy, Donor Development Director at the WFO, saying nothing is too much trouble for her. In Nuala's words, 'the Wexford welcome is hard to describe and bottle'. Being a Friend makes that welcome all the warmer. There are five levels of Friendship, rising from Prelude, €80, to Bravura, €2000. The scheme provides one-fifth of the Festival's overall funding and accounts for 50-60% of ticket sales, a contribution 'vital to the Festival', says Nuala.
Prelude level is a good introduction to the scheme, being affordable to younger members – some of whom, still in their teens, have received membership as a gift. It's never too early to tick items off that Christmas list! A subscription has the double merit of drawing newcomers to the festival and including those who might not otherwise see an opera, through support for the many community events fostered by Rosetta Cucchi.
During the Festival, Friends are invited to welcome coffee mornings and complimentary post-opera parties. The latter, in the Opera House, serve 'excellent finger food and wine galore' according to Alma Hynes, manager of hospitality for the Friends, adding that 'it's a great way to meet other Friends and members of the festival team'.
It is a one-stop shop for distributing Friends' pins and programmes, giving directions to an event or recommending a hairdresser. "Volunteers love interacting with the Friends,' says Alma.
When Selina Scott first came to Wexford in 1965 she paid someone to sit on a butter box outside the theatre, to ensure that she got tickets for the operas. As a young teacher in St. John's she rented a room from Nellie Walsh, sister of Dr. Tom Walsh, one of the Festival's founders, and a member of the Festival Chorus. No wonder she caught Festival fever.
The town was very different then, she says. 'Boats were not coming into the harbour because of silting but the stevedores sat around waiting for them to come in. . . . The Festival was the only big thing in Wexford. There was a sense of ownership among the people, and real knowledge.' She recalls groups going 'to gawk at the glamour' when the opera train arrived from Dublin. Not to be outdone, Selina sports a fetching Flapper-style headband, adorned with all her Friends' pins, and a spray of feathers.
At that time, there was a two-year waiting list to become a Friend. Now, Selina is one of the volunteers in the Friends' Hospitality Lounge in the Opera House. Coffee, tea, newspapers and congenial company are available here from 12 to 2.30 p.m. for Friends who need refreshment as they dash from one event to another. 'It's a privilege to be a Friend,' she says, 'you feel part of a family of interested people.' She adds that it would be the last thing she'd let go if money was tight.
Selina's enthusiasm is matched by that of Lionel and Susan Rosenblatt, annual visitors from England. 'It's the best weekend of our lives,' says Lionel. They love the 'warmth of people in Wexford and their pride in what the Festival has achieved'. He first came in 1987, having been invited by the WFO's then Artistic Director, Elaine Padmore. Lionel and his friend, David Buchler, had just appointed Elaine artistic director of their not-for-profit venture, the London International Opera Festival, LIOF, whose aim was 'to introduce as many people as possible to opera'. Lionel had been smitten by his first opera. The night his father brought him, as a reluctant sixteen-year-old, to see Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci in Covent Garden he was 'transformed from a boy who liked to dance to one who loved opera'.
Lionel joined the Friends in 1988, and he and Sue attend all the Friends' events in London and in Wexford because 'there is a warm atmosphere where opera plays a part. It enhances your time there and you meet likeminded people' and they have made friends through the Friends.
Being a Friend makes you 'feel part of the Wexford family', says Mary Mullin, a Trustee of the Wexford Festival Opera UK Foundation. The Friends events in the UK 'try to recreate that family atmosphere. People come from Wexford to give talks. It makes Friends see that they are important.' Indeed, Barbara Wallace, former Chairman of the Wexford Festival Trust, said the contribution of UK Friends equalled that of a sponsor and she always urged them to encourage others to come to Wexford.
Mary Mullin first knew Barbara as a sparring partner at the Junior Chamber Debating Society, Mary representing Kilkenny, Barbara, Wexford. In 1986, when the Arts Council withdrew funding from the Festival, Barbara contacted Mary, who had moved to London, to enlist her help in organising a fundraiser. Since then, Mary has been involved with the Friends and is one of only three Honorary Friends. Each year she brings large groups of personal friends, from various countries, to Wexford. Her guests love the way everyone they meet around town wants them to enjoy the Festival. 'Other festivals don't give you the same feeling of being encompassed,' she says.
UK Friends' events take place in spring as a reminder to book for the Festival, and again in September, giving Friends a chance to meet Rosetta, Festival Chairman, Paul Cleary and the interim Executive Director, Loughlin Deegan. This makes the Friends feel welcome, Mary says, which is important in the UK, where the 'lines of communication are very extended'.
Selina's and Mary's work, and the Rosenblatts' loyal participation, reflect the social value of the Friends' scheme, which, Alma says, 'extends beyond the Festival and is a valuable commodity in Wexford'. Now's your chance to join that community, enhance your enjoyment of the Festival, and share it with family and friends.
The first stage of booking for this year's 74th Wexford Festival Opera will open on Wednesday April 23 for Bravura, Cabaletta, Aria and Ensemble+ level Friends of the Festival.
The next level opens on Wednesday April 30 for Ensemble and Prelude Friends of the Festival.
General booking opens on Wed May 7.
Box office opens Mon - Sat, 9.30am - 5pm, [phone]