Wexford unveils a varied programme of musical treats

Details were announced yesterday of the 48th Wexford Festival Opera, which will feature almost 60 events between October 14th and 31st.

The festival's choice of repertoire continues to land in unexpected places. First up is a work from 1875, Die Konigin von Saba (The Queen of Sheba) by the German-speaking Hungarian, Karl Goldmark. The title role is taken by Cornelia Helfricht in a production conducted by Claude Schnitzler. Patrick Mailler, a Wexford regular, directs, and the designer is Massimo Gasparon.

Straszny dwor (The Haunted House) is by Stanislaw Moniu szko, the leading Polish composer of the late 19th century, and was premiered in Warsaw in 1865. It is the first Polish work to feature at the festival. Michal Znaniecki's Wexford production, with designs by Francesco Calcagnini, sees the festival debut of the Irish conductor David Jones.

The third opera is the most recent. Umberto Giordano's Sibe- ria (1903) is not the best known of the composer's works, though it was his personal favourite. It will be conducted by Wexford's new principal guest conductor, Daniele Callegari, who made an impressive debut in Zandonai's Cavalieri di Ekebu last year. Fabio Sparvoli directs, and the designers are Giorgio Richelli (sets) and Alessandra Torella (costumes).

The popular piano-accompanied Opera Scenes bring daytime performances of Gounod's Faust, Weill's Threepenny Opera and Rossini's Scala di seta, and Opera Theatre Company's premiere production of Raymond Deane's The Wall of Cloud visits the festival for a single performance at St Peter's College. Rachmaninov's Lit- urgy of St John Chrysostom, Szymanowski's Stabat Mater and Polish songs are among the other musical offerings.

The festival has declared its aspirations for the expanded site it expects to take possession of from People Newspapers in February 2000. These include an extra 200 seats - "Enough to increase revenues by 36 per cent, but not too much to spoil the intimacy and special character of Wexford", says the chief executive, Jerome Hynes - and a second, flexible venue with 400 seats, to rehouse many of the non-Theatre Royal events during the festival and be available for other events throughout the rest of the year.

With an art gallery, foyers, extra rehearsal rooms and backstage space, the total cost, said Mr Hynes, would be in the region of £10 million. "We believe that this opportunity offers an arts complex worthy of Wexford Festival and is an appropriate way for us to begin the new millennium and celebrate our 50th birthday."

There will be spectacular outdoor celebrations on the opening and closing nights of the festival.

Full festival details can be accessed on a comprehensive new website: www.wexfordopera.com