Internet puts Light Opera Festival on world stage

An Irish festival of light opera has taken its place on the world stage thanks to the internet, its chairman has revealed.

Waterford’s festival organisers were delighted to attract a society from the home of light opera, Vienna, for their 46th annual festival.

Chairman Denis McGrath said: “We have people coming from the Continent, we have people coming from the British Isles. I’m amazed particularly since we went online where some of the inquiries regarding the festival and some of the bookings come from.”

Frank O’Donoghue the chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce said, as well as a cultural highlight, the festival had become a huge money-spinner for the area.

“All the hotels are booked up, and we have a driving fringe as well, there are things happening all around town,” Mr O’Donoghue, the festival’s secretary, said.

The two-week festival, which runs from September 20 to October 3, has a mix of traditional light operas, like the Viennese production by the Forum Pro Artifices Der Vogelhaendler of The Bird Seller, and modern productions like Jesus Christ Superstar.

Mr O’Donoghue said last year’s event attracted a lot of international attention.

There will be 12 main productions at the upcoming sponsored festival including shows from Irish groups, England, Scotland, Wales and Vienna.

Amanda McDermott, a dance teacher with Cavan and Leitrim Arts Council, said it was one of the highlights of the year.

Ms McDermott, who will perform with The Magic of Vienna production in the Theatre Royal, said: “It’s a lovely atmosphere at it, it is fantastic and inspiring.”

Mr O’Donoghue said the groups coming from the UK would get around €6,000 to help subsidise the trip.

“Not everyone gets in. There are 600 adjudicators in Waterford, not one, everyone in the audience is one,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

“The competition is intense there is an adjudicator every night, then at the end there are awards given out. So it is a bit like Oscar night.

“It is an amateur festival professionals are allowed but they don’t win prizes,” he added.

A fringe festival will also run alongside the light opera including eight major art exhibitions, street theatre and a music and comedy trail.

The well-known artist Robert Ballagh will be opening an exhibition of the politically spirited art work of Michael Farrell, who died from cancer in 2000, and any money raised will go to charity.