La cucina - Synnott / Adina - Rossini & Don Quichotte – Massenet

La cucina - Synnott / Adina - Rossini & Don Quichotte – Massenet

David Buchler
Wexford Festival Opera

The Wexford Festival Opera, which began in 1951 under a group of opera lovers led by Tom Walsh, goes from strength to strength.  David Agler’s tenure as the seventh Artistic Director in Wexford’s history comes to an end this year and his wonderful associate Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi has been appointed to take over.  Agler will have had 13 years at the helm; one year more than Elaine Padmore, but one year less than the first Artistic Director, Tom Walsh himself. 

Les Contes d'Hoffmann – Offenbach - Bayerische Staatsoper Munich

Les Contes d'Hoffmann – Offenbach - Bayerische Staatsoper Munich

David Buchler
Bayerische Staatsoper

The evening didn’t start well.  The writer’s request for a complimentary programme to enhance information for a review was soundly rebuffed by the Vorderhausmanager in charge of the Opera House, Charles Edward Maxwell.  His riposte of ‘This is not how it’s done in Germany, you have to write and fill out a form’ was somewhat akin to ‘We have ways of making you feel unwelcome’!  But then perhaps Mr Maxwell’s unkindly intervention could be somewhat reflective of the rather stiff attitude at the top at the Munich Staatsoper?