Artistic Director Dieter Kaegi introduces this year's Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, which returns to Waterford's Lismore Castle from 31 May - 6 June 2022 with Gluck's masterwork Orfeo ed Euridice, conducted by Peter Whelan and directed by CoisCéim Dance Theatre's David Bolger.
Lismore Castle is a very special place. The community of Lismore is so welcoming to Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, year on year, and that welcome means so much to us as artists.
When designing Orfeo for Lismore Castle, designer Maree Kearns, was taken by the magical quality and energy of the stable yard, it's rich history and the land on which it was built upon. It is interesting how the Greek mythology of Orfeo, the musician and poet full of Gluck’s lyricism, mirrors the magic of this Irish landscape.
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Listen: David Bolger and Peter Whelan talk Orfeo ed Euridice on RTÉ Arena
Recognising that Orfeo was first premiered in 1762 and to this day has continued to be performed in all the great opera house and festivals of the world, speaks how this story love and loss is as relevant now as it was then. Orfeo goes on a journey of great lengths to preserve his love of Euridice, 'what won’t he do for love?’
In many ways being separated from the ones we love seems so prevalent today as it did in 1762. This is a story that has been told and will be retold, again and again.
A sneak peek into the rehearsal room at @CoisCeim 👀 Only 3 weeks to go until these incredible dancers take to the stage! #BVOF2022 #BVOFOrfeo pic.twitter.com/6Igvg3PqEH
— Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (@B_V_O_F) May 14, 2022
Gluck’s music is full of dances, and indeed this libretto by Calzabigi places as much importance on these elements in equal parts to the singing, so it feels natural for a choreographer to take the reins. The instrumental music plays a crucial role in this drama in as much as the vocal lines do. These dance elements exist equally to the singing to comment, propel, or mirror what the lead protagonist, Orfeo, is feeling and how each scene affects him.
Similarly, to the narrative, this baroque music has stood the test of time, now realised through collaboration with Irish Baroque Orchestra's Artistic Director, Peter Whelan. The rich and descriptive storytelling of the opera is told through these sequential passages of dance, so they form a real cornerstone of the production, and create a very clear narrative for our choreographer, David Bolger, to begin his creation.
Opera as an art form, is unique in that it combines so many disciplines to realise a production, none more so than in Orfeo ed Euridice, where Gluck has placed dance at its core. This is the challenge and opportunity for any director, to combine different art forms in an exciting production, with rich and vibrant contemporary choreography.
The opera's three roles; Orfeo, a musician and poet, Euridice, his wife, who dies of a snake bite on their wedding day and the God of Love, Amor. This is combined with a chorus who arguably play the fourth role of the Greek chorus, not only acting as commentators of the tale but also playing a pivotal role is shaping Orfeo’s journey. The reformist nature of the opera allows the arias to be emotive and speak from the heart, revealing the inner most feelings of the characters.
BVOF, through its wide range of venues across the valley, are filled with music and song during the festival, none more so than through our education program in collaboration with Music Generation Waterford, where our ‘Discover Singing’ and ‘Discover Opera’ trails fill not only the classrooms but also grounds of Lismore Castle with their enthusiastic voices for opera.
The Waterford and Cork communities have embraced this festival and it is a privilege to make opera within a region that places opera close to its heart, as we embark on the most ambitious program in the history of BVOF.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival returns from 31st of May to the 6th of June 2022 - find out more about this year's programme here.
Orfeo ed Euridice at Lismore Castle – Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2022