2015 Wexford Festival Opera Friends’ Membership Brochure

BECOME A FRIEND Stay close to the heart of the Drama

2016 Renewal and application form

PRELUDE FRIENDS — ¤80 Wexford Festival Opera is committed to making a timeless art form accessible to new generations by offering a limited number of Prelude Friendships to anyone under 35 and fulltime students. As part of their introduction to the Festival, Prelude Friends can purchase two

tickets for each of the main stage productions at a highly reduced rate of ¤20 or ¤35.

If you’re an existing Friend, why not share your passion with young opera lovers by presenting them with Prelude Friendship?

Benefits include: • Prelude Friends can purchase two tickets for each of the main stage productions at ¤35 for an upper circle seat (a 60% reduction on the regular price) or a discounted rate of ¤20 for a circle box seat.

• An opportunity to purchase two Friends’ Party, Buffet or Lunch tickets at the reduced price of ¤15 each.

• Invitations to Friends’ Recitals, the ‘In Conversation’ series of talks and other events throughout the year in Dublin, London and Europe.

• The opportunity to join the Friends’ exclusive Opera Tour.

• Access to the exclusive Friends’ area of the website with behind-the-scenes updates and festival news.

• Name listed in the Festival Programme as a Prelude Friend.

• Complimentary Festival Programme, Friends’ Pin and Loyalty Card. * The Prelude Friend must be present as tickets are non-transferable. Seats are available in selected seating areas only, including Rows G and H in the Circle and Circle Boxes F & C. Subject to availability. Must be purchased before 1 September 2016.

*The Prelude Friend must be present as tickets are non transferable. Selected seating areas include Rows F, G & H in the Circle and the Circle Boxes.

ENSEMBLE FRIENDS — ¤185 For over sixty years Wexford Festival Opera has flourished thanks to a wonderful combination of pride, passion and patronage. It simply could not continue without the generous support of our Friends.

Our Ensemble Friends are at the heart of the Festival, bringing the warmth and camaraderie that make it such a special event and ensuring the future of Wexford as an international opera destination.

Express your love for Wexford Festival Opera by becoming an Ensemble Friend and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

Benefits include: • Priority Booking, including the opportunity to purchase up to 6 tickets per performance.

• Invitations to Friends’ Recitals, the ‘In Conversation’ series of talks and other events throughout the year in Dublin, London and Europe.

• The opportunity to join the Friends’ exclusive Opera Tour.

• 4 complimentary tickets to your choice of Friends’ Parties, Buffets & Lunches during the Festival.

• Opportunity to avail of special ticketing offers exclusively available to Friends during the priority booking period.

• Access to the exclusive Friends’ area of the website, with behind-the-scenes updates and festival news.

• Complimentary Festival Programme, Friends’ Pin and Loyalty Card.

• Named listing in the Festival Programme as an Ensemble Friend.

• Access to the exclusive daytime Friends’ Lounge in The National Opera House during the Festival.

ARIA FRIENDS — ¤500 Aria Friends support our work by providing opportunities for a range of young singers, from members of the chorus to principal singers.

The support you provide ensures the continued development of both Irish and international talent, securing the future of Wexford

Festival Opera as one of the world’s leading companies.

Each year an Aria Friends of Wexford Festival Opera Bursary is awarded to an emerging artist on the closing night of the Festival.

Additional benefits to Ensemble membership as an Aria Friend include: • Priority Booking, including the opportunity to purchase up to 8 tickets per performance.

• Invitations to Friends’ Recitals, the ‘In Conversation’ series of talks and other events throughout the year in Dublin, London and Europe.

• The opportunity to join the Friends’ exclusive Opera Tour.

• 6 complimentary tickets to your choice of Friends’ Parties, Buffets & Lunches during the Festival.

• The opportunity to nominate an artist of your choice for the Aria Friends of Wexford Festival Opera Bursary.

• Recognition as supporters of the Chorus of Wexford Festival Opera.

• Opportunity to avail of special ticketing offers exclusively available to Friends during the priority booking period.

BRAVURA FRIENDS — ¤2,000 The benefactors that enable our productions to prosper, Bravura Friends provide special support for one production each year, helping to maintain the highest possible standards of artistic

programming. In becoming a Bravura Friend, your generous gift helps secure the future of the Festival and plays a vital part in our success.

Additional benefits to Aria membership as a Bravura Friend include: • Priority Booking, with no restrictions on the number of tickets per performance.

• Invitations to Friends’ Recitals, the ‘In Conversation’ series of talks and other events throughout the year in Dublin, London and Europe.

• The opportunity to join the Friends’ exclusive Opera Tour.

• An invitation to a private reception with key members of the artistic team during the Festival.

• Invitations to special receptions at the Friends’ Recitals in Dublin and London.

• 10 complimentary tickets to your choice of Friends’ Parties, Buffets & Lunches during the Festival.

• An Invitation to the VIP interval drinks reception during the Festival.

• Recognition as the philanthropic supporters of one Wexford Festival Opera production each year.

TRANSFORMATIONAL GIVING At Wexford Festival Opera we continually strive to bring to life operatic discoveries and champion new talent. We work closely with our most generous supporters to explore new opportunities and directions.

To find out how you can become more involved, contact Anna Bates (anna@wexfordopera.com).

Donor recognition at this level includes: Up to ¤5,000 Teatro Supporter – ¤1,000 (includes a seat endowed in Wexford Opera House) ShortWork Director Sponsor – ¤3,000 Cast and Artist Sponsors – ¤5,000 At the ¤10,000 level Our supporters may wish to support the Festival by Sponsoring a Conductor or by listing as a ShortWork Patron At the ¤15,000 level Wexford Festival Opera supporters have the opportunity to become the sole Sponsor of a Main Stage Director At the ¤25,000 level We are pleased to offer the opportunity to supporters to become a named Presenting Patron of an Evening Opera

At the ¤50,000 level As a remarkable opportunity to influence Wexford Festival Opera supporters may wish to become the Named Sponsor of the Wexford Festival Chorus At the ¤100,000 level Major donors may wish to make a single or multi-year commitment to become the Named Sponsor of the Wexford Festival Orchestra At the ¤250,000 level Philanthropists are invited to discuss the opportunity to become the sole Presenting Patron of one of Wexford’s Main Stage Productions

WHAT TYPE OF FRIEND ARE YOU? O Prelude Friend (under 35 years of age) ¤80 O Ensemble Friend ¤185 O Aria Friend ¤500 O Bravura Friend ¤2,000 Name:

Surname:

Name to appear in the Festival Programme: Postal address:

Telephone:

Mobile:

To receive the full benefits of your Friends’ Membership, please include a current email address.

E-mail: If you would like to receive all communications by email, please tick here

VOLUNTARY GIFTS I would also like to make an additional gift to Wexford Festival Trust in the sum of

¤

Gifts can be made in a tax advantageous way through our Irish, UK, US and Canadian Charitable Trusts: • The tax advantage on gifts given to Wexford Festival Trust by Irish donors directly benefits Wexford Festival Opera, making your gift go even further.

• To make your gift through our UK Trust, please make the cheque payable to “Wexford Festival Trust”.

• To make your gift tax effective in the US, please make the cheque payable to “The American Ireland Fund” and make reference to Wexford Festival Opera.

• To make your gift tax effective in Canada, please make the cheque payable to “The Ireland Funds of Canada” and make reference to Wexford Festival Opera.

METHODS OF PAYMENT Recommended O I would like to pay my subscription by direct debit.

¤

Please send me a direct debit form Please enter your membership plus any voluntary gifts in the box above.

O I enclose a cheque payable to ‘Wexford Festival Trust’ O P lease debit my:

Mastercard

Visa

Visa Debit

Laser

O Card number: Expiry date

CCV

Name (as it appears on card): For more information contact Anna Bates by email: anna@wexfordopera.com or by phone: +353 53 916 3525. Memberships can be completed online at wexfordopera.com, or by returning this form by email, or by post to Wexford Festival Opera, Friends Office, The National Opera House, High Street, Wexford Y35 FEP3.

The National Opera House High Street, Wexford, Ireland Y35 FEP3 Tel: +353 53 912 2400 | Friends: +353 53 916 3525 Callsave: 1850 4 OPERA friends@wexfordopera.com Wexfordopera.com Wexford Festival Trust is a registered Charity in Ireland. Charity Number: CHY 6132.

The Wexford Festival UK Trust is a charitable trust, registered with the UK Charity Commission: Number: 279665, and is also registered with the Inland Revenue for the purpose of claiming refunds on gift aid donations.

Photos by Sean O’ Riordan

Wexford Festival Opera 2016 Season: 26 October – 6 November

Herculanum / Vanessa / Maria de Rudenz Priority Booking for Friends of Wexford Festival Opera opens on Saturday 27 February 2016 General Booking opens on Saturday 19 March 2016

Save time by renewing online at www.wexfordopera.com/friends