Sir, – When a Dubliner moves to another county, as I did seven years ago, the Irish arts scene reveals itself as very Dublin-centric.
So I applaud Minister for Arts Heather Humphrey’s decision to give national status to Wexford Opera House. It is an artistically and economically sound decision.
Wexford is recognised internationally as Ireland’s home of opera, much as the provincial town of Bayreuth is in Germany.
Wexford Opera House is a beautiful venue. The capacity of the main hall (771) accurately reflects the niche appeal opera has in Ireland.
Let’s not kid ourselves, opera is not a beloved national art form here as it is in central Europe!
The Arts Council-commissioned Arts Audiences report shows opera had the poorest attendance figures of all the musical arts in 2013 (133,000). More than twice as many people attended folk events (286,000). Even jazz (177,000) had better figures, remarkable since most jazz venues are minuscule compared to Wexford Opera House.
I attended Wide Open Opera's excellent production of Nixon in China at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin last May but I did note many empty seats.
If there is really a demand for a dedicated National Opera House in Dublin, surely that modest three-night run would have sold out?
So, if Dublin-based opera lovers like Christopher McQuaid (Letters, November 25th) can afford to regularly travel around Europe to follow their passion, surely it’s not too much trouble for them to travel down the road to Wexford to our new National Opera House! – Yours, etc, DR DAVE FLYNN, Clare Memory Orchestra , Ballyvaughan, Co Clare. Sir, – Wexford is the only location for the National Opera House because it is the place for the best opera in Ireland.
The idea of naming a theatre in Dublin the National Opera House because Dublin is the capital, is illogical.
Indeed, it is a shame that so many lovely theatres in Dublin are in such dangerous locations.
At the best of times, Dublin is not a pleasure to visit and if I have to travel beyond Munster to see opera, then I would choose London rather than Dublin.
Wexford has better opera than Dublin and an opera culture. All the town gets involved during the festival and it is a joy to visit for a week in Autumn without the dangers of inner-city Dublin.
The idea that Dublin must have everything is tedious for the majority of the population who live outside Dublin.
Perhaps that is the reason Dublin has all the problems first – traffic, water quality, housing and crime. – Yours, etc, SE LYDON, Wilton, Cork.