15th November 2005 - Paul Carey Jones returned last week from a Wexford Festival which was overshadowed by the tragic death at the start of the rehearsal period of Chief Executive Jerome Hynes. Jerome was taken ill while welcoming the staff and singers to Wexford at the Theatre Royal, and died soon afterwards. Musicians from the Festival took part in his funeral, and in a very moving memorial concert a few weeks later. The great success of the entire Festival was a tribute to his contribution to the operatic life of Ireland over many years.

Reviews of the Wexford productions can be read on the Reviews pages of this website. There was a performance in addition to those advertized on this site when at the last minute PCJ stepped in to replace Marina Lodygensky, who had to withdraw because of illness from appearing in recital with the Canadian tenor David Curry. Some heightened artistic discussion in The Sky and The Ground produced a recital programme, and the result was a standing ovation from the full house at St Iberius' Church.

Paul's work continues with concert appearances up to Christmas being interspersed with auditions for 2006/7, with a view to finalizing a schedule for next year in the coming weeks. 2006 opens with two tours for Scottish Opera, the first being the Essential Scottish Opera operatic tour, and then (subject to final confirmation) appearing as Marcello in Scottish Opera on Tour's production of Puccini's ever-popular La Boheme with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera; more details on these tours, and on the rest of next year's appearances, to follow shortly.

Eurymaque (PCJ), Antinous (David Curry), Leodes (Glenn Alamilla), Pisandre (Saran Suebsantiwongse) and Ctesippe (Robert Gardiner) surround Penelope (Nora Sourouzian); Wexford Festival Opera, November 2005 (picture - Derek Speirs)