FULL THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN (Delius) Wexford 2025 Dominick Chenes, Axelle Saint-Cirel, Kamohelo Tsotetsi, Meilir Jones

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: The Magic Fountain   
• Composer: Delius Frederick   
• Libretto: Frederick Delius    Libretto Text, Libretto Index
• Venue & Opera Company: O'Reilly Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford, Irland  
• Recorded: October 25, 2025
• Type: Staged Opera Live
• Singers: Dominick Chenes, Axelle Saint-Cirel, Kamohelo Tsotetsi, Meilir Jones, Seamus Brady
• Conductor: Francesco Cilluffo   
• Orchestra: Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra  
• Chorus: Wexford Festival Opera Chorus  
• Choreographer: Amy Share Kissiov  
• Stage Director: Christopher Luscombe   
• Stage Designer: Simon Higlett  
• Costume Designer: Simon Higlett  
• Lighting Designer: Daniele Naldi, Paolo Bonapace  

Information about the Recording

• Published by: RTE  
• Date Published: 2025  
• Format: Broadcast
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  Lush, romantic, and beautifully accessible, this rarely performed gem by Frederick Delius is a perfect introduction to opera, and also a delight for seasoned fans. Sung in English by a remarkable cast, The Magic Fountain features an incredibly beautiful score.

  Exploring themes of obsession and desire, Delius’s music and text paints evocative sounds and immersive soundscapes treating nature almost as another character highlighting its beauty, brutality, and power.

  Delius composed this opera in 1893-1895, but the first fully-staged production wasn’t given until a century later. His father had sent him to Florida to manage a citrus plantation, hoping to divert him from a musical career. This brief experience left a lasting impression on the composer.

  The Plot
  A Spanish explorer, Solano, and his crew are becalmed at sea off the coast of Florida. While the crew longs for home, Solano is consumed by a legend he has heard about a Fountain of Eternal Youth.

  A storm arises, wrecking the ship, and Solano is the sole survivor. Washed ashore, he is found by Watawa, who has him brought to her village. Solano shares his dream with the village seer, who reveals that the fountain does exist and that Watawa will guide him to it.

  Despite knowing that drinking from the fountain will bring death to someone who comes unprepared, Watawa agrees to lead him. Aware of the fountain’s true nature, Watawa tries to dissuade Solano from his quest. However, in the end, she sacrifices herself, and Solano tragically follows her to his doom.

  Quoted from Wexford Opera

   

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