For this year's Wexford Festival Opera, watch La Ciociara (Two Women) by Marco Tutino live from Wexford Opera House above.

Please be aware this production contains scenes of a violent and explicit nature. Viewer discretion is advised.

The Synopsis: Two Women is a powerful and poignant opera that highlights the strength of the human spirit in the most challenging of circumstances. In its evocative music and compelling storytelling, it reminds us of the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

Second World War, 1943: Italy is under the crossfire of the Nazi and Allied armies. Rome has been evacuated to prevent civilian casualties. Bombs and hunger don't make it tempting to stay in the city. So Cesira decides to embark on a journey to her hometown. She closes the shop, takes her 14-year-old daughter Rosetta with her and what she can fit in a couple of suitcases. She doesn't know she is setting off on foot for a much longer and more tormented journey than she imagined.

On this journey through Ciociarìa she will encounter a lot of misery, a lot of solidarity but also a lot of selfishness from other people. Above all, she will meet Michele, a handsome intellectual, who will eventually be captured and killed by Nazi troops. And she will know all the horrors of war: raped by a group of passing Moroccan soldiers belonging to the allied forces, Cesira and Rosetta will have to change forever their approach to conflicts, humanity and life.

Na'ama Goldman plays Cesira) in La Ciociara (Pic: Clive Barda)

The Creative Team:

Rosetta Cucchi | Director

Francesco Cilluffo | Conductor

The Cast:

Na'ama Goldman | Cesira

Jade Phoenix | Rosetta

Leonardo Caimi | Michele

Devid Cecconi | Giovanni

Alexander Kiechle | Fedor Von Bock

Allen Boxer | John Buckley

Carolyn Dobbin | Lena

Conor Prendiville | Pasquale Sciortino

Erin Fflur | Maria Sciortino, Una Donna

Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Find out more about Wexford Festival Opera 2023 here.