Page 97 - Our Wexford

Once they come upon its as those regularly performed audiences travelling each October
sympathetically-designed exterior on international stages. Up and from abroad to see and hear what
and step inside to experience its coming young singers were also they are unlikely to experience
spectacular interior, including a given the chance to showcase anywhere else in the world. The
roof-top café overlooking Wexford their talents. This has led to annual festival has become famous
town and harbour, however, they Wexford setting itself apart from in international circles for its
are ‘wowed’ by what they see and other opera festivals. Wexford’s presentation and promotion of
hear. reputation continues to grow to rarely-performed operas, while
this day, becoming one of the top also providing audiences with a
The National Opera House opera festivals in the world with unique opportunity to experience
is also a year-round ‘cultural approximately one third of its performances from leading names
receiving house’ for opera and and emerging talent in opera from
all performance art forms, as Ireland and around the world.
well as for conferences and other
corporate events. It has won The upcoming 67th Festival next
several national and international October will feature operas that
architectural awards. comfortably fit into this category.
Wexford Festival Opera dates The 2018 festival programme ABOVE:
Auditorium,
back to 1950, when Sir Compton has been extended and will run National Opera
Mackenzie, the Scottish novelist from October 18th to November House
and founder of Gramophone 4th 2018 offering an extensive LEFT:
magazine, gave a talk to the programme including the not Front door,
Wexford Opera Study Circle to be missed main-stage operas, National Opera
House
that November. Dr Tom Walsh daytime ShortWorks operas,
was chairman of the Wexford concerts, lunchtime recitals and
circle at the time and between lectures.
the two of them, they decided to It has been independently
stage an opera in Wexford and estimated that the festival in itself
went on to launch a Festival of contributes €8.5 million annually
Music and the Arts in October to the local economy.
of 1951. The decision was made
at an early stage to choose operas
which were not as well-known

OUR PASSION 97