Wexford Festival Opera

Since the first ‘Festival of Music and the Arts’ took place in October 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has grown into one of the world’s leading opera festivals. Creating extraordinary experiences, from the beginning, the Festival has made a name for itself by introducing audiences to unjustly neglected works, many of which have since found a place in the canon. Through a process of discovery and reimagination, Wexford Festival Opera reveals their beauty and truth to new audiences, enabling them to live and flourish. Breathing new life into these forgotten masterpieces, for two weeks in late October and early November, Wexford Festival Opera stages a world-class festival of opera and performance.

In 2020 the Festival appointed Rosetta Cucchi as Artistic Director. Rosetta is an internationally renowned stage director and pianist, who has had a regular presence at the Festival for more than 25 years as Assistant to the Artistic Director, first under Luigi Ferrari and later under David Agler. Her passion, knowledge and respect for Wexford and the Festival, places her in the fortunate position to honour Wexford’s traditions while simultaneously introducing a new and innovative vision. But of course, the Festival’s success is due in no small part to Wexford itself and the hundreds of local, dedicated volunteers who complete the Wexford experience.

The Wexford Factory 

In 2020, Wexford Festival Opera has established the Wexford Factory to offer one of the world’s most formative experiences for young opera singers and pianist repetiteurs who are about to take the biggest step of all into a fully professional career. Working closely with partner opera companies, such as Rossini Opera Festival ‘Alberto Zedda Academy’ in Pesaro, and Opera for Peace, the Wexford Factory helps them hone their musical and professional skills and serves as a springboard to start a brilliant journey into the industry.

The Wexford Factory, a professional development programme for young Irish or Irish-based artists builds on this tradition. The Wexford Factory provides robust mentoring and gives individual participants the creative space, mentoring and time to develop their craft. It also enables young and emerging talent to learn from some of the world's most internationally recognised artists, coaches and opera professionals. Factory participants embark on a two-year journey which sees them take part in a professional development academy each September. In addition to performing at the Festival each year, participants also have the chance to take part in an international exchange. In 2024, to complete the educational offer, the Wexford Factory introduced the new Stage Managers programme.