Wexford Festival Opera celebrates 70 years

Wexford Festival Opera has decided to go for a big splash this year when it celebrates 70 years since its first outing in 1951. And it all began with an invitation to author Compton Mackenzie to give a talk to the Wexford Opera Study Circle in November 1950, after which, Mr Compton suggested to Dr Tom Walsh, chairman of the Circle that they should put on an opera in the little theatre.

From that first step, the festival has achieved international status, specialising in neglected works that had almost disappeared from the repertoire.

The festival reached a high point with the opening of the new, multi-use, purpose-built theatre in 2008, now renamed The National Opera House.

It’s amusing to think that apart from his role in establishing the Wexford festival, Compton Mackenzie who was very prolific in his lifetime, is possibly best remembered today by the comic novel Whiskey Galore and the film based on it.

This year’s festival runs from October 19-30, when live audiences will return to the National Opera House, but because of restricted audience numbers, the organisers have expanded the celebration beyond the usual end of year festival, with events running through 2021-2022, and extra concerts, recitals, exhibitions, pop-up events and lectures, streamed events, and artists from across the world, showcasing some great new Irish talent, and reaching out through social media channels.

Updates and programmes will be available on social media via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and online at Wexfordopera.com and Youtube.com/WexfordFestivalOpera.