Mascagni's IRIS to Open Wexford Festival Opera in October
Rosetta Cucchi directs IRIS with Leyla Gu, Jihoon Kim and Joseph Calleja at Wexford's National Opera House.
Wexford Festival Opera will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a programme of world-class performances from 15 - 31 October. Since the first 'Festival of Music and the Arts' took place in Wexford, Ireland in October 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has grown into one of the world's leading opera festivals.
Ahead of its landmark 75th anniversary Festival in October, Wexford Festival Opera is launching a new partnership with the airline, British Airways. Under this partnership, British Airways will be the Festival's official airline and production sponsor for Mascagni's Iris.
Iris is directed by the Festival's Artistic Director, Rosetta Cucchi and its cast features both established and rising stars including Leyla Gu as Iris, Jihoon Kim as Il Cieco, and internationally renowned tenor Joseph Calleja - who first graced the Wexford stage in 1998 at the start of his career - as Osaka.
British Airways will also provide crucial support for Wexford Festival Opera's education and community engagement programme, helping to advance music education in Ireland and nurture the stars of tomorrow. Wexford Festival Opera offers programmes for primary and secondary school pupils as well as members of the local Wexford community through its initiatives: Let's Sing Together (free workshops in local schools, building confidence and creativity in children), Let's Work Together (practical workshops for Transition Year students, providing a comprehensive understanding of the industry and creative process), and Let's Create Together (a Community Opera inviting Wexford residents to perform onstage alongside professionals, helping address the nationwide epidemic of isolation).
Every October, for seventeen unforgettable days, Wexford Festival Opera transforms the historic Irish harbour town of Wexford into one of the world's great opera destinations, where forgotten masterpieces, rising stars, and the warmth of the Irish welcome take centre stage. For 75 years, audiences have travelled to Wexford Festival Opera from around Ireland and the globe.
Founded in 1951, the Festival has earned an international reputation for rediscovering neglected operatic works while launching the careers of many of opera's leading stars. Over the decades, some of opera's greatest artists have performed on the Wexford stage including Mirella Freni, Juan Diego Flórez, Joseph Calleja, and Ermonela Jaho.
Today, under the artistic leadership of Rosetta Cucchi, Wexford continues that tradition through bold productions, exceptional music-making, and an unwavering commitment to artistic excellence.
Alongside world-class performances in Ireland's National Opera House, the Festival inspires future generations through education, community engagement, and opportunities for emerging artists, creating an unforgettable experience for seasoned opera lovers and first-time visitors alike.
