The catalyst for our annual fall visits to Ireland is the exhilarating Wexford Festival Opera, set in the small and hospitable village of Wexford on Ireland’s southeast coast.  Since the new theatre opened to award-winning acclaim in 2008, it has been celebrated as Ireland’s National Opera House for its astonishing acoustics, comfortable seats, and aesthetic design. The discerning Wall Street Journal dubbed the Festival “one of Europe’s key international music events”. The noted British writer Bernard Levin chose Wexford as his favorite European Festival in his Conducted Tour, reflecting the combination of the luxuriant Irish countryside, the welcoming attitudes of the open-hearted local population, and the high standards of operatic presentations.

Wexford has traditionally attracted opera ‘aficionados’ searching for the thrill of adventurous repertoire rather than another ‘Bohème’, ‘Traviata’ or ‘Carmen’. For the 2025 season, all three of the rarities are from the pen of mainstream composers. The trio of new productions will be Verdi’s Le Trouvère (the French version of ‘Il Trovatore’), Handel’s Baroque music-drama Deidamia, and Frederic Delius’ The Magic Fountain. We will also include one of the Festival’s signature Lunchtime Recitals and Rossini’s ‘bel canto’ comedy, Il Viaggo a Reims, presented by the young artists ofThe Wexford Factory’s on one of our afternoons.

Prior to Wexford, our Tour will begin in the capital of Dublin for four nights. The city itself is a Georgian architectural gem, characterized by expansive parks and squares and known throughout the world for its multi-colored doors and decorative facades. Our performances in Dublin will concentrate on the great tradition of Irish theatre. We expect to enjoy a pair of evenings encompassing both the Abbey and Gate Theatres, whose companies and repertoire rank with the finest in the English-speaking world. Our two riveting plays last season impressed this writer as far more engaging than any of his recent Broadway experiences.(Programs TBA).

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE DETAILS

Prices Per Person (Air Fare not Included)

Double Occupancy: $5,900
Single Occupancy: $6,880