The catalyst for our 2026 fall visit to Ireland is the Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th Anniversary Season, 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 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 75th Anniversary, all three of the rarities are from the pen of mainstream composers. The Festival’s theme is to offer new productions of the most successful past discoveries: Gioachino Rossini’s ‘bel canto’ L’Equivoco Stravagante for comedy; Pietro Mascagni’s ‘verismo’ Iris for romantic melodrama; and Sergei Prokofiev’s moralistic The Gambler for penetrating irony. This year we are fortunate that our dates coincide with the  Gala Concert which will be the culminating performance of the Festival. We will also include one of Wexford’s signature Lunchtime Recitals which are always a vocal highlight.

Prior to Wexford, our Tour will begin in the capital of Dublin for three 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).

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Prices Per Person (Air Fare not Included)

Double Occupancy: $6,800
Single Occupancy: $7,780