(Photo credit: Derek Speirs)

For the first time, Wexford Festival Opera is inviting audience members to vote for the opera they would like to be performed at the upcoming 75th anniversary Festival.

Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi has announced that the public can vote between Rossini’s “L’equivoco stravagante,” which was last staged at Wexford Festival Opera in 1968; Paisiello’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia,” last staged in 1993; and Donizetti’s “Don Gregorio,” which was last performed by the Festival in 2006.

The title with the most votes will be presented in a brand new main stage production in autumn 2026. Max Hoehn will direct a new production of the winning opera title. The chosen work will be presented on the main stage of the National Opera House and designed by Darko Petrovic.

The Festival’s theme is “The Best of: one for the head, one for the heart, one for fun.” This concept is centered around a tradition, which has long been associated with the Festival. This phrase (“one for the head, one for the heart, one for fun”), is believed to have originated from Wexford Festival opera-goers themselves and was noted in the Grove Dictionary of Opera.

Cucchi said in a press release, “The 75th anniversary is an incredible milestone and a very special birthday for Wexford, and for our Wexford Festival Opera family all around the world. For the first time in our history, we’re giving opera lovers the chance to directly vote for an opera they wish to see. We’re inviting everyone to be part of something truly special – whether you’re a long-time Festival attendee or planning your first visit in 2026. The choice is yours! We can’t wait to discover the final result.”

There are three ways to cast your vote, online, by post (to 75th Anniversary Vote, Wexford Festival Opera, High Street, Wexford, Y35 FEP3, Ireland), or in person at the National Opera House in Wexford, Ireland. Everyone who casts their vote will be entered into a competition to win a pair of tickets to the opening night of the winning opera’s performance. The voting process will be officially verified by Wexford Festival Opera’s Company Secretary.

The full program for the 75th Festival, will be unveiled by Cucchi during this year’s 74th Wexford Festival Opera, running from Oct. 17- Nov. 1, 2025.

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