Wexford Festival Opera Nominated for Major International Opera Award

Wexford Festival Opera, long considered one of the finest opera festivals in the world, has been nominated in the Festival Opera category in the inaugural International Opera Awards, announced recently. This Oscars of the opera-world aims to bring its biggest stars of the art-form to an even wider audience.

The International Opera Awards, in association with Opera Magazine, will see top tenors Jonas Kaufmann and Joseph Calleja, British bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and sopranos such as Nina Stemme and mezzo Joyce DiDonato among the major names battling for honours.

Following very soon after its recent 2012 Irish Theatre Awards nominations for Best Opera Production, Best Production Design and Best Lighting Design for two of last year's productions, Wexford Festival Opera will be hoping to also win the Festival Opera Award at the all-star ceremony held in the Hilton Hotel in London on 22 April where prizes will be awarded in 22 categories. Wexford will be vying for this prestigious award along with the 4 other major international opera nominees consisting of Aix-en-Provence, Garsington, Salzburg and Santa Fe Opera.

Commenting on the nomination, Artistic Director David Agler said, "I am thoroughly delighted that Wexford Festival has been nominated for such an illustrious award. Wexford has stuck to its core mission for more than 60 years often in the face of what seemed impossible obstacles. It is deeply satisfying to see the passionate effort and success of the people of Wexford recognized in this way."

The 2013 Wexford Festival Opera will run for 12 days from Wednesday, 23 October until Sunday, 3 November. Full details: www.wexfordopera.com. This year's programme includes Il Cappello di Paglia di Firenze (The Florentine Straw Hat) by Nino Rota, a double bill of Thérèse/ La Navarraise by Jules Massenet, and Cristina, Regina di Svezia by Jacopo Foroni.

Priority booking for Friends of Wexford Festival Opera opens on Tuesday, 7 May, with general booking commencing on Tuesday, 4 June. Visit www.wexfordopera.com for further updates.