Wexford Festival Opera has developed a deserved reputation for being one of the world’s foremost festivals dedicated to opera. One reason why the Wexford Festival is valued so highly is its fearless presentation of rarely performed works – and this year, from 22 October – 2 November, some absolute gems are in store.

Opening the Festival is Salomé by Antoine Mariotte, the seldom performed operatic version of Oscar Wilde’s seminal play. Comic opera within an opera, Don Bucefalo by Antonio Cagnoni, will also be staged; both works are guaranteed to delight audiences in curiously different ways.

2014 marks the centenary of the Great War and Wexford Festival Opera will pay tribute by presenting the European premiere of Silent Night by Kevin Puts, inspired by the 2005 film Joyeux Noël, which took its inspiration from the 1914 Christmas truce between enemy assailants in World War I.

This year, audiences can also expect miniature masterpieces by Holst, Puccini and Gilbert & Sullivan among others: see the full programme at www.wexfordopera.com/programme

Audiences from home and abroad, experts and opera novices alike, flock to Ireland’s home of opera each year to experience performances from leading names and emerging artists in a special environment; don't miss out on this unique celebration of opera in October / November 2014.