THERE WERE celebrations in London at the weekend as Wexford Festival Opera won Best Festival at the International Opera Awards.
The awards were held in London’s Coliseum and hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny.
Wexford saw off stiff competition from other leading international festivals including: the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence (France); Festival Verdi (Parma); Garsington Opera (UK); Lyon Festival (France) and Spoleto Festvial (USA).
Accepting the award on behalf of Wexford Festival Opera, Artistic Director David Agler, now in his 13th Festival since taking the helm in 2005, said: “A group of opera enthusiasts from the rural seaside town of Wexford started out with a clear, ambitious, but risky vision 66 years ago, to put on a festival that explored the neglected and often obscure opera repertoire.
“With the unstinting support from the local community, as well as the Arts Council of Ireland, the festival has grown from strength to strength and now performs in a new state-of-the-art theatre, the National Opera House, which allows us more scope and opportunity.”
He added: “This award validates the founders’ conviction and determination; a winning combination of a shared vision, artistic quality and a warm welcome, truly second to none.”
The International Opera Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in world opera and attracts all leading opera professionals from around the globe.
