Wexford Festival Opera unveils 2027 programme with love at its heart

Love will be the central theme of Wexford Festival Opera in 2027, with three main-stage productions announced for next year’s programme.

Artistic Director Rosetta Cucchi says the season will explore different forms of love, including maternal love, enduring love and desperate love.

The programme will include Carolina Uccelli’s Anna di Resburgo, Smetana’s The Secret and Saint-Saëns’ Déjanire.

All three productions place a woman at the centre of the story.

Cucchi described Anna di Resburgo as a story of a mother who becomes a “warrior” as she fights to protect her family.

She also highlighted the importance of reviving the work of Carolina Uccelli, a female composer whose music was largely forgotten following her death.

Meanwhile, three singers who have progressed through Wexford Festival Opera’s Factory programme will take leading roles in the 2027 season.

Jade Phoenix will perform in Déjanire, Forutza Razavi will take the title role in Anna di Resburgo, while Sarah Richmond will play Rosa in The Secret.

Cucchi says developing young performers into strong artists and interpreters remains a central aim of the Factory programme.

There will also be a major homecoming for County Wexford conductor Karen Ní Bhroin.

The Ferns native, who has appeared at the BBC Proms, will return to conduct and direct the Wexford Factory opera in 2027.

Cucchi said she wanted to give the internationally recognised conductor the opportunity to work in her home county.