Our orchestra and chorus
We’re proud to attract some of the world’s best talent to our Orchestra and Chorus. We welcome many of them back year after year, and they have repaid us with their outstanding ability to raise our performances to inspiring new levels.
WFO Orchestra
The orchestra plays a pivotal role in bringing our opera performances to life.
Each year a specially assembled festival orchestra join together comprising some of the best soloists, recitalists, chamber musicians and principals from musical ensembles and distinguished orchestras in Ireland and abroad.
Many musicians have been part of the festival for many years and consider this to be their second artistic home.
WFO Chorus
Wexford Festival Opera is internationally recognised as the premier festival of rare operas. For singers, the WFO Chorus offers an unrivalled opportunity to explore more diverse repertoire, the prospect of reviving an opera which has not been performed in modern times, professional experience and international exposure.
Previous Chorus Masters included Anthony Hose, Myer Freedman, Kenneth Montgomery and Gregory Rose.
The current Festival Chorus Master is Andrew Synott.
WFO Principal Guest Conductor Francesco Cilluffo
Wexford Festival Opera’s Principal Guest Conductor is currently Italian Francesco Cilluffo. Cilluffo was appointed in 2020. A graduate of Turin University, Francesco lived and studied in London at GSMD (composition and conducting fellowship, Master in Composition - distinction) and at King’s College (PhD in Composition).
His studies led him to realise that composing and conducting is very much like two sides of the same coin. They are two different yet complementary sides of creativity. His experiences as a conductor span the core Italian operas and choral masterwork to some more unusual works and new commissions, and he feels at home writing as much as conducting opera and vocal music. Francesco is based in Milan but conducted operas last season at The Grange and Opera Holland Park.
WFO 2023 Main Stage Opera Guest Conductors
La ciociara, Francesco Gilluffo
Zoraida di Granata, Diego Ceretto
L'aube rouge, Guillaume Tourniare
To learn more about which members of the chorus will feature in each of our Festivals programmed event, please consult the opera performance or event cast list in the seasons Festival Programme.