Italy through the Eyes of Yeats

Wexford Festival Opera is thrilled to be part of the Threshold Festival presented by the University of Notre Dame at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Co. Galway. This four-day festival is an immersive academic arts celebration exploring William Butler Yeats' literary legacy. It takes place from 30 July - 2 August, 2026.

Event Details

Italy Through the Eyes of Yeats
Black-tie banquet, champagne reception and a performance by Wexford Festival Opera: 'Italy through the Eyes of Yeats'

6:30 pm | Champagne Reception and Dinner
Guests are welcomed with a champagne reception before moving to dinner. This considered prelude to the Wexford Festival Opera performance features a menu conceived as a “fusion” in the best sense, where local ingredients and Irish culinary tradition meet subtle operatic references and a sense of theatrical occasion.

8:00 pm | Performance
Following dinner, a very special performance awaits. Italy through the Eyes of Yeats promises an evocative exploration in which the poetry of W.B. Yeats is seamlessly interwoven with beautiful and emotionally resonant operatic arias by Puccini, Verdi, and Rossini. Through music and spoken word, the performance journeys through love, longing, laughter, and the search for meaning, revealing the profound connections between Yeats's poetic vision, the inspiration he found in Italy, and the timeless power of opera.