Classical Cravings

The lights dim, the noise fades, the conductor raises his baton, the music starts and the curtain rises, voices begin to sing – and so the magical journey of the opera begins. If you see yourself in this picture, then this end-of-the-year opera season calendar is for you.

Ireland The Wexford Opera Festival | 22 October – 2 November 2014

Irish opera buffs have been waiting for the opening of the 63^rd Wexford Opera Festival all year. Here is what they are awarded with come October.

Salom? is a French take on Wilde’s scandalous play on the goings-on in the family of the Biblical Herod.

Don Bucefalo This bel-canto opera takes a look at rivalry between opera singers (the original divas).

Silent Night The European premiere of this epic Pulitzer prize-winning opera recounts the short truce in the early days of World War 1.

For the full programme and to book tickets, click here.

Europe & North America For opera lovers and discerning travellers, here is a list of autumn and winter opera events abroad. Combine these with city breaks, shopping trips and foodie adventures for an awesome autumn escape.

Carmen | 4 October?1 November | Royal Opera House, London

Tosca |10 October?28 November | Paris National Opera

Don Giovanni | 11?19 November | Teatro La Fenice di Venezia (Also an opportunity to explore Venice in the off-season.)

Simon Boccanegra | 31 October?19 November | La Scala di Milano (Arrive in town right after Fashion Week, and just in time for the launch of the pr?t-?-porter?collections.)

Le Nozze di Figaro | from 4 December | New York Metropolitan Opera (Just in case you’re flying over for a pre-Christmas shopping spree.)

La Traviata | from 5 December | Vienna State Opera (Combine this with a visit to the Vienna Christmas market – FYI: Europe’s best – for a winning weekend.)

To see the productions of the world’s great opera houses in a cinema location near to you, head to Classical Arts Ireland to book your ticket for a live show.

@DianaNacu