The 72nd edition of Wexford Festival Opera, due to run for 13 days, was officially opened last night by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Mr Varadkar said that the festival it takes its place among the great opera festivals of the world.
A traditional fireworks display took place on the quays before the first major production of the event in the National Opera House.
"This extraordinary festival is renowned," the Taoiseach said in his address to the crowds gathered on the quays for the opening.
"It is wonderful to see so many people travelling to Wexford from Ireland and abroad to be part of this musical celebration each year," he added.
That opening night performance was of Zoraida di Granata by Gaetano Donizetti, one of this year's three featured mainstage operas.
The theme of this year's festival is Women and War, with artistic director Rosetta Cucchi choosing a programme which highlights the challenges faced by women - in conflict, fighting prejudice and in making their voices heard.
She said: "I wanted to do this since 2020 when I was appointed, but now it's even more actual with all the horrible things that are happening around the world.
"It's an homage to women, and to their fight. Women have to fight for everything, not only with a gun but against prejudice, against violence, to obtain their freedom, to obtain their rights.
"So it is a celebration of women and their strength. Each opera in this festival is related to that theme."
The other two mainstage operas, which like Zoraida di Granata will continue Wexford's tradition of highlighting long-neglected but important works, are L'Aube Rouge by Camille Erlanger from 1911, and a new orchestration of La Ciociara by the original composer Marco Tutino.
Meanwhile, the near-two-week schedule will also include two pocket operas; the Wexford Factory opera showcasing new musicians and singers; 11 lunchtime recitals and a choral recital with New Dublin Voices.
There will be public interviews, talks and film screenings at a variety of venues throughout the Wexford area.
A new element to this year's programme is the Community Opera which will include local singers taking part in a full operatic production for the first time.
Wexford Festival Opera to stream live via RTÉ Culture & lyric FM
The participants, who have been preparing at a series of workshops in recent months, are joined by professional singers for a new version of Gianni Schicci by Giacomo Puccini, set in this iteration in Wexford.
The satirical work includes one of opera's most-loved arias, O Mio Babbino Caro, and it will be staged for the first time this evening at the Grain Store in Stonebridge, just off Wexford's quayfront.
Organisers say Gianni Schicci is being presented as an immersive performance and the audience will "move with the action" around the venue.
"We started this journey last December," Rosetta Cucchi said, "with these community people that worked hard with us, and then were able to become really professional".
She added: "We matched the singers from The Factory [which showcases young professional artists] and the community people, together, to create this community opera that is the first time this year but is a dream that comes true.
"I think that people, once they put their foot on stage, they will never forget the theatre. Not only will they be attached to the theatre as audiences, but they will be part of this adventure."
One of the community participants Raymond Moloney was a volunteer last year and heard of the community opera this year.
He said: "I took a chance and applied. It's working with your fellow people from the community and it's working with young singers who are just starting their career.
"It's a little bit more than that and it's good to see the bits from both sides, rather than just being an observer."
He said he is looking forward to getting his lines out "at the appropriate time" and also being part of a team.
Another taking part is Mairead Sinnott who has been a volunteer with the festival for 20 years.
She said: "When the call came through last year to say they may be interested in getting members of the public to help out, I immediately jumped at the chance because it's been amazing always, a very special time in Wexford for the opera festival but to be on stage for the opera festival is a whole new kettle of fish and it's really exciting."
She said it has been a huge experience since starting work on the opera last December.
She said: "It's lovely now to be able to say that members of the public can become stars of the actual opera festival, which we never thought we could be.
"It's great, all our family and friends are suddenly saying ‘oh, maybe I'll go to an opera that I've never been to before,’ and it's bringing in members of the public to see shows that they might never have thought of attending before, so it's great."
Wexford Festival Opera will run until 5 November.
