High notes in store for opera festival

FALSETTO, not fees, was on the curriculum yesterday for Tánaiste Mary Harney when she launched this year’s Wexford Opera Festival.

She resisted the temptation to sing and instead took note from masters such as Offenbach, whose Tales of Hoffmann will enchant audiences in the autumn.

This year is the 52nd anniversary of the renowned festival, which has been packing them in in recent years.