Jaromír Weinberger’s ‘one-hit wonder’, Švanda dudák, is a colourful folk-opera centred on the comic antics of the eponymous bagpiper. Svanda’s instrument possesses magic powers which are used and mis-used in adventures with a robber, an unhappy queen and the Devil himself, before Svanda is re-united with his beautiful young wife, Dorota. With its memorable Polka, hit tunes that would not be out of place on Broadway, and unashamed use of Smetana-like musical elements, the work has enjoyed success in scores of the world’s opera houses. Wexford Festival Opera is acclaimed world-wide for its courageous programming of neglected repertoire and its high production values.