20 Opera Companies Join Forces to Launch UK Opera Association

A new organization representing the UK’s opera sector, the UK Opera Association (UKOA), has officially launched, uniting 20 founding companies to advocate for opera’s future and strengthen its presence across the country. UKOA, which was founded by Birmingham Opera Company, British Youth Opera, Buxton International Festival, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne, Longborough Festival {…}

Aug 21, 2025

Welsh National Opera & Chorus Members’ Representatives Finally Come to An Agreement

Equity, representing the members of the chorus of the Welsh National Opera, has found common ground in negotiations with the Welsh National Opera. The result is a full-time contract that features an industry-standard salary. While the agreement is a major turnaround for the ensemble members, especially after the Welsh National Opera had been looking at a 15 percent pay cut, {…}

Jul 7, 2025

Welsh National Opera Announces Orchestra’s 2025-26 Season & Associate Artists

Welsh National Opera Orchestra has announced its 2025-26 season. First up is a concert with soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn featuring Wagner’s “Wesendonck Lieder.” Also on the program is music by Dvorák, Haydn, and Beethoven. Jiří Habart conducts. Performance Dates: Oct. 24 & 25, 2025 Then in the winter, mezzo-soprano Justine Gringytė joins Carlo Rizzi and the ensemble in performing Berlioz’s “Les Nuits {…}

May 21, 2025

Welsh National Opera Names New Chair of Board of Directors

The Welsh National Opera has named Professor Medwin Hughes CBE DL to the position of Chair of the Board of Directors. Hughes takes over for Yvette Vaughan Jones, whose term ends in Autumn 2025. Hughes is a former Vice Chancellor of University of Wales Trinity St David and Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales who has served as Deputy {…}

Apr 23, 2025

Welsh National Opera & Musician’s Union Close in on Agreement for Orchestra

The Welsh National Opera (WNO) and the Musician’s Union, representing the WNO Orchestra, seemed headed toward a new agreement. Per a post on its official social media accounts, WNO’s Co-General Directors and CEOS, Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, noted that “following open and constructive negotiations with the Musicians’ Union we welcome the decision by WNO’s Orchestra to accept a new {…}

Mar 30, 2025

Equity Members of Welsh National Opera Chorus Vote for New Industrial Action Mandate

Equity members of the Welsh National Opera chorus have voted for industrial action and will continue to take action short of a strike from April 9, 2025, and thereafter. Per the vote, 95 percent of members voted for action short of a strike,e and 91 percent voted in favor of strike action on a 100 percent turnout. The vote is {…}

Mar 28, 2025

New Report Shows Success with Welsh National Opera’s ‘Wellness with WNO’ Program

Welsh National Opera has released details of an evaluation report for its pilot “Wellness with WNO: Managing Persistent Pain Program.” The six-week, one hour-long online singing and breathing pilot program, running from March 2024 to March 2025, is designed to support people living with persistent pain. The initiative was built off of “WNO’s Long COVID Program” which launched in 2021. {…}

Mar 28, 2025

Obituary: James Lockhart Passes Away at 94

Conductor James Lockhart passed away on Feb. 26, 2025 at the age of 94. Lockhart was born on Oct. 16, 1930, in Edinburgh. He studied at the Royal College of Music and gave his UK premiere at All Souls Church, Langham Place. He took the position of Music Director at Welsh National Opera in 1968, where he stayed until 1972. {…}

Mar 6, 2025

Soprano Claire Booth Among Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2025 Recipients

The winners of the 2025 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards were announced on March 6, at Royal Birmingham Conservatory. For this article only winners in vocal categories are included. Conductor Kazuki Yamada Impact Streetwise Opera’s Re:Discover Festival Inspiration Open Arts Community Choir Opera and Music Theatre “Death in Venice” – Welsh National Opera Series and Events The Cumnock Tryst Singer Claire Booth {…}

Feb 25, 2025

Welsh National Opera Chorus Vote Unanimously for Further Action Short of Strike

The chorus of the Welsh National Opera (WNO) have voted unanimously to take further action short of strike on Feb. 27 and March 1. Action short of strike has previously been taken by the WNO chorus across several dates and consisted of chorus members wearing #SaveOurWNO t-shirts during performances, as well as leafletting and talking to audience members about why {…}

Feb 21, 2025

Mass Demonstration Scheduled in Protest of Proposed Axing of Cardiff University’s School of Music

On Feb. 22, musicians from across the country, including past and current staff and students from Cardiff University’s School of Music, will gather in a musical protest against proposed course closures, job losses, and cuts. In late Jan. Cardiff University confirmed plans to close Cardiff University School of Music, a facility that has produced outstanding musicians such as Karl Jenkins, {…}

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