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 {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
The Welsh National Opera announced its 2025-26 season. The season opens with “Tosca,” directed by Edward Dick and conducted by Gergely Madaras. Natalya Romaniw and Andrés Presno star. Performance Dates: Sept. 14 – Oct. 18, 2025 Ed Lyon, Aled Hall, and Soraya Mafi star in a revival of “Candide” with Ryan McAdams conducting the Bernstein work. Performance Dates: Sept. 17 – Oct. {…}
The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards have announced its 2025 shortlist nominees. This article only features those nominated for vocal works. The Awards will feature performances from a range of nominees and is hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenters Jess Gillam and Tom McKinney, with trophies presented by RPS Chair Angela Dixon. The Awards ceremony will be held for the first {…}
Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree will start the new year with a new tenure at the Welsh National Opera, as they jointly take on the role of co-CEOs/General Directors. Thomas is an internationally acclaimed theatre and opera director who recently directed WNO’s new production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” while visionary producer Sarah Crabtree joins the Company from The Royal Ballet and {…}
(Photo credit: Equity) Equity, the performing arts and entertainment trade union in Wales, has issued a response following the reveal of the Welsh government’s arts funding proposals for 2025-26. “Today’s draft budget is disappointing for the arts and shows that the Welsh Government is still not listening to Equity, the arts sector or the Arts Council of Wales (ACW). The {…}
The Welsh National Opera arts and health program, “Wellness with WNO,” has announced that it will be expanding as a rehabilitation service for other health conditions. The program which was launched during COVID will include people living with persistent pain and myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). “Wellness with WNO” is Wales’ first national socially prescribed program, developed with and {…}
Equity members of the Chorus at Welsh National Opera have agreed to postpone planned strike action set for Nov. 15, but will continue with other industrial action. Chorus members held an Equity meeting on Nov. 8 to discuss the latest proposals from management. They agreed to change strike action to action short of strike on Nov. 15, to allow for {…}
The Chorus of the Welsh National Opera will pause its strike action to allow progress to be made in future talks. The Equity Members in the ensemble had scheduled a strike action for Oct. 11. Instead the members will wear t-shirts saying #SaveOurWNO #AchubOCC during the performance of “Opera Favourites at the Movies.” They will also leaflet audience members prior {…}
Equity members in the chorus of the Welsh National Opera have paused their strike action. The strikes were set for Sept. 21 and 29, 2024, but the plan was halted following conversations with Welsh National Opera management this past week. No deal has been struck, but now the two sides will have more time for further discussion and members voted {…}