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 and Frederick Brown. Natalya Romaniw and Fiona Harrison-Wolfe alternate in the title role. Andrés Presno, James Cleverton, Ross Fettes, Dario Solari, and George Newton-Fitzerald star. Performance Dates: Sept. 14 – Oct. 18, 2025 Ed Lyon, Aled Hall, and Soraya {…}
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 {…}
Equity, the trade union representing the Welsh National Opera Chorus, has managed to obtain 1,000 signatures for an open letter to the Chair of the Welsh National Opera’s Board of Directors calling for support in its negotiations with the company’s management. The letter asks Chair Yvette Vaughn Jones to “intervene with management to save jobs, livelihoods and a treasured part {…}
Equity, the performing arts and entertainment industry, has called for strike action at the Welsh National Opera. The strike is set to take place on Sept. 21, 2024 during the opening night performance of “Rigoletto” with subsequent strikes set for Sept. 29 performance of “Il Trittico” and Oct. 11’s “Opera Favourites at the Movies.” The announcement follows a 93 percent {…}
