Welsh National Opera Announces Freedom Season Featuring Jake Heggie & Menotti

The Welsh National Opera has announced “Freedom,” a season of operatic works with complementary panel discussions, talks, community engagement and an exhibition of immersive reality artwork exploring the themes of human rights, justice, and political imprisonment. Curated by Artistic Director David Pountney, the season is set to present every element of the performing company from the WNO Chorus and Orchestra through {…}

Oct 25, 2018

Welsh National Opera 2018-19 Review: War & Peace

On his deathbed, Sergei Prokofiev talked of his hope that “War and Peace,” the opera he considered to be his greatest composition for the stage, would eventually become known the world over in its definitive version. In Russia and other Slavic countries this has largely been achieved, but in the West, performances have been rare indeed. Welsh National Opera’s decision {…}

Sep 6, 2018

Seattle Opera’s General Director Set To Leave After 2018-19 Season

Seattle Opera’s General Director Aiden Lang has announced that he will be leaving the company after the 2018-19 season. In a letter, Lang noted that he has been appointed to become the General Director of the Welsh National Opera after this season. “Coming to Seattle Opera was one of the greatest honors of my life and I am still absolutely {…}

Mar 13, 2018

The Welsh National Opera To World Premiere ‘Rhonda Rips It Up!’

The Welsh National Opera has announced the world premiere of “Rhonda Rips It Up!” The new work, commissioned for the company, has been billed as “unlike anything previously presented by WNO.” The production will tell the story of the remarkable suffragette, Margaret Haig Thomas, who tirelessly campaigned for equal rights for women. The show will premiere in Haig Thomas’s hometown {…}

Feb 8, 2018

Joyce El-Khoury, Tarra Erraught & Gwyn Hughes-Jones Headline Welsh National Opera’s 2018-19 Season

The Welsh National Opera has announced its 2018-19 season featuring a number of classic operas and new productions. It will also mark David Pountney’s final year as WNO Artistic Director. Autumn 2018 The season opens on Sept. 15 with a new production of Prokofiev’s masterpiece “War and Peace.” The opera which will be conducted by Tomáš Hanus and directed by Pountney {…}

Feb 6, 2018

The Prince Of Wales Attends ‘La Forza Del Destino’ Opening At Welsh National Opera

HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of Welsh National Opera, attended a performance of WNO’s new production of “La Forza del Destino” during the opening night performance on Feb. 2, 2018. His Royal Highness, who has been a patron of the Welsh National Opera since 1997, was met by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Morfudd Meredith, and hosts including WNO Honorary President {…}

Sep 23, 2017

Master At Two Houses – Conductor Carlo Rizzi on Big Projects At Metropolitan Opera & Welsh National Opera

Maestro Carlo Rizzi has led over 180 performances at the Met and when all is said and done in 2017-18, he will have topped 200 performances with the company. He has led works by such composers from a vast range of Italian composers including Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, and Rossini. Of all the works he has conducted, “La Bohème” has been {…}

Apr 20, 2017

Obituary – Tenor Paul Gyton Dedicated His Life to WNO

It has been a hard few days in the opera Community. Over the weekend, Manfred Jung passed away and on Tuesday, tenor Paul Gyton passed away as well. Gyton was not a major soloist, but instead remained a loyal member of the chorus of the Welsh National Opera for a whopping 40 years. The tenor joined the ensemble on April 12, {…}

Apr 18, 2017

‘Le Vin Herbé’ Is The Opera Platform’s Live Stream For April 2017

On this month’s live stream via The Opera Platform, audiences will get a chance to relish a rare work from a theater that doesn’t get as much coverage as it deserves. On April 28, the Welsh National Opera will showcase a performance of Martin’s “Le Vin Herbé,” an adaptation of the Tristan and Isolde legend. In fact, the work is {…}

Feb 11, 2017

Everything You Need to Know About the Welsh National Opera’s 2017-18 Season

The Welsh National Opera announced its 2017-18 season, a schedule that features works accompanying certain themes and concepts. Fall 2018 – Russian Revolution The autumn season will kick off with three Russian-themed works – “Eugene Onegin,” “Khovanshchina” and Janácek’s “From The House of the Dead,” which is based on Dostoevsky’s book. This segment intents to honor the centenary of the {…}

Dec 30, 2016

Welsh Opera Star Bryn Terfel is A Knight & Commander of the British Empire

Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel is a knight. The opera superstar was given the title in the New Year Honours by Queen Elizabeth II. “This is monumental for people to receive such an accolade,” he stated according to BBC News. “I’m immensely proud to accept this and I think of my family, I think of my sons, I think of my {…}

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