Two women looking at a letter smiling.

Explore opera with WNO

Welsh National Opera exists to bring the power, drama and raw emotion of opera to as wide an audience as possible in performances and projects marked by an uncompromising quest for artistic quality.

In this section, we dispel some of the many myths about opera, tell some great stories about opera, and give you the chance to join WNO.

Opera, give it a go

Opera is expensive, posh and you won’t understand a thing – right? 

That’s what Steve Speirs (star of Extras, Stella and WNO's Die Fledermaus) thought, until Welsh National Opera showed him what it is really about.


The stage is our canvas

Y llwyfan yw ein cynfas

My first time at the opera

Fy nhro cyntaf yn yr opera

Explore stories from our news and features archive

22 May 24

Famous people with operatic links

03 May 24

Britten through the Decades

A rehearsal shot of two men hanging from aerial silk from their arms
26 April 24

An Audience with Aerialist Antony César

19 April 24

Designing Così fan tutte

A production shot where a chef leans back into a group of men dressed in dark clothing. They al look shocked.
15 March 24

Multi-Charactered Mayhem in Death in Venice

08 March 24

April Heade: The Woman behind Wellness with WNO

Join us on our mission to inspire a new generation of opera lovers – from just £50 a year

Become a WNO Friend now

Our history

In 1943, Welsh National Opera was founded by a group of people from across south Wales including miners, teachers and doctors.

Read more

Past productions

Explore our rich and varied archive of past productions – from 2013 to the present day

Read more