Welsh National Opera’s recently announced 2023/2024 Season is an operatic feast of contemporary operas, award-winning productions, age-old favourites, and brand-new creations. But, if you’re new to opera, it may seem daunting to know what to choose. We’re here to break down our new Season to help you decide what to see.
If you’ve ever watched Love Island, then you’ll be familiar with Casa Amor – the ultimate test of loyalty where contestants are placed face to face with other potential suitors. That’s pretty much what happens in this opera. Così fan tutteis a comic opera and in our version follows a group of students who are manipulated into tempting situations to test their love and teach them a lesson. Featuring the marvellous music of Mozart, why not experience our brand new staging and discover why this opera has been a hit since 1790.
Imagine a delicious three-course meal with jealousy to start, love and loss for main course, followed by deceit and murder for dessert. This is Puccini’s Il trittico for you. It’s often only in soap operas that you get this type of emotional rollercoaster, and so these three one act operas are the perfect way to spend an evening for any Brit. What’s more, each tale has a unique soundworld. So, if you’re new to opera, this is the perfect way to indulge in your first operatic feast.
In the opera world, Verdi’s La traviata is one of the most famous of all time. But, if you’re new to opera, you’re probably wondering what the appeal is. Hair-raising music aside, this opera follows a narrative that we, as an audience, never seem to tire of – a passionate love, fated to end in tragedy. From The Notebook to The Titanic, it’s everywhere. In fact, La traviatais a direct mirror of Moulin Rouge, telling the tale of a glamorous courtesan in Paris who falls for a penniless artist. If you’ve seen Moulin Rouge, then you’ll probably have guessed how this one ends, but why not experience our five-star production and find out for yourself.
Forget all about your preconceptions of opera because Ainadamar will turn everything you believe on its head. Flamenco, electronic music and poetry may not be things you expect to see in an opera, but this opera makes use of it all – it’s no wonder that composer Golijov won two Grammys for it. This opera has never before been performed in Wales, so we’re thrilled to be bringing this opera to our home country for the first time. And, in another first, the Olivier-winning Deborah Colker, who choreographed the immense opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics in Rio, is making her operatic debut in the director’s seat. This is going to be a spine-tingling spectacle.
An opera for the bookworms, Britten’s Death in Venice is based on a novella by German author, Thomas Mann. Dark and atmospheric, this is the tale of an author who falls in love with a youthful aristocrat. Toying with themes of obsession and desire, it’s perfect for any gothic romance lovers. As if the captivating storyline wasn’t enough, Britten’s score is haunting and dramatic, underscoring everything that unfolds on stage. Just like our main character, Gustav, we’re obsessed.