Our 2024/2025 Season

An extraordinary, yet turbulent exploration of the heart, mind, and soul 

Featuring new faces, old favourites, love, heartbreak and blockbuster hits, Welsh National Opera has everything and more in our new Season. 

Our 2024/2025 Season opens this Autumn at our home venue in Cardiff with Verdi’s self-proclaimed favourite, Rigoletto. Adele Thomas, who was born and raised in Port Talbot, South Wales, makes her WNO directorial debut with this brand-new production which tells the tragic story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice and sees Rigoletto, the court jester, use vicious wit to conceal his tormented heart.  

Joining Rigoletto this Autumn, we are also bringing Puccini’s Il trittico back, performing this trio of one-act operas in its entirety in Cardiff, just like the great composer intended. This triptych will take you on an unforgettable rollercoaster of high emotion, intense drama, and black comedy. Il tabarro (The Cloak) gazes upon an unhappy marriage with murderous consequences, Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) follows a nun’s sacrifice and familial yearning when sent to a convent, and Gianni Schicchi is full of deception and greed as a family disputes a missing will. We will also be taking Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi on tour. 

And if that wasn’t enough for Autumn, our Opera Favourites concert returns and this time we’re bringing you the best classical music from the silver screen. From Apocalypse Now to The House of Gucci to James Bond, join WNO Orchestra for a night of movie magic. 

Our Spring 2025 Season begins with love, laughter, and tangled affairs as we bring Mozart’s ever popular The Marriage of Figaro to life once again. An outrageous whirlwind of clever schemes and mistaken identities, this captivating tale of love and loyalty will keep you guessing until the end. Michael Mofidian and Christina Gansch make their Company debuts as the young bride and groom; will they make it down the aisle and live happy ever after or will there be one tangled affair too many? 

In a clash with the comical, we also bring the dark and angry, as our brand-new production of Britten’s turbulent Peter Grimes crashes onto the stage. Conducted by WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus and starring Nicky Spence (The Makropulos Affair) in his first ever appearance as the title role, this gripping tale of rumours and inner demons uncovers the mysteries of a small coastal village against the ominous backdrop of powerful, melodic waves.  

Our year wouldn’t feel complete without our always popular Play Opera LIVE! Our interactive, educational and entertaining family show is the perfect introduction to opera and classical music for the young and young at heart. Presenter Tom Redmond is joined by the acclaimed WNO Orchestra to bring you music from the stage and screen in a show full of fun, facts and laughter that’ll have you clapping, singing, and dancing in the aisles.  

Tickets to our 2024/2025 Season go on sale on Friday 1 March, or you can get yours early from Friday 23 February by becoming a WNO Friend and taking advantage of our priority booking.