We’ve come to that sad time of year again, as we say goodbye to our favourite characters from our extraordinary Spring 2022 Season. Before we pack away the sets and say farewell to our heroes and villains, it’s time to look back on a Season full of love, heartbreak, and tragedy.
Our Season began with a bang, as 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World winner, Andrei Kymach, made his Company debut as the title role in Mozart’s classic opera, Don Giovanni. Flitting between comedy and tragedy, with the satisfying conclusion of comeuppance, opera’s most cunning and unrepentant sinner was greatly received by our audience and reviewers alike.
Cylchgrawn Opera'...mae tywyllwch a grymoedd cythreulig cysyniad y cyfarwyddwr John Caird a'r dylunydd John Napier yn parhau i gael effaith.'
Returning after an acclaimed run in the Autumn, we were reminded of the beauty, betrayal, and heartbreak of Madam Butterfly. Guiding us through Lindy Hume’s production of Puccini’s classic, we got to see Butterfly’s faith in the dishonest Pinkerton, Suzuki’s love for her friend and mistress, and the power that love can hold over all of us displayed in a modern setting, bringing a timeless story into our near-future world.
Under the sure hands of WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus, WNO Orchestra led the audience through Janáček’s tragic Jenůfa, a tragic tale of family, despair, and hope. With Elizabeth Llewellyn making her role and Company debut in the title role, and Eliskia Weissova earning applause for her role as the tortured Kostelnička, audiences left theatres across the country feeling as though they’d “been through the emotional wringer”, and the performances earned accolades from numerous reviewers.
The Season also saw the return of our family concert, Play Opera LIVE, presented by Tom Redmond. The lively and entertaining concert saw scenes of joy as it embarked on its four date tour, introducing a younger audience to classical music and opera across the country. With music from Rossini, The Avengers, The Wizard of Oz and more, we can’t wait to see more families coming through our doors in the future, enjoying even more fun activities and music.
After its pilot programme was launched in November 2021, Wellness with WNO continued in 2022. Created in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff and Vale and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Boards, and supported by a grant from Arts Council of Wales, the programme was created to support people in Wales experiencing feelings of breathlessness, stress, or anxiety due to long COVID. Following fantastic feedback from our participants, Wellness with WNO will be expanded to reach a wider number of people across further health boards in Wales in 2022/2023.
Although our Spring Season has come to an end, there’s still so much to be experienced here at WNO. Coming up this summer we have a whole host of concerts to choose from, with music by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and more. If you’re missing opera and can’t wait until our Autumn Season, the WNO Youth Opera production of The Black Spider will be at Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday 28 May and Sunday 29 May, while our epic musical drama, Migrations opens at Wales Millennium Centre on Wednesday 29 June, with subsequent performances on 1 and 2 July.
During our Autumn Season, we’ll be welcoming you all back into the theatre to experience Puccini’sLa bohѐme, Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair, another opportunity to see Migrations and WNO Youth Opera’s new production of Shostakovich’s satirical operetta Cherry Town, Moscow.
We can’t wait to see you at one of our wonderful venues for a Season full of mystery, romance and adventure.