Welsh National Opera’s General Director, Aidan Lang, is to step down at the end of this year following four years in the role and more than 40 years working in opera globally.
Aidan first joined WNO as a staff director in the 1980s and early 1990s. He returned to WNO following an international career which included his position as General Director of Seattle Opera. He will now be retiring to spend more time with his wife, the singer and director, Linda Kitchen.
During his time as General Director at WNO, Aidan has steered the Company through extraordinary times. He oversaw a new digital programme during the Covid lockdown which included programming a digital version of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine, and led the Company towards their first live performances following lockdown with Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Artistic successes during his tenure have included new commissions such as Blaze of Glory!, and critically-acclaimed new productions of Janáček’s The Makropoulos Affair and Bernstein’s Candide.
Aidan Lang said:
“For me, like so many others, WNO is where my opera career truly began, and it has been an enormous privilege to head up this wonderful Company. Having worked in opera in different roles continuously for over 40 years, I feel the time is now right for me to enjoy more time with my family and for someone else to take WNO to its next chapter. My love for opera was ignited as a student in Birmingham watching WNO productions, and I am thoroughly looking forward to returning as an audience member.”
WNO Chair, Yvette Vaughan-Jones said:
“I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board, the Company and opera audiences in Wales and beyond to thank Aidan for his exemplary contribution to WNO during his tenure. Aidan’s artistic credentials are second to none and, despite the unprecedented challenges of the last four years and the impact these have had on the arts sector, his artistic leadership has ensured that WNO remains ambitious and relevant and will continue to do so into the future.”
Aidan Lang will remain in post until Christmas, and the end of WNO’s current season which goes out on tour next week.
ENDS
wno.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Welsh National Opera is the national opera company for Wales, funded by the Arts Councils of Wales and England to provide large scale opera, concerts and outreach work across Wales and to major cities in the English regions. We endeavour to provide transformative experiences through our education and outreach programme and our award-winning digital projects. We work with our partners to discover and nurture young operatic talent, and we aim to show future generations that opera is a rewarding, relevant and universal art form with the power to affect and inspire.
WNO production images are available for download at wno.org.uk/press