- WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus to conduct second opera in Janáček Series
- Further performances of Company’s new production of Madam Butterfly
- Elizabeth Llewellyn and Peter Berger join the Company for performances of Jenůfa
- Andrei Kymach and Duncan Rock make Company debuts in Don Giovanni
- Welsh singers Rhodri Prys Jones and Sion Goronwy return to WNO
- WNO Youth Opera return to the stage
- Play Opera LIVE Comes to Wales Millennium Centre
Welsh National Opera has announced full details of its Spring 2022 Season which features Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Janáček’s Jenůfa. The Company’s critically acclaimed new production of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly which opened in Autumn 2021 will also be performed during the Season.
Don Giovanni
The Season opens with the return of John Caird’s 2011 staging of Don Giovanni, with designs by John Napier. Based on the tale of Don Juan, Don Giovanni follows the demise of opera’s legendary seducer as his roguish womanising catches up with him and he meets his end through a force from beyond the grave. One of the most popular and much-performed operas, this has everything from murder to lust to comedy, drama and the supernatural. Don Giovanni will be directed by Caroline Chaney, and Tobias Ringborg will make his conducting debut with the Company. Tobias is no stranger to this opera conducting it with Royal Swedish Opera and Opera North.
WNO are delighted to welcome baritones Andrei Kymach and Duncan Rock who will make their Company debuts and share the title role as Don Giovanni. Andrei won Cardiff Singer of the World in 2019 and Duncan is not only fast establishing himself as an outstanding young singer and performer he also specialises in nutrition for voice and works with singers and actors to nurture their voices to help advance their careers. Sarah Tynan (Donna Elvira), Joshua Bloom (Leporello) and James Atkinson (Masetto) also make their debuts with the Company and share the roles with Meeta Ravel, Simon Bailey and Gareth Brynmor John. James Platt and Marina Monzó return following their performances as Sparacfucile and Gilda in WNO’s 2019 production of Verdi’s Rigoletto to sing Commendatore and Donna Anna respectively. The double cast is completed by Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and Kenneth Tarver who share the role as Don Ottavio, Linda Richardson who shares the role of Donna Anna, and former WNO Associate Artist Harriet Eyley and current WNO Associate Artist Isabelle Peters who share the role of Zerlina.
Jenůfa
Eloise Lally makes her directorial debut with WNO bringing Katie Mitchell’s original production of Jenůfa back to the stage.Jenůfa is the continuation of the Company’s Janáček Series and will be conducted by WNO’s Music Director Tomáš Hanus. The production was last performed by WNO in 2008. Jenůfa is the story of a woman with a secret that will bring shame to herself and her family. Elizabeth Llewellyn makes her debut with the Company as well as a role debut of the title role as Jenůfa. Elizabeth made her debut at English National Opera in 2010 with critical acclaim. Peter Berger also makes his debut with WNO singing the role of Laca which he shares with Peter Auty. Peter Berger is no stranger to this role and has previously performed it with Scottish National Opera and Danish National Opera. Completing the cast is Angela Denoke who shares the role of Kostelnička with Eliska Weissova.
Continuing WNO’s commitment to talent development, WNO’s Associate Artists Adam Gilbert, Aaron O’Hare and Isabelle Peters have all been cast in roles in Jenůfa singing Ŝteva Buryja, Stárek and Jana. The cast is completed by Welsh tenor Rhodri Prys Jones who shares the role with Adam as Ŝteva Buryja and with Welsh bass Sion Goronwy as Mayor. Rhodri returns to WNO after making his professional debut in Autumn 2018 in Sir David Pountney’s War and Peace. Sion also joins the cast of Madam Butterfly sharing the role of The Bonze with Keel Watson.
WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus said: “Janáček is a composer that is very close to my heart and my history, equally he was a composer that still has a lot to say that can speak to audiences today. Jenůfa is one of the best opera’s ever written and I want to make sure it is done to the highest level. I am looking forward to presenting this piece to the audiences in Cardiff and also on tour so as many people as possible can experience this wonderful music.”
Madam Butterfly
The new production of Madam Butterfly which premiered in Autumn 2021 returns in the Spring, directed by Lindy Hume and conducted by James Southall. This critically acclaimed production explores socially relevant themes of Puccini’s classic tale with its beautiful music providing the backdrop to this much-loved opera. Told through a 21-century lens where love is a commodity, this production of the opera is not only true to Puccini’s moving score but provides perspective on the relevance this story still has in society today.
Soprano Alexia Voulgaridou returns to the role as Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) and will share the stage with Leonardo Caimi in the role of Pinkerton. Gareth Brynmor John joins the cast as Sharpless, with Keel Watson, Tom Randle, Neil Balfour and Kezia Bienek returning to complete the cast.
WNO Youth Opera
Following the success of Brundibár in 2019, WNO’s Youth Opera groups will once again join forces for a full-scale performance of The Black Spider at Wales Millennium Centre’s Weston Studio in May 2022. Members of Youth Opera performed for the first time after 18 months in person in September 2021 for the opening of the Senedd in front of Her Majesty The Queen, and this will be their first public performances in a production since Summer 2019. The creepy, comic tale is by writer and composer and Master of the Queen’s Music, Judith Weir and will be performed by WNO Youth Opera members in South Wales aged 10-18 years. Rhian Hutchings returns to WNO to direct, with WNO Youth Opera Musical Director Dan Perkin conducting. Vocal direction is by Sian Cameron and design by Bethany Seddon. Tickets on sale soon.
WNO General Director Aidan Lang: “While the difficulties that Covid-19 creates have not yet gone away, we are nevertheless looking forward to presenting our Spring season. One of the strengths of opera is that the great works can transcend time, their central ideas being as relevant to our lives today as they were at the time they were written. In some cases, such as with the amoral Don Giovanni, we view his actions today through a new, more contemporary lens. What chimes so strongly with Janáček’s extraordinary Jenůfa is how the terrible actions of the opera happen because of the belief that they are being done for the right reason. And the emphasis in our production of Madam Butterfly on its young titular character being trafficked as part of a pleasure package, has unfortunately proved to be timely, given recent revelations”.
Programmes and Engagement Activity
Following the success of the online series Play Opera, WNO’s programme to open-up opera and inspire young people moves to the stage with Play Opera LIVE on Sunday 13 March. The live concert will be premiered at Wales Millennium Centre and will continue on tour in Plymouth, Llandudno, Southampton and the Midlands at The Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford. These concerts provide an opportunity for young people to experience a live performance, and for many this is their first introduction to opera and classical music. There will be a host of pre-show workshops and foyer activities in each venue which showcase all aspects of an opera company from wigs and make-up to props and costume. WNO Orchestra and guest soloists will perform a programme that features opera favourites, as well as music from West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz and other well-known numbers.
Information regarding WNO productions is available at wno.org.uk
Ends
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 English regions. We provide transformative experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds 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.
- Welsh National Opera is delighted to be returning to the stage and performing for audiences again. As a Company numerous safety measures and risk assessments have been put in place to protect staff, performers and crew in rehearsals and on tour and continue to adhere to all Welsh Government guidelines. Partner venues are also working hard to ensure that audiences can feel safe while in their buildings watching WNO performances. Each venue has its own set of guidelines and information which is available, and regularly updated, on their websites.
- Jenůfa is supported by WNO Janáček Circle and WNO Partners
- The role of WNO Music Director for Jenůfa is supported by Marian and Gordon Pell
- The role of Kostelnička is supported by Christopher Greene and Annmaree O’Keeffe
- Madam Butterfly is supported by John Ellerman Foundation
- The role of Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) is supported by Jo Furber
- The role of Pinkerton is supported by Martyn Ryan
- The Conductor for Madam Butterfly is supported by Colin and Sylvia Fletcher
- The Director of Madam Butterfly is supported by Christopher Greene, Annmaree O Keeffe and an anonymous donor
- WNO’s Talent Development programme is supported by the Kirby Laing Foundation and the Bateman Family Charitable Trust
- WNO Associate Artist programme is supported by the Shirley & Rolf Olsen Bursary, Joseph Strong Frazer Trust and The Fidelio Charitable Trust
- WNO Spring Season Leading Supporter is Associated British Ports WNO production images are available for download at www.wno.org.uk/press
- For more information, photos or interviews please contact:
Christina Blakeman, Press Officer
christina.blakeman@wno.org.uk
Rhys Edwards, Digital Communications Officer
rhys.edwards@wno.org.uk