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| Edward Dick’s production of Puccini’s Tosca with Robert Hayward as Scarpia at Opera North in 2023 (Photo: James Glossop) |
Welsh National Opera celebrates its 80th anniversary during the 2024/25 season and whilst the current financial climate in the arts is hardly a reason for blowing balloons and throwing streamers, the company under its new management team of Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas, has put together a season that celebrates both Welsh stories and Welsh artists. No, the season is nowhere near as extensive or as experimental as in the past, but includes major Welsh singers in signature roles, a contemporary work telling a very Welsh story and a new production that gives the chorus a chance to shine.
The Autumn season consists of Puccini’s Tosca and Bernstein’s Candide. Tosca is seen in WNO’s first showing of Edward Dick’s fine production first seen at Opera North in 2018 [see my review of Opera North’s 2023 revival]. Natalya Romaniw is Tosca with Andrés Presno as Cavaradossi [returning to the production having sung it in 2023], and conductor Gergely Madaras making his WNO debut.
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| Bernstein: Candide – Ed Lyon, Francesca Saracino – WNO, 2023 (Photo: Johan Persson) |
James Bonas’ production of Bernstein’s Candide was first seen at WNO in 2023, and returns with Ed Lyons again in the title role. Joining him are Aled Hall as the Governor and Soraya Mafi as Cunégonde, conducted by Ryan McAdams.
The Summer season features a new production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman with Welsh director Jack Furness making his WNO debut, and the production is conducted by the company’s music director Tomáš Hanus.
Jack Furness, whose recent work has included a poetic account of Dvorak’s Rusalka at Glyndebourne [see my review], Gounod’s Faust at Irish National Opera, and an intriguing take on Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel at the Royal Academy of Music [see my review], will be giving contemporary reimagining of the opera.
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| David Hackbridge Johnson: Blaze of Glory – Rebecca Evans – WNO, 2023 (Photo: Kirsten Mcternan) |
Also in the season is a revival of David Hackbridge Johnson’s opera Blaze of Glory! [described in The Stage as ‘Utterly thrilling’, see the review] which follows a group of Welsh miners as they embark on a musical journey to reform their male voice choir after a local mining disaster. The opera has particular resonance at WNO as not only is a Welsh story, but WNO emerged during the post-War period as a result of the passion for music held by a group of amateur performers from across South Wales, including doctors, miners and teachers.
Caroline Clegg directs with many of the original cast returning, including Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Rebecca Evans, Themba Mvula and Feargal Mostyn-Williams, conducted by James Southall.
WNO’s family show, Play Opera LIVE returns with a Shipwrecked! theme, with WNO Orchestra and Chorus, and Tom Redmond as presenter. The WNO Chorus and Orchestra are presenting A Night at the Opera concerts, whilst the orchestra will ring in the New Year with their popular tour of Viennese music which will tour to venues in Wales and the Southwest of England.
WNO’s extensive programme and engagement activity will also continue into this year, which includes regular schools activity and concerts, WNO Youth Opera and the Wellness with WNO programme.
Autumn 2024 sees performances in Cardiff, Southampton, Llandudno, Bristol and Plymouth, whilst Summer 2025 sees performances in Cardiff, Plymouth, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Swansea.
Full details from the WNO website.
