Cash-strapped Welsh National Opera has announced its 80th anniversary season with just one full opera, a double bill, a chamber-scale work, a children’s show and family concert, and a Welsh language joint theatre venture.
The announcement comes as the company looks for a new musical director to replace Tomáš Hanus.
The new season understandably relies heavily on works originated elsewhere, including at Glyndebourne and English National Opera, and work with other Arts Council of Wales funded bodies.
The first show is a double bill of Bluebeard’s Castle and Oedipus Rex. The former was originally an ENO production of Bartók’s opera which was Olivier nominated. The same combination of director Joe Hills-Gibbons and conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya brings the Bartók work to WNO. It is paired with a new production of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex with Peter Hoare as Oedipus, Christine Rice as Judith and Jocasta and Nathan Berg (Bluebeard and Tireseas). The double bill has additional music from Hildegard von Bingen.
The company then brings in Glyndebourne’s dark Floris Visser production of Puccini’s La Bohème (above), conducted by Corinna Niemeyer. The roles are taken by Alexia Voulgaridou as Mimi and Carlos Cardoso as Rodolfo. Other cast members are Navasard Hakobyan as Marcello and Laura Lolita Perešivana as Musetta with WNO’s Associate Artists, Owain Rowlands as Schaunard and Ross Fettes as Colline.
Perhaps most interesting is the French baroque singing of Joseph Bologne’s 18th century The Anonymous Lover. Conducted by Frederick Brown from the harpsichord, and featuring the rising star Nardus Williams as Leontine, the chamber-scale work will fit into venues such as Bristol’s Old Vic and Theatr Clwyd. It is directed by Omar Elerian.
There is also a 45 minute family show based on Jason and the Argonauts, directed by Jac Ifan Moore and conducted from the harpsichord by Stephen Wood, with designs by Rebecca Jane Wood and the WNO Family & Schools Concert returns with a mythology-inspired programme presented by Elin Llwyd. It will be performed by a full orchestra with soloists, including Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus overture alongside arias by Lully, Handel, and Mozart, Offenbach’s exuberant Can-Can, and playful pieces like Ballo de Orsi (Dance of the Bears).
In the spirt of working with other arts council funded organisations and the Welsh language, Hedd Wyn: Eisteddfod Atomig (above), will be a co-production with Theatr Cymru in Welsh. Directed by Theatr Cymru’s Artistic Director, Steffan Donnelly, and conducted by Iwan Teifion Davies, it features music by Stephen McNeff and a libretto by Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals). Cast to include Steffan Lloyd Owen, Rebecca Evans and Paul Carey Jones.
The company has also invested its funds in a “brand refresh”, and artwork from Welsh artists for a poster campaign.
Company joint heads Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree said, “As we mark 80 years of Welsh National Opera, we are not looking back. We are looking forward with ambition and excitement. This is a rebirth for WNO, and an invitation to audiences everywhere to experience opera in a way that feels urgent, contemporary and alive.”
Images: Clementine Schneidermann Charlotte James
Main image Bluebeards Castle / Oedipus Rex
Full details wno.org.uk
