The Flying Dutchman, WNO
20th April 2026
Decline of WNO reflected by meagre new season
15th April 2026
The prospect of WNO staging Verdi’s Les vêpres siciliennes is an exciting one. The last time it was performed by WNO was in 1954. Further, this staging (a joint production with Theater Bonn) is of the French grand opéra version, the full five acts sung in French with the ballet section included, not the revised…
This revived production of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen is another triumph for WNO. Born in Moravia in 1854 it was only in 1924 that Janáček first staged his opera. Inspired by the illustrated tales of ‘Vixen Sharp-Ears’ the opera tells the story of the life and death of the Vixen, captured by the Forester…
This production of Verdi’s Rigoletto is a winning return to form for WNO. The story of the jester Rigoletto’s attempted revenge on his master the Duke for the seduction of his daughter Gilda, the action is transposed to Washington DC in the sixties, evoked by the costumes and design, such as Gilda’s hairband and bobby…
My opera education continues in the capable hands of Welsh National Opera with Guiseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera, only my third WNO production. Riccardo (Gwyn Hughes Jones) is a leader who has stepped on too many toes, collecting a few enemies hell bent on revenge for the wrongs they feel he has done…
With an opening scene of a lobster-like creature bursting through the set’s doors, I knew from the start of Welsh National Opera’s rendition of Mozart’s The Magic Flute that I was in for a very different experience of opera. As quite the novice to opera, I went into this performance blind, so was intrigued to…
Mozart’s most famous opera was once again brought on stage, but this time WNO managed to add in some delightful new ideas. Under the baton of Damian Iorio, the music was of extremely high quality. The loving couple of Tamino and Pamina were sung by Ben Johnson and Anita Watson. They both rendered their…
Revivals of Jonathan Miller stagings have been the staple over the past thirty years at ENO. In Miller’s clear-headed production, the 1930s take on tragic young love among Parisian students certainly did not lack any drama. There is much to admire in this revival. Alexander Joel leads an idiomatic performance from both singers and orchestra….
One thing I’ve learned over the years: classical music has a fetish for Spanish music. This is frequently the case with French composer Maurice Ravel, who had Basque heritage. His undying love for his neighbouring company would be poured into a fair amount of his musical output, most famous being his ballet, Bolero. With L’heure…
Passion was a very enigmatic production by NDC Wales in the way that the story was told to the audience. In this Michael McCarthy production, the stage was empty and dark, with the only design being a blue ladder leading up to the sky in the middle, and a long yellow curtain draped behind them,…
Many regard Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviatato be one of the most famous and adored operas of all time, though with myself a true novice to opera it was interesting to attend this production by the Welsh National Opera with no prior knowledge or expectations of this opera. The first act had a clever opening which drew…
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