Welsh National Opera’s 2024/2025 Season promises exciting productions, diverse concerts, and engaging outreach programs. Highlights include:
- Directed by Adele Thomas.
- Conductor: Pietro Rizzo.
- Cardiff premiere on September 21, touring to Llandudno, Plymouth, Oxford, and Southampton.
- Features Daniel Luis de Vicente as Rigoletto, Leonardo Capalbo as The Duke, and Soraya Mafi as Gilda.
- Production showcases emotions and Verdi’s iconic melodies.
Il trittico | Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi:
- Conducted by Alexander Joel.
- Soprano Natalya Romaniw joins for Suor Angelica and Giorgetta.
- Baritone Aluda Todua sings Michele and the title role in Gianni Schicchi.
- Touring to Llandudno, Plymouth, and Southampton in October and November, with a concert performance in Oxford.
Opera Favourites:
- WNO Orchestra and Chorus perform Opera at the Movies, featuring popular arias from films.
- Concerts in Cardiff, Llandudno, Plymouth, and Southampton.
Viennese Tour:
- WNO Orchestra’s New Year concert tour, A Viennese Celebration, led by Concertmaster David Adams.
National Opera Studio:
- Annual showcase featuring new talent accompanied by WNO Orchestra on February 2.
- Directed by Max Hoehn, opening in Cardiff on February 6, touring to Swansea, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Llandudno, and Plymouth.
- Conducted by Kerem Hasan, starring Christina Gansch as Susanna, Harriet Eyley as Cherubino, Giorgio Caoduro as Count Almaviva, and Michael Mofidian as Figaro.
- Ralph Koltai’s designs and Sue Blane’s costumes enrich the production.
- Conducted by Tomáš Hanus, a new production starring Nicky Spence in the title role and Dame Sarah Connolly as Auntie.
- Opening in Cardiff on April 5, touring to Southampton, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Llandudno, and Plymouth.
Summer Tour:
- Details to be announced later.
Outreach and Engagement:
- Programs like Wellness with WNO, Cradle Choir, Teach, and Schools Concerts continue throughout the year.
- Interactive family show with a ‘magnificent music from stage and screen’ theme.
- Opening in Swansea on March 1, followed by performances in Cardiff, Southampton, Llandudno, and Plymouth.
WNO Youth Opera 20th Anniversary:
- Celebratory production, “Panig! Attack!!,” composed by Dan Perkin, showcasing the talent of young singers.
- Performances at the New Theatre, Cardiff, on April 26.
Cwta | In Short – The Marriage of Figaro:
- Condensed version of The Marriage of Figaro for newcomers, offered to school groups and music service groups in Cardiff, Llandudno, Southampton, Birmingham, and Milton Keynes in April and May.
WNO Interim General Director Christopher Barron expresses excitement about the diverse offerings, from acclaimed productions to youth talent celebrations, ensuring a vibrant and engaging opera season.
