Welsh National Opera - Cardiff | 19 April 2021 |
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Performance reviews
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Les vêpres siciliennesWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 14 | ![]() ![]() |
Carlo Rizzi’s conducting and WNO’s chorus make Les vêpres siciliennes a worthwhile experience |
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A passion for patriarchy |
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Director David Poultney, never afraid to take risks, pulls out all the stops this time |
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An uneven production that ranges from dreary to inspired |
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Episode II des Vêpres siciliennes de Verdi (en français) : Cardiff! |
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Valiant attempt but WNO’s new Les vȇpres siciliennes can’t quite persuade one of its merits |
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David Pountney offers adventurous staging of laborious Verdi grand opera |
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Verdi takes on the French at Cardiff |
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Theatricality and spectacle in Verdi's grand opera |
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Disappointing final instalment of David Pountney’s Verdi trilogy |
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Welsh National Opera tackles Les Vêpres siciliennes but the vocal fireworks fail to ignite |
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A visual triumph |
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Spectacle and a lusty chorus fail to salvage this Verdi dud |
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Welsh National Opera tackles Les Vêpres siciliennes but the vocal fireworks fail to ignite |
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associated articles [+]
Verdi opera: Conductor stops performance over 'phone miscreants'
A conductor has twice stopped an opera in Cardiff after mobile phones rang in the audience.
A conductor has twice stopped an opera in Cardiff after mobile phones rang in the audience.
CarmenWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 11 | ![]() ![]() |
WNO revival of Carmen in Cardiff |
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Audiences will be divided on this modern day treatment |
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Carmen is a thrilling watch for an opera first-timer as much as it is for a connoisseur |
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Virginie Verrez captivates in WNO's Carmen at the Birmingham Hippodrome |
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Tomáš Hanus’s conducting is a highlight of WNO’s new Carmen in Llandudno |
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A new production of Bizet’s iconic operatic sizzler Carmen rightly arouses much interest |
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Welsh National Opera's powerful new production is a triumph |
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Carmen becomes a gun-toting revolutionary gun runner |
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Welsh National Opera delivers a Carmen for our times — riveting and emotional |
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Can't tie me down |
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WNO unleashes free spirit on Brazil's favelas |
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Le nozze di FigaroWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
WNO’s Figaro revival crackles with humour and exudes joie de vivre |
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The Cunning Little VixenWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
David Pountney's nearly 40-year=old production polishes up magnificently |
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In the pit, Tomas Hanus shows flair and mastery in Janáček’s distinctive idiom |
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Sizeable Llandudno audience rewarded with memorable performance of WNO’s Cunning Little Vixen |
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Welsh National Opera revive glorious Cunning Little Vixen |
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Everything falls into place in WNO’s superb revival of The Cunning Little Vixen |
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RigolettoWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() ![]() |
Welsh National Opera's stunning modern take on Rigoletto |
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Predatory power and privilege in WNO's Rigoletto |
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A White House Rigoletto with some impressive voices at Welsh National Opera |
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Verdi meets #MeToo in steamy story of sex, love and revenge |
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Fine singing but Verdi’s seminal musical masterpiece deserves better than this WNO Rigoletto |
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Wonderfully sung and politically astute |
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WNO’s Rigoletto production now feels pointless and distracting, but is saved by its musical virtues |
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War and PeaceWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 23 | ![]() ![]() |
A work ranging from the intensity of personal emotion to the grit of national determination |
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The cast are in beautiful sound and the set is dynamic enough to hold attention |
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David Pountney’s farewell flourish, War and Peace, held up well in its transfer to Covent Garden |
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For all the faults of Prokofiev's huge opera, this performance was a superb company achievement |
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Pountney feeds musical and visual values into the staging very successfully |
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Welsh National Opera’s spectacularly successful War and Peace comes to Covent Garden |
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A stirring War and Peace by WNO at Covent Garden |
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Welsh National Opera comes to London to parade its wares |
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Fundamentally, though all was not perfect and one or two choices were puzzling, the WNO showed it can be done |
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A masterpiece gets a rare and vibrant showcase in the West |
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A bold season opener |
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The orchestra under Tomáš Hanus is a wonder |
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A glorious vehicle for the Welsh National Opera Chorus |
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WNO’s stirring production of Prokofiev’s unwieldy theatrical epic rewards ambition |
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Ferocious intensity: David Pountney's new War and Peace at Welsh National Opera |
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Rendered with timely brilliance |
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Not quite a masterpiece but a great aural and visual spectacle |
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An epic evening of music theatre |
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A rare glimpse of Prokofiev's epic opera in a mammoth new production by WNO |
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This faithful staging of Prokofiev’s propaganda epic is as awe-inspiring as the spire of Salisbury Cathedral |
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Whatever the constraints, Pountney and his team give us a grand four-hour show sung in English |
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A magnificent production of Prokofiev's flawed opera |
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Ferocity and passion in Prokofiev's rare opera |
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Roberto DevereuxWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | ![]() ![]() |
Roberto Devereux en tournée au Royaume |
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Some outstanding singing gives pleasure in WNO’s spidery Roberto Devereux |
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Steam-punk & virtuosity |
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A powerful and emotion-filled show |
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Killer queen |
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Joyce El-Khoury shines as Donizetti's Tudor queen in Welsh National Opera's Roberto Devereux |
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Though not for arachnophobes, WNO’s Roberto Devereux is graced by some top-class singing |
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A stunning revival for Welsh National Opera’s take on Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux |
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A hideous staging, but my, what singing |
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Die ZauberflöteWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | ![]() ![]() |
Une Magic Flute très britannique |
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A refreshing and fun presentation for the whole family |
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WNO’s scintillatingly sung and played The Magic Flute deserved a new staging |
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The cast really do it justice |
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It’s hard to imagine a more ideal Pamina than Anita Watson |
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A most enjoyable performance of this well-known and popular opera |
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WNO’s limited The Magic Flute production gets redeemed by some excellent singing |
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Bowler hats and lobsters: WNO's surreal Magic Flute returns |
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Un Ballo in MascheraWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 14 | ![]() ![]() |
WNO’s very well sung Un ballo in maschera in Llandudno |
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This production was full of energy and originality |
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In essence, lots of lovely music to enjoy, but rather too much in the way of distracting detail on stage |
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Clever stuff, and often intriguing, but occasionally baffling |
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Spectacular, ghoulish flair |
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Dancing with Mr D |
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Make no bones about it: WNO’s forces are the best Verdians this side of the Alps |
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Much to admire, musically and visually, in David Pountney’s WNO Un ballo in maschera premiere |
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A tongue-in-cheek staging to be sure, but none the worse for that |
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Ballo II, the American cut: an indigestible staging by David Pountney for WNO |
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Mary Elizabeth Williams, as Amelia, gives a finely nuanced and musically exquisite performance |
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Terrific gory fun with pirates, witchcraft and murder |
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A lively spectacle filled with punch and energy |
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A jolly good show |
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La CenerentolaWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | ![]() |
Cinderella goes to the panto |
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WNO’s enjoyable Cenerentola has a rare operatic happy ending |
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WNO’s La Cenerentola is frothy and delightful, with some superb singing |
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WNO’s La Cenerentola makes us laugh, think and feel |
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Wit, warmth and vocal agility |
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“Once upon a time” |
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Welsh National Opera’s Rossini staging needs help but fine singing saves the day |
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La TraviataWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
McVicar's Traviata is still darkly impressive |
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In her beginning is her end: Welsh National Opera's La traviata in Southampton |
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No gimmicks just sheer professionalism from McVicar’s Traviata |
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A fine return of a favourite work |
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This production from the WNO was incredibly well done |
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McVicar’s Traviata for WNO tells the story well and moves an audience as it should |
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Don GiovanniWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | ![]() ![]() |
A fast-moving WNO Don Giovanni keep singers and audience on their toes |
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An intelligently directed production |
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This is a Don Giovanni as Mozart and Da Ponte intended, and would recognise and enjoy |
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A memorable production |
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WNO’s urgent and thought-provoking Don Giovanni |
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The singers live and breathe the melodramatic spirit of John Caird’s very dark production |
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Gavan Ring's Don Giovanni shows much promise |
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A thrilling Don Giovanni at Welsh National Opera |
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Has John Caird’s 2011 production improved with this revival? |
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La Forza del DestinoWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 16 | ![]() ![]() |
Despite the production’s limitations and gimmicks, musically La forza was memorable |
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In the end, it’s best to just feel the force of the sublime music and song |
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WNO's Wheel of Destiny rolls into Birmingham |
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The Welsh National Opera’s production was a spectacle |
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La fuerza de Preziosilla |
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In the orchestra pit, Carlo Rizzi drives Verdi’s music forward with lyrical eloquence |
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David Pountney stages one of his finest ever productions for Welsh National Opera |
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Say your prayers |
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The lead trio is wonderfully cast |
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WNO's new production of Verdi's massive opera is a musical triumph |
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WNO’s new La forza del destino packs a considerable punch |
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News & Articles
Happy 75th birthday Welsh National Opera |
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Welsh National Opera cancels spring tour |
Welsh National Opera (WNO) has cancelled its forthcoming Spring tour of Il trovatore and The Barber of Seville. |
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Welsh National Opera 2019/20 season announced |
Welsh National Opera has announced its programme for 2019/20, with highlights including Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s Rigoletto and Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen. |
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