Welsh National Opera - Cardiff | 16 June 2024 |
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Performance reviews
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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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Conductor Carlo Rizzi brings about glorious musicianship |
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David Pountney turns this notoriously cumbersome opera into a taut thriller |
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Wheel of Fortune: Preziosilla spins Pountney's Force of Destiny |
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A jolly good stab at this unwieldy opera |
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Sprawling saga brought into sharper focus |
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ToscaWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | ![]() ![]() |
Claire Rutter is a suitably fiery Tosca |
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A striking new staging by David Pountney |
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Outstanding rendition of Tosca from Welsh National Opera |
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After 25 years, Blakemore’s WNO Tosca continues to serve the opera well |
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An uncomplicated, thrilling Tosca from WNO |
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Puccini's popular shocker, well revived for Welsh National Opera's Spring tour |
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Conductor Carlo Rizzi knows exactly what Puccini needs and he draws wonderful colours from Welsh National Opera’s orchestra |
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WNO’s Tosca has enough heart, guts and drama to enthral all tastes |
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Die FledermausWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() ![]() |
In general the production is enjoyable enough, but echt- Viennese it is not |
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Musically, Die Fledermaus is thoroughly high-spirited |
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It takes a long time for this show to truly seem like it’s getting anywhere |
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Sadness and loss, love and laughter |
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Music and singing ensures this WNO Fledermaus staging deserves Llongevity |
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John Copley’s production of Die Fledermaus retains its champagne sparkle |
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From the House of the DeadWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 13 | ![]() |
WNO’s blazing Janáček and Tchaikovsky with quite a lot taken out |
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A choreographic tour de force |
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Janáček’s score is played with aplomb by Welsh National Opera’s accomplished orchestra |
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Dazzling darkness |
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Rather a divided audience response for WNO’s from the House of the Dead |
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The WNO Orchestra performed wonders under Tomáš Hanus |
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An arresting From the House of the Dead at Welsh National Opera |
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Hugely powerful and strangely life affirming |
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Janáček's dark and devastating opera brilliantly revived by WNO |
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Welsh National Opera performs From the House of the Dead with unstinting commitment |
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Jolly? No. Unmissable? Yes |
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Imperfect, oddly shaped and rough round the edges, Janácek’s final opera is also raw and remarkable |
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Landmark staging demands to be heard |
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Eugene OneginWelsh National OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | ![]() ![]() |
WNO’s blazing Janáček and Tchaikovsky with quite a lot taken out |
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A convincing and satisfying reading of this popular opera |
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Natalya Romaniw and Nicholas Lester are both outstanding |
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As musically adept as one would expect from WNO |
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Sadness and loss, love and laughter |
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A very distinguished performance |
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![Welsh National Opera - Cardiff](/img/operacompanies/wno.jpg)
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Performance schedule
Puccini
15 to 22 Jun 2024
Verdi
21 Sep to 16 Nov 2024
Puccini
29 Sep to 13 Nov 2024
Mozart
6 Feb to 6 Jun 2025
Various
1 Mar to 8 Jun 2025
Britten
5 Apr to 7 Jun 2025
News & Articles
Welsh National Opera: Wales' top artists criticise cuts |
A protest letter, signed by the likes of Sir Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Michael Sheen and Ruth Jones, has been sent to First Minister Vaughan Gething. |
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Welsh National Opera drops shows over funding cuts |
The company has said it will not be touring to Llandudno or Bristol early next year because of "increasing financial challenges". |
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Behind the scenes at Welsh National Opera’s Death in Venice |
Britten’s atmospheric, strange and beautiful opera, the last he wrote, comes to life in this new production from Welsh National Opera in a collaboration with No Fit State Circus. |
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Welsh National Opera announces 2024-25 season |
The details announced include revival of Puccini’s Il trittico, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, two new productions, Verdi’s Rigoletto and Britten’s Peter Grimes and a new bilingual production to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of WNO Youth Opera. |
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Donald Maxwell joins board of Welsh National Opera |
Maxwell has been a professional opera singer for more than 45 years. He made his debut with WNO in 1982, and over the next 35 years, he has given over 500 performances with the Company in 30 different roles. |
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