Tag: opera

Features, Interview, Music

In Conversation with Opera Director, Daisy Evans

It is an interesting time for Opera.┬á What audiences nowadays expect and desire from the arts has meant that the elitism associated with Opera, along with its outdated themes and morals, are no longer accepted by a new wave of arts fans.┬á The recent decision made by Arts Council England to slash funding of leading Opera organisations such as Glyndebourne and English National Opera proves … Continue reading In Conversation with Opera Director, Daisy Evans

sophierevell
Arts Reviews, Live Reviews

Review: Welsh National Opera’s The Magic Flute at Wales Millenium Center

Words by Cyntia Sudomir MozartÔÇÖs fairy tale with subversive symbolism comes to life once again at the Wales Millennium Centre, this time with Daisy EvansÔÇÖ contemporary twist. In a nutshell, we follow Prince Tamino and the bird-catcher Papageno on a mission to retrieve Princess Pamina from Sarastro, the King of Day and PaminaÔÇÖs cerebral-celebratory father, who whisked her away from The Queen of the Night, … Continue reading Review: Welsh National Opera’s The Magic Flute at Wales Millenium Center

Contributing Writer
Features, Live Reviews

Review: Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs La Boh├¿me

25th September 2022 at Wales Millennium Center Words by Billy Edwards I was at first nervous about seeing La┬áBoheme┬ábecause of┬áitÔÇÖs very nature as an opera. As I had never seen one before,┬áyou could forgive me for feeling nervous about it. The public perception of the form signifies a certain stuffiness, held only in esteem by the oldest generations and ÔÇô daresay ÔÇôconsisting of long, boring … Continue reading Review: Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs La Boh├¿me

Contributing Writer
Culture

Rigoletto at the Millennium Centre: WNO embraces the #MeToo movement in iconic new setting of VerdiÔÇÖs masterpiece | Review

by Andrea Gaini Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà Ôÿà The Welsh National Opera is well-known for bold and often politically active productions, and this yearÔÇÖs Autumn Season is especially rich of sensational themes with both Carmen and Rigoletto carrying powerful messages. James MacDonaldÔÇÖs adaptation of Rigoletto to the KennedyÔÇÖs era embraces the core ideologies and beliefs shared by the #MeToo movement in retelling the story of the … Continue reading Rigoletto at the Millennium Centre: WNO embraces the #MeToo movement in iconic new setting of VerdiÔÇÖs masterpiece | Review

Sofia Brizio
Culture

Review | The Cunning Little Vixen

By Neus Forner ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà The Cunning Little Vixen is a Czech opera by Leo┼í Jan├í─ìek that follows the story of Vixen Sharp-Ears as she figures out life in the forest. We see her being captured by the forester, learning about feminist independence, falling in love and having many little vixens, and dying in the hands of another forester. This three-act opera is extremely entertaining. From … Continue reading Review | The Cunning Little Vixen

Neus Forner
Culture

Carmen | Review

By Dolunay Dogahan A rather intriguing mix of a band consisting of guitar, percussion and the saxophone sets the mood for this intimate act of BizetÔÇÖs Carmen in the YMCA. Orchestrated by Stephen McNeff and played by the Cardiff University Operatic Society, the play rises above the expectations from an all student cast. If it wasnÔÇÖt for the unfortunate venue with the restrictively small stage … Continue reading Carmen | Review

mellynch
Culture

War and Peace | Review

By Ilona Cabral ÔÿàÔÿà David PountneyÔÇÖs new production of Mendelson and Prokofievs Operatic version of War and Peace is certainly interesting. Honestly, even in reflection I simply cannot decide which genre it appeared most like: an opera, a farce or a pantomime. Certainly, the attempt to condense this tombe into a successful three-hour opera was a truly admirable challenge. A challenge that, I feel, the … Continue reading War and Peace | Review

mellynch
Culture

Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Vittoria Zerbini This year, the Cardiff University Operatic Society (CUOS) has decided to stage Acis and Galatea by H├ñndel as their yearly production. Acis and Galatea is an opera that, since 1718, has encountered much success and many adaptations, even from big names of the music scene such as Mozart, who staged his vision of the pastoral opera in 1788. Acis and Galatea … Continue reading Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

andreagaini
Culture

“Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

by Vittoria Zerbini The Cardiff University Operatic Society has, ever since its emergence, staged many concerts. A few examples are the 2011 H├ñndelÔÇÖs Messiah or the 2014 Mozart’s Die Zauberfl├Âte. This yearÔÇÖs production is a nod to the societyÔÇÖs beginnings with H├ñndelÔÇÖs Acis and Galatea. Acis and Galatea was written between 1717 and 1718 by H├ñndel, who composed the music, and John Gay, who wrote … Continue reading “Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

andreagaini
Culture

Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà A delightful opera season could not have been ended in a better way by the Welsh National Opera. If La Forza del Destino and Tosca were two great productions, Don Giovanni was simply greater in every sense. MozartÔÇÖs beautiful composition was highlighted and honoured with an all-round gorgeous creation at the Wales Millennium Centre. The opera focuses on the life of … Continue reading Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

andreagaini
Culture

The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini RossiniÔÇÖs The Barber of Seville is one of the wittiest and most entertaining operas in history. Its rhythmed music and comical libretto give life to the story of Count Almaviva and his love for Rosina. The plot is a quite entangled and complicated one, made of trickeries, undelivered and lost letters, serenades, a barber, and a happy ending. The Swansea City … Continue reading The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

andreagaini
Culture

Tosca review – a fair revival to Puccini’s masterpiece

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Wales Millennium Centre, 09/02/2018 Pictures by: Richard Huber Smith After Madam Butterfly and La Boh├¿me, the Welsh National Opera finished off the Puccini tour-de-force they had started last year, with a representation of the beautiful Tosca. One of the three most famous operas by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, Tosca is truly a musical masterpiece. His music is lovely, carrying the … Continue reading Tosca review – a fair revival to Puccini’s masterpiece

andreagaini
Culture

La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Wales Millennium Centre, 02/02/2018 What is destiny? Is there a way to make things go right? Is GodÔÇÖs forgiveness all we need to live a peaceful life? These are some of the questions Giuseppe VerdiÔÇÖs La Forza del Destino sparked in my head after yesterdayÔÇÖs performance at the Wales Millennium Centre. A night delighted by the presence of his Highness the … Continue reading La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

andreagaini
Culture

Review: Madam Butterfly, Wales Millennium Centre

Madam Butterfly is the powerful opera by Giacomo Puccini which depicts the story of Cio-Cio-San or ‘Madam Butterfly’ who partakes in an arranged marriage with Lieutenant Pinkerton. The marriage is one of convenience for Pinkerton but Butterfly falls in love with him and the marriage and Butterfly’s story ends in tragedy. The set and design for the opera was intricate but simple at the same … Continue reading Review: Madam Butterfly, Wales Millennium Centre

bethangirdlermaslen
Culture

Preview: Welsh National Opera, Kiss Me, Kate

ÔÇ£1940s Baltimore and itÔÇÖs opÔÇÖninÔÇÖ night of a musical version of┬áThe Taming of the Shrew. Rehearsals are over, costumes donned and thereÔÇÖs a 10 minute curtain call. What youÔÇÖre about to witness is a whole lot more than ShakespeareÔÇÖs comic love storyÔǪÔÇØ Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs Autumn season featured three productions inspired by William Shakespeare, as part of the official Shakespeare 400 celebrations to commemorate the … Continue reading Preview: Welsh National Opera, Kiss Me, Kate

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Verdi’s Nabucco, St. David’s Hall

Award winning director Ellen Kent graced Cardiff with her tour of VerdiÔÇÖs Nabucco this week. The storyÔÇÖs libretto is studded with themes of jealously, revenge and suffering, amid both a romantic and a political plotline. The audience followed the opression of the Jews through their exile by King Nabucco, whilst his oldest daughter Abigaille struggled with unrequited love, and is handed her true origins as … Continue reading Review: Verdi’s Nabucco, St. David’s Hall

Hannah Hopkins
Culture

Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.

BizetÔÇÖs gracefully hypnotic, four act opera, Carmen, hit the stage of St DavidÔÇÖs Hall this week and its success was evidently exemplified by the roaring applause upon the final curtain of the performance. The opera revealed a spectacular degree of d├®cor with an all- inclusive account of highly qualified opera stars, multitudes of colorful clothing and just to top it off, a real donkey walking … Continue reading Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.

georgecaulton
Wicked the musical in the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff during Spring 2014
Culture

Hidden Gems for the Curious Student

Culture editors Jasmine Freeman and Elouise Hobbs bring you ten of CardiffÔÇÖs cultural treasures you wish you knew about. Go unearth them! I want to do something different Ever fancied watching an opera? Well, the Welsh National Opera offers 50 ┬ú5 tickets in the top three price bands for Under 30s for every performance. What’s more, for some performances there are free Pre-Performance Talks that … Continue reading Hidden Gems for the Curious Student

Sum Sze Tam
Culture

Fallen Women, Falling Myths

With the beginning of the Welsh National OperaÔÇÖs new season; ÔÇÿFallen WomenÔÇÖ, in Wales Millennium Centre next week, the subject of operaÔÇÖs place in the young adultÔÇÖs life is questioned. Jordan Nicholls takes us through some of the myths that have popped up around opera, and why theyÔÇÖre false. Many young adults are culturally curious, and enjoy activities such as trips to the museum and … Continue reading Fallen Women, Falling Myths

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