• Welsh National Opera embarks on its Eternal Light series, offering audiences an opportunity to explore and delight in the operas of Austria and Germany. New productions of Beethoven’s Fidelio, Johan Strauss’s Die Fledermaus and Mozart’s Così fan tutte set the scene; there are also revivals of Neil Armfield’s production of Ariadne auf Naxos and Dominic Cooke’s production of The Magic Flute, inspired by the masters of Surrealism. The operas of Austria and Germany are sometimes unfairly regarded as less attractive than their Italian counterparts. From 2010, WNO puts the spotlight firmly back on operas from this repertoire, emphasising the compelling stories they have to tell and the extraordinary music that brings these stories to life.

• WNO’s new Music Director Lothar Koenigs conducts Fidelio, Ariadne auf Naxos and Puccini’s Turandot in the new season. Koenigs received huge critical acclaim for his first season as WNO’s Music Director in Autumn 2009. "(He) brings a crackling precise eccentricity to the constantly astonishing score, and the orchestral playing and choral singing are superlative." (The Daily Telegraph on Wozzeck, Autumn 2009).

• International artists new to WNO this season include the renowned director and choreographer Giuseppe Frigeni, who will direct and design a new production of Beethoven’s Fidelio. Frigeni worked for many years with Robert Wilson as co-director and choreographer on opera productions as well as video projects and installations, including a new production of Orfeo at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, for the 2009/10 season.

• Sarah Connolly returns to WNO to sing The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos. Sarah made her opera debut with WNO in 1994 in a production of Der Rosenkavalier. WNO also welcomes back Rebecca Evans, who makes her role debut as Liù in a revival of Christopher Alden’s production of Turandot. Gwyn Hughes Jones makes his role debut as Manrico in a revival of Il trovatore.

• A new generation of designers and directors is being nurtured by WNO from 2010. Benjamin Davis directs his first mainscale opera for WNO with a new production of Così fan tutte. The designer is Max Jones, who has worked regularly with the Company on pieces beyond the mainstage after winning the Linbury Biennial Prize for Stage Design in 2001.

AUTUMN

FIDELIO Beethoven - New Production
17, 25 September, 1 and 8 October at 7.15pm
Sung in German with English and Welsh surtitles

Beethoven’s only opera is a rousing, triumphant affirmation of his belief that the most important human qualities – love, courage and kindness – can exist in even the most inhuman of conditions. WNO Music Director Lothar Koenigs, acclaimed for his interpretations of German repertoire, will conduct Guiseppe Frigeni’s powerful production of Fidelio.

Leonore Lisa Milne
Florestan Dennis O’Neill
Rocco Clive Bayley (until 22 Oct) Petros Magoulas (from 22 Oct)
Don Pizarro Robert Hayward (until 22 Oct) Phillip Joll (from 5 Nov)
Marzelline Elizabeth Donovan
Jaquino Robin Tritschler

Conductor Lothar Koenigs (ex 20 & 22 Oct) Anthony Negus (20 & 22 Oct)
Director Giuseppe Frigeni
Designer Giuseppe Frigeni
Lighting Designer Giuseppe Frigeni
Costume Amélie Hass
Music Staff

On hire from Opéra National de Bordeaux
Supported by the Friends of WNO

THE MAGIC FLUTE Mozart - Revival
24 September, 2 and 6 October at 7.15pm and Sunday 26th September at 4pm
Sung in English with English and Welsh surtitles

Mozart’s joyous extravaganza contains some of his most beautiful music. Director Dominic Cooke’s fantastical, fun production is a feast for the imagination. This production will transport you to a world of flying fish, dancing animals and sinister monsters.

Tamino Peter Wedd
Pamina Elizabeth Watts
Papageno Neal Davies (until 6 Nov) David Stout (from the 11 Nov)
Sarastro Tim Mirfin
Queen of the Night Laure Meloy
First Lady Camilla Roberts
Second Lady Carolyn Dobbin
Third Lady Joanne Thomas
Speaker Eddie Wade

Conductor Gareth Jones (ex 1-14 Nov) James Southall (1-14 Nov)
Director Dominic Cooke
Set Designer Julian Crouch
Costume Designer Kevin Pollard
Lighting Designer Chris Davey
Original Movement Sue Lefton

ARIADNE AUF NAXOS Richard Strauss - Revival
7 and 9 October at 7.15pm
Sung in German with English and Welsh surtitles

Ariadne auf Naxos is one of Richard Strauss’s finest achievements. Strauss masterfully combines deeply moving, tragic opera with boisterous comedy to create an exquisite celebration of the power of music. Lothar Koenigs conducts a cast including acclaimed mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly who makes her UK debut in this role.

Ariadne Orla Boylan
Composer Sarah Connolly
Zerbinetta Gillian Keith
Music Master Robert Poulton
Dancing Master Stephen Rooke
Major-Domo Eric Roberts
Naiad Mary-Jean O’Doherty
Dryad Patricia Orr
Echo Joanne Boag
Harlequin Owen Webb
Saramuccio Aled Hall
Truffaldino Julian Close
Brighella Wynne Evans

Conductor Lothar Koenigs (ex 19 Oct) Simon Phillippo (19 Oct)
Director Neil Armfield
Revival Driector Denni Sayers
Set Designer Dale Ferguson
Lighting Designer Tim Mitchell
Choreographer Denni Sayers

SPRING

DIE FLEDERMAUS Johann Strauss II - New Production
12, 19, 25 February, 3 and 5 March at 7.15pm and Sunday 27 February at 4pm
Sung in English with English and Welsh surtitles

The Waltz king Johann Strauss II’s comic operaetta is a delicious Viennese treat, filled with sumptuous music. Celebrated director John Copley’s new period set production promises to create an evening of opulence, elegance and sheer frivolity.

Rosalinde Nuccia Focile
Eisenstein Mark Stone
Falke David Stout
Adele Joanne Boag
Orlofsky Helen Lepalaan
Alfred Paul Charles Clarke

Conductor Thomas Roesner
Director John Copley
Set Designer Tim Reed

Supported by the WNO Partnership

IL TROVATORE Verdi - Revival
24, 26 February 1 and 4 March at 7.15pm
Sung in Italian with English and Welsh surtitles

Peter Watson’s period production returns with celebrated Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones making his role debut as Manrico. Following his acclaimed performances as Iago in Otello, David Kempster returns to WNO to tackle another great Verdian villain.

Leonora Katia Pellegrino
Manrico Gwyn Hughes Jones
Count Di Luna David Kempster
Azucena Patricia Bardon
Ferrando David Soar

Conductor Andrea Licata
Director Peter Watson
Set Designer Tim Hatley
Lighting Designer Davy Cunningham
Fight Director Denis Agnew

Production originated at Scottish Opera
Supported by the WNO Idloes Owen Society

SUMMER

COSI FAN TUTTE Mozart - New Production
20, 27 May 2 and 4 June at 7.15pm
Sung in Italian with English and Welsh surtitles

Benjamin Davis directs his first new production with the Company, working with designer Max Jones, on his first main scale production with WNO. A cast of talented rising young singers has been brought together for this seaside-set production including Gary Griffiths making his company debut as Guglielmo, the very same role in which Bryn Terfel made his WNO debut in 1990.

Fiordiligi Camilla Roberts
Dorabella Anne-Marie Gibbons
Ferrando Robin Tritschler
Guglielmo Gary Griffiths
Don Alfonso Neil Davies
Despina Charlotte Ellett

Conductor Daniele Rustioni
Director Benjamin Davies
Set Designer Max Jones
Costume Designer Max Jones

Sponsored by Associated British Ports

TURANDOT Puccini - Revival
28, 31 May, 3 June at 7.15pm and Sunday 5 June at 4pm
Sung in Italian with English and Welsh surtitles

Christopher Alden’s spectacular, potent production sets the opera firmly in the 20th century creating a portrait of society suffocated by a brutal regime. Rebecca Evans makes her role debut as Liù and Lothar Koenigs conducts.

Calaf Gwyn Hughes Jones
Liù Rebbecca Evans

Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Director Christopher Alden
Set Designer Paul Steinberg
Lighting Designer Heather Carson
Wigs and Make up Peter Owen

Sponsored by WNO Sponsors’ Group

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