Idloes Owen (1895 – 1954)

Co-Founder, Conductor, General Manager and Musical Director of Welsh National Opera

In December 1943, against the backdrop of World War II, Idloes Owen met with 28 of his students, friends and acquaintances to discuss the formation of a grand opera company for Wales. One month later, they held their first rehearsal and just a couple of years later were ready for their professional debut. On 15th April 1946, Welsh National Opera opened its doors to the public for the 1st time with a double-bill of Cavalleria rusticana, conducted by Owen and I Pagliacci. 60-odd years later, we’re still here and we’re stronger than ever.

That Owen was in a position to establish an opera company was more by chance than design. Born in 1895 to a mining family, Owen had followed his father down the pit aged 12. It was only after being diagnosed with tuberculosis and being forced to withdraw from the mines, that Owen was free to pursue his real passion, music. Supported by his local community, who staged a benefit concert to raise the money to pay for his education, Owen was able to study for 3 years at the University of South Wales and Monmouth.

20 years later he became the driving force behind the formation of Welsh National Opera. By this time his musical credentials were excellent. Not only was he a composer, arranger and conductor, he was also considered possibly the finest singing teacher in Wales (Geraint Evans was one of his pupils). As Musical Director of Welsh National Opera he united these talents and helped establish the company we are today, a world-class opera company of national and international recognition.

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