"As the curtain rises for a new season of memorable operas, ABP is proud to share centre stage with WNO as it continues its long-standing support for the company at this exciting time."

(Mr Bo Lerenius, Group Chief Executive, ABP, February 2005)

As the longest standing current corporate sponsor of WNO, ABP has enjoyed a partnership with the company for just over sixteen years. As the country's leading and largest ports group, with over 21 ports in the UK, ABP's unique relationship with WNO has not only been integral to the arts and community activities in South Wales, but throughout the UK. This year, ABP was sponsor of WNO's inaugural season in Cardiff and was one of the principal sponsors of WNO's Celebratory Gala at the Wales Millennium Centre ('WMC'), as well as being the. Supporting the community work of WNO, ABP recently engaged with the local community in song, music and drama in a project culminating in one of WNO's biggest community performances to date. The Most Beautiful Man from the Sea was a World Premiere, a magical and inspirational story which involved a 500 strong choir of local people drawn from across South Wales who performed with the entire orchestra of WNO and members of the WNO chorus.

One increasingly important part of the relationship is ABP's ongoing and highly active staff involvement initiative supported by specially created newsletters.  ABP staff frequently attend WNO performances and often bring their children to workshops and family days organised through WNO MAX, WNO's dedicated Education, Community and Outreach programme. As well as fulfilling key corporate social responsibility objectives, ABP's staff involvement programme reinforces the existing relationship and serves to enrich the cultural life of its employees through unrivalled access to world-class opera.  To date over 200 ABP staff have been involved in this programme.

WNO's relationship with ABP has been invaluable, not only because of its long-term sustainability, but because of the quality and flexibility of the partnership. Both companies enjoy enviable reputations, both nationally and internationally. Given WNO's and ABP's positions as flagship enterprises in Cardiff Bay, sponsorship has enabled them to play complementary roles as commercial and cultural and commercial ambassadors for Wales. The longevity of the relationship is a true testament of WNO's 'can-do' approach and willingness to work with sponsors to form a real and sustainable partnership towards common objectives and agreed target