Wagner Dream
"With our new production of Wagner ’s Lohengrin we pay tribute, in his anniversary year, to one of the most inspiring,controversial and significant figures of our European culture.
Wagner’s restless creative energy provoked him constantly to challenge the boundaries of musical, theatrical and spiritual possibility. Lohengrin already hints at the path that would lead him to Parsifal, and beyond that, to a vision of the Buddha which he did not live to compose.
This is the cue for Jonathan Harvey’s astonishing work, Wagner Dream which takes as its starting point Wagner’s preoccupation, in his dying days in Venice, with the Buddha, and the idea of renouncing the world and embracing a spiritual reality. Harvey, himself a Buddhist, has created an awe-inspiring score of great beauty and power, using primarily electronic means to evoke the scale and power of Wagner’s soundworld."
David Pountney
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Flights of Fancy
Jak Poore
14 May - 18 May
Sit onstage as a multi generational cast of over 60 performers take you on a nostalgic journey through the last 100 years of the Park and Dare Theatre, Treorchy, with an iconic soundtrack of hits from each decade performed by The Siren Sisters.
Treorchy
1 City -
David Pountney in conversation - Wagner Dream
WNO Extra
21 May
Join David Pountney as he talks with Philip Hensher, Independent columnist and novelist, about and his legacy in his biecentenary year. Hosted by Nicola Heywood-Thomas.
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The Whole Story - Wagner Dream
WNO Extra
22 May - 10 June
The perfect way to prepare for the Wagner Dream season. Our team of experts will expertly introduce you to the stories, music and background of each opera.
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Lohengrin
Richard Wagner
New Production
23 May - 15 June
Wagner Dream
This epic fairytale contains some of Wagner’s most beguiling and beautiful music.Nationwide
2 Cities -
Antony McDonald, Helen Cooper and Peter Wedd in conversation with Tom Service
24 May
The day after the first night, Director Antony McDonald, Associate Director Helen Cooper and Peter Wedd who sings Lohengrin, discuss WNO's new production of Wagner’s great opera - a sublime confrontation between good and evil set in an epic symphonic scale, at Hay Festival, Hay-on-wye.
1 City -
Madam Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini
28 May - 14 June
Joachim Herz's classic, sepia tinged production is like a beautiful old photograph. It is a nostalgic glimpse of a vanished world. Madam Butterfly promises a moving, breathtaking evening at the theatre.
Nationwide
7 Cities -
RS Thomas Centenary Series 3
30 May
This concert, at Hay Festival, Hay-on-wye, celebrates the centenary of the great Welsh Poet features William Matthias’ setting of The Seven Poems Of RS Thomas and Henry Purcell’s Abdelazer Suite. It is performed by WNO ensemble, directed by David Adams, with tenor Mark le Brocq
1 City -
Wagner Masterclass
WNO Extra
31 May
A special masterclass involving young singers setting out on exploring the music of this great composer.
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Wagner Dream
Jonathan Harvey
6 June - 12 June
Wagner Dream
Welsh National Opera is proud to present the UK staged première of the late Jonathan Harvey’s extraordinary opera. Wagner Dream is part biography, part fantasy that will transport you into another realm.Nationwide
2 Cities -
WNO Wind and Brass Ensembles - 28 June 2013
28 June
Strauss' glowing Symphony, Byrd's joyful March and the infectious West Side Story Suite is performed in contrast to Britten’s Russian Funeral Music, is an impassioned dedication to those fighting against fascism on the eve of WWII.
Cardiff
1 City