Welsh National Opera
@WelshNatOpera
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WNO is ready to show you something extraordinary. Let us open your eyes to opera... Cymraeg @OperaCenCymru
Cardiff, Wales and tour
Joined March 2009
The stage is our canvas. There is nothing like the power of opera to bring extraordinary stories to life. Be part of ours - take your seat and join us for an unforgettable experience. 🎥👉
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To show our support of @Cymru's campaign @FIFAWorldCup, we've recorded a special rendition of @DafyddIwan's Yma o Hyd with #WNOchorus and WNO Associate Artist @DafyddAllen #TogetherStronger #ArBenYByd
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‘I don’t like opera’ .‘Which operas have you seen?’.‘I haven’t seen any’.‘So how do you know you don’t like opera?’.‘…(silence)’. Introduce someone to opera this year. #TuesdayThoughts.
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Following recent reduction in ACE funding, we have made the difficult decision that WNO will no longer tour to Liverpool. We are deeply disappointed, having toured to the city since the 60s, and would like to thank @LiverpoolEmpire and our audiences for the support over the years
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On the occasion of Welsh National Opera's 75th anniversary His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, our Patron of over 20 years, reflects on our history and his association with the Company. To watch his message in full, visit #WNO75 #WNOhistory
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We are not the only one celebrating a birthday today. Penblwydd Hapus to our @PrideCymru co-star @TheRealLukevans #WNO75
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Last week on the @vmas @taylorswift13 announced her new album, but did you know that this American icon has opera in her blood?. Swift’s grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, was an American opera singer and her operatic vocals are even sampled on Swift’s track ‘Marjorie’
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We are delighted to announce that internationally renowned Opera and Theatre Director Adele Thomas and visionary Creative Producer from The Royal Opera, Sarah Crabtree will jointly take up the role of WNO’s General Director & CEO from next year. Read more👉
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Gwahoddiad or 'Mi Glywaf Dyner Lais' [I hear a tender voice], is a staple in every Welsh Choir's repertoire. As a thank you to our incredible NHS workers, here's a special rendition of this Welsh hymn of American origin, by #WNOchorus #ClapfortheNHS.
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'This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us.' This moment brought #WNOchorus, #WNOorchestra and @TheRealLukevans together to celebrate @PrideCymru. Start #YourPride with our rendition of @QueenWillRock's Who Wants to Live Forever #WNOpride.
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We are devastated to hear about the untimely passing of Andrew Greenwood. He was a much loved part of Welsh National Opera, joining us as Chorus Master in 1984 and subsequently conducting over 125 performances for the Company. Our thoughts are with his family at this time
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Llongyfarchiadau | Congratulations to our wonderful Conductor Laureate, @CarloRizziMusic!🎉. Today Carlo was admitted to the Gorsedd @eisteddfod, and recognised for his commitments to #Wales and the Welsh language. Well done, Carlo!.#steddfod2023
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To celebrate WNO's 75th anniversary we take a walk through history, from our humble origins in Llandaf to @theCentre, culminating in a performance of Easter Hymn from our first production, Cavalleria rusticana, with @camrobsop, conducted by James Southall
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Huge congratulations to WNO Artistic Director David Pountney who receives a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours this year. A great accolade in recognition of an extraordinary contribution to the world of opera.
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‘Here Comes The Sun. ’ from their homes to yours. Members of WNO Orchestra perform a special arrangement of The Beatles’ 1969 hit -.Composer: George Harrison .Arrangement: Paul Campbell.Video: @TyCerdd_org
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An open letter to the Arts Council of England from conductor and Music Director of Welsh National Opera, Tomáš Hanus 👉
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For many of our audience members, Ian Douglas, our Company Manager, is the face of WNO. Now, after 45 incredible years, Ian is entering retirement, bow tie in tow. Today, as we bid farewell, we dedicate our social media to Ian and his WNO legacy. We will miss you, Ian
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Goodbye, Death in Venice 😭. After sold-out shows, standing ovations and rave reviews, we’ve sadly reached our final performance. Join us at @brumhippodrome tonight for one last dance with the powers of obsession and desire. 🎟️ Available on our website. #WNOvenice #Birmingham
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We are pleased to confirm that we have been able to reopen our digital installation, Field #WNOField
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On what would have been his 99th birthday, we remember the late, great Sir Geraint Evans, the sensational Welsh singer admired for his portrayal of Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro and Papageno in The Magic Flute #WNOhistory #otd
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We're delighted that His Majesty King Charles III will continue as our Patron. His Majesty has supported us for many years at performances and behind the scenes, with a keen interest in WNO Youth Opera. His support means a lot to the Company, especially in such difficult times.
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‘When I was choosing a song for WNO to perform with @TheRealLukevans, I wanted something that upholds the message of diversity and inclusivity. We at WNO certainly won’t be denied the chance to spread the message of love far and wide' .#WNOpride #YourPride
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It was #onthisday in 1946 that Welsh National Opera gave its first fully-staged performances – Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Cardiff. This was the culmination of three years hard work by a small group of people #WNO75 #WNOhistory
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To celebrate #StarWarsTheLastJedi We challenge you to a game of Star Wars Opera. What have you got? We'll kick start. Madam Jabba the Hutt-erfly #StarWarsOperas
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We are delighted to announce the launch of a new programme, specifically for women that offers one aspiring conductor, age 19 – 35 years, a residency post with WNO. Visit our website for more information and to apply. #WNOwomen .
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Today should have marked the first day of our Autumn 2020 Season @theCentre. We can't wait to get back to what we do best - performing for you. If you are in a position to help secure our future, you can donate at
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'We are thrilled that on our 21st birthday, we've managed to work with WNO. Not only that but to have the talented @TheRealLukevans add his voice. We are proud to showcase Wales, its culture and heritage as part of @PrideCymru' @RJK1701 Patron, Pride Cymru
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Welsh National Opera announces Aidan Lang as its new General Director from July 2019:.
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We are delighted to have won the Achievement in Opera award for the Artistic Leadership of David Pountney and Tomáš Hanus at the #UKTawards yesterday. Congratulations to everyone on their success.
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We are saddened to learn of the death of the wonderful bass-baritone, Keel Watson. We enjoyed working with Keel many times over the years, most recently in our productions of Madam Butterfly and Barber of Seville. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
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Wishing a huge pob lwc | good luck to #WNOorchestra bassoonist, @llinoselinowen, who is representing #TeamGB in the Paracanoe European Championships today! . Sending all our love from #Wales to #Portugal!
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Our opening night of Death in Venice @thecentre was incredible. 🎉. and today we get to do it all again. 🎟️ Available on our website. #WNOvenice
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Sound the klaxon, @cardiffsinger returns next week. Enjoy every note of the competition on @BBCFOUR4 @BBCRadio3 @BBCRadioCymru and @BBCiPlayer throughout the week. #WNOorchestra and @MC_Conductor accompany the Round 1 and 3 main prize contestants from @stdavidshall
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Without government support 70% of UK theatres and performing arts businesses will run out of cash by the end of the year #SupportOurUKTheatres
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WNO General Director, @aidanlangopera, talks to The Guardian about the recent Arts Council England cuts. Read more at
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We've had the time of our lives on our Candide tour!. While we’re sad it's over, we’d like to wish a huge congratulations to all who worked on this show and give a big thank you to our wonderful audiences for welcoming us so warmly into your theatres across Wales and England.
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468 days since our last live opera performance and we are gearing up for opening night. @Will_Todd_Music and Maggie Gottlieb’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (production by @operahollandpk) opens @ntdyffryn tonight - toi toi toi to all involved #WNOalice
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It’s Steve Baldini from @BBCOne’s Keeping Faith, otherwise known as our friend @marklewisjones #WNO75
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Huge congratulations to our @WNOtweet Chorus for winning Chorus of the Year at #OperaAwards #Toscars.
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The sensational #WNOorchestra returns to your screens this Saturday, accompanying one of Wales' leading sopranos - @rhianlois - in a new series for @S4C - Miwisg fy Mywyd [The Music of My Life]. 8pm. English subtitles available
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We're going live! This month WNO returns to live performances with @operahollandpk’s production of @Will_Todd_Music’s magical family opera, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, featuring @fflurwyn, @NTDyffrynG. More information at #WNOalice #artsareopen
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In light of the current situation in Ukraine, our thoughts are with our wonderful Don Giovanni, baritone @KymachAndrei and his family back home
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Llongyfarchiadau | Congratulations to the wonderful @RebeccaEvansSop on being awarded a CBE for her services to the arts in Wales as part of the Queens Birthday Honours List. Brava!
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We are thrilled to welcome over 600 hundred school children from the local area to The Magic Flute dress rehearsal @theCentre today #WNOmagicflute
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WNO Orchestra will perform a very special concert performance of Tosca @llangollen_Eist starring @Bryn_Terfel .
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Llongyfarchiadau | Congratulations to @mchaletrumpet from #WNOorchestra on being awarded a BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. This is a richly deserved honour in recognition of your outstanding contribution to music
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Freddie Mercury died #onthisday in 1991. To celebrate his contribution to music, enjoy our rendition of @QueenWillRock's Who Wants to Live Forever with @TheRealLukevans, recorded especially for @PrideCymru #WalesHIVTestingWeek
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A huge congratulations to our new Peter Grimes, @nickythespence who has been shortlisted in this year’s #RPSAwards 🎉. Good luck, Nicky!.@RoyalPhilSoc #WNOpetergrimes
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Today we welcomed hundreds of Key Stage 2 students to our very first Schools Concert @theCentre. These concerts allow us to give children the opportunity to engage with opera and classical music, possibly for the very first time. It was especially wonderful to welcome @WG_Culture
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Today is our 77th birthday!. From our humble origins in #Llandaff, Cardiff, to our current home @theCentre, we’re celebrating today with a #throwback to our performance of Easter Hymn, from Cavalleria rusticana – the very first opera we performed. Watch at
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Steve Speirs thought opera was posh and he wouldn't understand a thing. So WNO showed him what it is really about.
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Tonight @AnushH_Soprano Hovhannisyan makes her WNO debut in #WNOtraviata as the beautiful courtesan, Violetta
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Congratulations to WNO Producer Jennifer Hill who's been recognised @LottoGoodCauses 2020 Portrait of the People Exhibition for her exceptional work with #WNOcradle, whose online sessions during #COVID19 have been a lifeline for people with dementia and their carers #ThankstoYou
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Spread the word – WNO are looking for a Female Conductor in Residence to join us for an 18 month residency. Visit our website for more information and how to apply. #WomenInClassicalMusic .
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We've always believed that we have the best Chorus in the world and we couldn't be prouder to hear about their latest achievement. Llongyfarchiadau | Congratulations #WNOchorus on your @TheOperaAwards #OperaAwards2021 nomination
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We may have an international status, but we are proud to sit at the heart of music-making in Wales. This #StDavidsDay we explore our Welsh Connections
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Specially commissioned from National Poet of Wales @iforapglyn, Intermezzo traces Welsh National Opera’s transformation over the last 75 years, reflects on the current situation and gives hope for a ‘brighter stage’ for the future #WNO75
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Toi Toi Toi to everyone who has worked so hard to get War and Peace ready for opening night. #WNOWarpeace
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Huge congratulations to @bryn_terfel on receiving a knighthood in the New Years Honours list 2017. We’re immensely proud #sirbryn.
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One of WNO Company Manager Ian Douglas' career highlights happened @BristolHipp. In 2006, due to illness, Ian strode onto the stage to announce that @Bryn_Terfel was to perform The Flying Dutchman that evening. Apparently it took 15 minutes for the audience to settle! #WNOhistory
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Today is #WorldAIDSDay. To mark this day, and as the last rendition in our Three Letters project, we’re releasing a special version of La mamma morta, with #WNOorchestra, soprano @camrobsop and @nathanieljhall from @Channel4’s It’s a Sin. 🎥👉 @CardiffFTC
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We are heartbroken to hear the news that our dear friend and colleague Jack O’Kelly has passed away. A great character and personality within #WNOchorus for nearly 40 years, he will be sorely missed by us all. Our thoughts are with his family.
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It is with great regret, we announce that WNO’s Autumn 2020 tour is cancelled due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Read our full statement at
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We are proudly flying the suffragette flag all the way to Sadlers Wells, London this evening for the @TheOperaAwards, where our thigh-slapping romp, Rhondda Rips It Up! is nominated in the Best Production Category for works premiering in 2018. Good luck to everyone nominated
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Diolch @SeneddWales for inviting #WNOyouthopera to perform at the Official Opening of the Sixth Senedd today. An incredible opportunity for our dedicated young performers.
Her Majesty The Queen and Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attend the Official Opening of the Sixth Senedd.
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Remembering our dear friend and colleague, Andrew Greenwood
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It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. This week we finally return to live performances with @operahollandpk’s ★★★★★ production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland @NTDyffrynG. We can’t wait to welcome you all to Wonderland #WNOalice
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We had a great day celebrating the opening of the Vulcan @AmgueddfaCymru 🎉. #WNOchorus sang traditional #Welsh and #Irish folk songs to celebrate the building's history, and were honoured to be a part of this wonderful event.
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'Look out 'cause here I come', with a @GreatestShowman showstopper, featuring @WelshWestEnd stars @maredwilliams97 and @TomHier_, @RoyalWelshMT alongside #WNOchorus and #WNOorchestra, to celebrate @PrideCymru #WNOpride #YourPride @theCentre @floating_earth
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Madam Butterfly is one of the world's most popular operas. How would you describe it in 3 words? #WNObutterfly
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Today we are observing a social media blackout in full support of the black community.-.#blackouttuesday #theshowmustbepaused
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What an incredible opening night!🎉. A huge llongyfarchiadau | congratulations to our wonderful cast, Orchestra, Chorus and crew for last night’s opening of Il trittico @thecentre. Looking forward to another week of performances next week!.🎟️Available on our website. #WNOtrittico
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Having performed 100+ operas in the most famous opera houses and concert halls around the globe, in a career spanning almost 40 years, @CarloRizziMusic is one of the world’s leading opera conductors and today he turns 60 - Buon compleanno Maestro!
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Did you know that Puccini's Tosca premiered #onthisday in Rome in 1900? Fast forward 55 years and WNO took on its very first production at Swansea's Empire Theatre, produced by Norman Jones and featuring Kyra Vane and Walter Midgley as Tosca and Cavaradossi #WNOhistory
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Happy #WorldOperaDay! This annual celebration is a reminder of the huge power of opera and the arts to entertain, touch lives and create change. In 2020 more than ever, this feels like a message we can't afford to stop shouting about
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Happy World Theatre Day! 🎭. Today, we’re celebrating our lovely home, @thecentre. With one of the largest stages in Europe and its striking bilingual inscription, we moved into this impressive #theatre in 2004, and it’s been our home ever since! 🎉.#WorldTheatreDay
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WNO Orchestra and @CarloRizziMusic are back @theCentre, preparing for @RWCMD's closed Opera Gala tomorrow afternoon #WNOorchestra
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“The stars of the show, are undoubtedly the justly famed Welsh National Opera Chorus” #WNOblaze #WNOchorus.
★★★★★ Review: Blaze of Glory! – New work set among a fractured mining community affirms the healing power of music @theCentre
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We are deeply saddened to hear that our friend and former WNO Head of Music, Julian Smith, has passed away. Julian was a devoted member of WNO who conducted many performances, including Joachim Herz's production of Madam Butterfly. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.
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We can’t wait to be back on the road this Autumn. Will you be joining us for The Barber of Seville and/or Madam Butterfly? If so, at which of our beautiful venues? #WNOontour
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It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. After two and a half Seasons of silence, we are back on stage tonight, opening our Autumn 2021 Season @theCentre with Rossini’s The Barber of Seville #WNObarber #WNOontour #artsareopen
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Missing WNO Orchestra? Hear them perform Beethoven's first two Symphonies, conducted by Mark Wigglesworth, live from Cardiff's Hoddinott Hall @BBCRadio3 on Tuesday 16 March at 7.30pm #WNOorchestra
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Did you know that #opera singers don’t use microphones?. The talented singers are trained to project their voices in an unique way so that it can be heard over the sound of an orchestra, and throughout an auditorium.
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It’s a very special day for us and @theCentre. Today marks 18 years since our very first performance at #Wales Millennium Centre. We performed La traviata in the wonderful theatre we now call our home #onthisday in 2005. Read more about our history at
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It’s our birthday! 🎂. Whether it’s helping schools to provide music education, community singing groups or our touring programme, we’re proud to bring opera and classical music to communities across the UK. Read more about our history 👉
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We are here to smash these pre-conceptions.1. Opera is expensive - Tickets start at £10.2. Opera is posh - You can wear a ball gown or a bath towel .3. Opera is confusing - There are surtitles as well as programmes to help.4. Opera is boring.
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We are delighted to announce that Rhondda Rips It Up! has been nominated for a @SkyArts Award. Congratulations to fellow nominees @E_N_O and @GarsingtonOpera #WNOrhondda
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If you could sing any aria from any opera which would it be? We think that we’d feel invincible singing The Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute.
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Opera is expensive, posh and you won’t understand a thing. If that’s what you think, why not watch this mythbusting video with @SteveSpeirs4 where his misconceptions about opera are shattered #WNOgetintoopera.
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Well look at that - a fabulous 5 star review for Rhondda Rips It Up! from @thetimes. Thank you to all who supported us with this production. Who’s coming to see it this Summer as it tours Wales and England? #WNOrhondda
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Meet Marlowe, our Associate Repetiteur 👋. We caught up with Marlowe during our #WNOcosi dress rehearsal to hear all about the fortepiano, which he plays in this production. Make sure you listen out for this instrument @mayflower on Thursday!.🎟️ Available on our website.
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We did it!. Our first Season back on stage has successfully come to an end. A big thank you to everyone who made it possible (you know who you are) and a big thank you to everyone who came to see us. It felt great to be back performing for you all
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