WNO SPRING PREVIEW
The Welsh National Opera will be continuing its Verdi trilogy this spring season with the centrepiece of the trio and another explosive production. This time out, matters concern the true story of the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, Un Ballo In Maschera (Sat 9 Feb).
With Artistic Director David Pountney back at the helm before leaving the WNO this summer, he once again teams up with Conductor Laureate Carlo Rizzi. Fans of the WNO’s previous Verdi outing La forza del destino can be sure to expect another emotional evening of music and drama, passion and pomp.
Heading up the cast as the rousing, romantic Riccardo is Anglesey man Gwyn Hughes Jones, whose illustrious career has seen him represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer Of The World and perform at many of the world’s grandest opera houses, from New York to Paris, before returning to Anglesey to oversee the musical direction of the gala concert for the National Eisteddfod.
But perhaps even more intense this spring, will be the WNO’s retelling of Gaetano Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux (Thurs 28 Feb and Sat 2 Mar), a treasonous tale of love and redemption, during the era of Queen Elizabeth I. The Italian composer’s opera, written in 1837, features spinetingling melodies and a heartbreaking ending. This production will boast exquisite design, with costumes inspired by Vivienne Westwood. Expect plentiful drama.
Those looking for a more fantastical experience this spring, however, can opt instead for Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Fri 15, Sun 17, Sun 24, Wed 27 and Fri 1 Mar). An explosion of colour and sound, Mozart’s penultimate opera is rarely performed in its full original vision with all of the composer’s stage directions, even though most performances hew quite closely to the music.
Ben Johnson takes the lead role as the eponymous flautist, Tamino, as he sets off on an adventure to rescue the beautiful Pamina (Anita Watson) from the evil Sarastro (James Platt), accompanied by bird-catcher Papageno (Mark Stone and Gareth Brynmor John) having been coaxed by the music world’s original Queen Of The Night, played by Anna Siminska. And if those colourful characters or the dizzying design is not enough to give you a hangover… just wait for The Magic Flute’s twist. JONATHAN SUTTON
Wales National Opera Spring Season, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Sat 9 Feb-Sat 2 Mar. Tickets: £12.50-£49.50. Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk
words Jon Sutton