Photo: La traviata by Julian Guidera
Welsh National Opera’s (WNO) Autumn Season, which comes to Mayflower Theatre from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 November, includes productions Ainadamar, La traviata and Play Opera Live.
Flamenco and poetry meet opera as Welsh National Opera’s Autumn Season opens on Wednesday 22 November with the Welsh premiere of Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov’s, Ainadamar.
A co-production with Opera Ventures, Scottish Opera. Detroit Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, the UK stage premiere was delivered by Scottish Opera in Autumn 2022 to wide critical acclaim. Sung in Spanish – a first for WNO – the twice-Grammy winning work reimagines the life of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca as an artistic martyr through a flashback of memories by his muse and collaborator, the actress Margarita Xirgu.
In the director’s chair is internationally renowned and Olivier award-winning Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker (Rio 2016 Olympics, Cirque du Soleil) whose approach promises a colourful spectacle of music, dance, and theatre. Ainadamar combines classical opera and traditional flamenco to tell Lorca’s story.
Matthew Kofi Waldren returns to WNO to conduct Ainadamar, following a triumphant run of Migrations with the Company in Summer and Autumn 2022. Led by a trio of female voices, the international cast includes Argentinian soprano Jaquelina Livieri (Margarita Xirgu) and Polish mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp (Federico García Lorca).
Joining the two is the rising star, Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong (Nuria), who has recently been crowned Cardiff Singer Dame Kiri TeKanawa Audience Prize winner, as well as Andalucian flamenco singer Alfredo Tejada (Ruiz Alonso). The cast also includes Annie Reilly (Niña 1) and WNO’s new Associate Artist Beca Davies (Niña 2).
Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s much-loved opera La traviata returns to WNO on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 November, with Sarah Crisp directing. Based on Alexandre Dumas fils’ novel, La Dame aux Camélias, the story is a classic tale of thwarted love, scandal and self-sacrifice.
Conducted by Alexander Joel, the production will feature Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume making her WNO debut as the elegant courtesan Violetta Valéry who faces the choice of giving up her glamorous lifestyle for true love with the penniless aristocratic poet Alfredo Germont played by Korean tenor David Junghoon Kim. Also joining the cast is American bass-baritone Mark S Doss, returning to WNO to sing the role of Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father.
WNO will continue with its much-loved concert series for families, Play Opera LIVE, blasting off with a space-themed show presented by Tom Redmond. The concert will provide a fresh take on opera and classical music, including orchestral playing, song and performance. Free foyer activities will be available before each performance.
Play Opera LIVE comes to Southampton on the 25 November along with the main tour.
Tickets for the Autumn season of Welsh National Opera (Wednesday 22– Saturday 25 November 2023) are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.
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