Welsh National Opera 2012/13

[Chris Newman]

A loud thud on my door mat this morning signified the arrival of Welsh National's new Prospectus for the 2012/13 season. Interestingly it came with a sampler CD of music and introductory talks. Some works are continuing from this season and there are some goodies amongst new and revived productions:

Puccini: La Boheme (new)

Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte (revival)

Handel: Jephta (revival)

Berg: Lulu (new)

Janacek: The Cunning Little Vixen (revival)

Puccini: Madama Butterfly (revival)

Wagner: Lohengrin (new)

Jonathan Harvey: Wagner Dream (new)

[VodkaDilc]

Same on my doormat - but no Lohengrin at Oxford!! Just Puccini, Mozart and Handel (yawn!).

(Small correction: my wonderful postman, sensing it might be something important, which should not be folded, knocked and gave it to me personally)

[french frank]

And look what I've just discovered pencilled in (?) for 2013/14:

Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, Roberto Devereux - Donizetti
Manon Lescaut - Puccini
Boulevard Solitude - Henze
Lohengrin - Wagner
Nabucco - Verdi
Moses und Aron - Schoenberg
Paul Bunyan - Britten

Really?

[jean]

I've seen their Jephtha twice, and it's very good.

But I wish they weren't doing it again when I'm about to see it in Buxton this Summer. Enough is enough.

Does anyone know anything about the Jonathan Harvey?

The Donizetti next season sounds very exciting, but there's no guarantee they'll bring it to Liverpool...they've been doing less and less here over the last few years.

[french frank]

The Donizetti next season sounds very exciting, but there's no guarantee they'll bring it to Liverpool...they've been doing less and less here over the last few years.

Same in Bristol - but for the Henze and Schoenberg I might plan a little holiday in Cardiff. (And for the Harvey if it doesn't come to Bristol)

[DracoM]

Well, in Liverpool, all they are doing is the Puccini/La Boheme, Handel and Mozart.
No Berg, no Wagner, nor Janacek. Big shame. BUT we have to be grateful oop north.

[french frank]

Well, in Liverpool, all they are doing is the Puccini/La Boheme, Handel and Mozart.
No Berg, no Wagner, nor Janacek. Big shame. BUT we have to be grateful oop north.

Well, I haven't managed to spot any performances in Bristol next spring - and they've already given up the summer visit. Surely that can't be right?

I know there was one year when they only came in the winter. Apparently their usual spring dates had been grabbed by some popular musical - as if that wasn't what the Hippodrome puts on most of the time.

(I feel like a Radio 3 jazz listener )

[french frank]

Looks like it's official.

Spring visits are to Cardiff, B'ham, Llandudno, Soton, M. Keynes and Plymouth.

Summer: Cardiff, B'ham.

And speaking as someone who makes a monthly donation to WNO, I am not happy.

[Chris Newman]

You'll have to all move to Southampton. We get the Berg and Janacek. I hope we get the Henze (gorgeous piece) and the Schoenberg.

[Richard Tarleton]

A very light thud on my mat this morning - a reminder about Tristan in May-June - yet another revival of the 1993 production which I saw twice, the first time memorably with Anne Evans. This time with Ben Heppner - a bit of a risk that, after his breakdown in ROH which I witnessed - poor bloke, it was agony. Also La Boheme. I wish WNO would give Puccini a long rest. About 10 years would be good. Their Vixen is lovely, last seem with Mackerras. Donizetti - all down to the singers.....

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

An attractive prospectus and I think some of the longer term plans are ambitious and welcome. I'll be keen to see Sophie Bevan in Vixen.

When WNO announced their plans several weeks ago, it was the Donizetti Tudor Queens cycle which struck me as most tempting. However, it will depend on how strongly they are able to cast it. Finding a soprano to take on the title role in Anna Bolena is difficult enough, but two others for Maria Stuarda and Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux is a big ask for WNO's casting department.

[Flosshilde]

A loud thud on my door mat this morning signified the arrival of Welsh National's new Prospectus for the 2012/13 season. Interestingly it came with a sampler CD of music and introductory talks. Some works are continuing from this season and there are some goodies amongst new and revived productions:

Puccini: La Boheme (new)

Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte (revival)

Handel: Jephta (revival)

Berg: Lulu (new)

Janacek: The Cunning Little Vixen (revival)

Puccini: Madama Butterfly (revival)

Wagner: Lohengrin (new)

Jonathan Harvey: Wagner Dream (new)

Golly, how I envy the Welsh - Scottish OPera's new season hasn't been announced yet, but I expect it will just be the 4-5 we've been getting recently. I do feel the Mr Salmond & the government aren't terribly comfortable with opera. I feel that if SO did some revivals instead of concentrating on new productions they might be able to manage a few more productions.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Does anyone know anything about the Jonathan Harvey?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBY3qJ9UU6U

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/mar/11/jonathan-harvey-wagner-dream-review

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/jan/30/wagner-dream-review

There was a concert performance by the BBCSO a couple of months ago: I don't think it has been broadcast (yet)?

http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=11830

[Mandryka]

I shall be surprised if Heppner makes those Tristan dates. He has been on the way out for a long time now, which is a great shame: at his best, he was very good indeed.

[Richard Tarleton]

I shall be surprised if Heppner makes those Tristan dates. He has been on the way out for a long time now, which is a great shame: at his best, he was very good indeed.

After the agony of the ROH, I'm surprised he's putting himself through it again. A glorious voice in his prime.