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.....