The Tudors - Welsh National Opera

Transcription

The Tudors - Welsh National Opera
3
Transform the
way you see
the world...
David Pountney introduces the new season
Our 2013/2014 season presents a huge journey
for us, the makers, and you, the audience.
The climb is steep, the path sometimes
challenging, but the views are spectacular.
That is why we want to lead you there!
In the autumn the trilogy of Italian works
based on our Tudor monarchs show how
some of the most iconic figures of our history
are transformed through the medium of Italian
music. These figures acquire a new emotional
immediacy through the breathtaking virtuosity
of Italian vocal style. This is history re-written as
histrionic vocal bravura – the giant characters
of Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn bursting out of
their Elizabethan portraits to dominate a stage
defined by visceral, Italian dramatic flair.
Front cover
Sir Howard Hodgkin 2012
Sir Howard Hodgkin is one of Britain’s
greatest living artists. We were delighted
when he created this unique painting for
us as part of our new visual identity.
Welsh National Opera would like to
thank Sir Howard for this contribution.
The spring brings another trilogy of works,
this time united by opera’s fascination with
women behaving badly. In the 19th century
the rule was that you could be titillated by a
woman’s outrageous behaviour for three acts,
provided that she died a miserable death in
the fourth, so that an appropriate moral lesson
could be drawn.
Today we focus instead on the intense
struggle waged by women who dared
seek the least vestige of independence,
and experience their downfall as a moving
personal tragedy. Their fate is part of
the journey that brought us to the more
equal society we enjoy today. The music
transforms our understanding of morality.
Music and religion have been linked since
the most primitive rituals were first enacted.
For a while in the 20th century religion
seemed on the verge of becoming a purely
personal question of belief. Now, suddenly,
it is right back on the national and
international political agenda. Two colossal
works by Verdi and Schoenberg explore the
power, the meaning and the consequences
of religious belief.
We are delighted to be performing
Moses und Aron at the Royal Opera House,
following performances in Cardiff and
Birmingham, which marks the start of
a three-year annual residency.
Young people are welcome on our journey
too, with specially devised programmes by
our community and education department
bringing alive the Tudor period, and exploring
the difficult issues behind the exploitation
of a vulnerable young girl in the Manon story.
And Lothar Koenigs’ highly imaginative
orchestra concert programmes throw
another light on these fascinating and
important themes. There is plenty of exquisite pleasure to be
had on the way, but we do not apologise for
the fact that this is a serious programme of
work. Opera is a big, expensive medium,
but it is also a forum of great ideas – ideas
that lie at the heart of our experience of
European civilisation.
Tune in, and let these great themes transform
the way you see the world.
David Pountney
Chief Executive and Artistic Director
4
Autumn 2013
See us in:
Cardiff
Swansea
Oxford
Liverpool
Bristol
Birmingham
Llandudno
Southampton
5
The Tudors:
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Donizetti
Summer 2014
See us in:
Cardiff
Birmingham
London
Tosca
Puccini
Spring 2014
See us in:
Cardiff
Birmingham
Milton Keynes
Southampton
Plymouth
Llandudno
Bristol
Fallen Women:
Manon Lescaut
Puccini
Boulevard Solitude
Henze
La traviata
Verdi
Os hoffech gael copi digidol o’r llyfryn hwn yn
Gymraeg, anfonwch e-bost marketing@wno.org.uk
neu ffoniwch 029 2063 5030
Faith:
Moses und Aron
Schoenberg
Nabucco
Verdi
British Firsts:
The Fall of the House
of Usher (Double Bill)
Getty/Debussy
August 2013
WNO Youth Opera
Cardiff
October 2013
Music Theatre Wales
Cardiff
Paul Bunyan
Britten
Greek
Turnage
The Tudors
Autumn 2013
One infamous dynasty
One composer
Three great operas
The trilogy of three operas by
Donizetti depicting incidents, invented
or otherwise, from the lives of our
Tudor monarchs, launches a series
that will each autumn examine aspects
of the genre known as Bel Canto –
“beautiful singing”, in this inaugural
season supported by the Peter Moores
Foundation Swansong Project –
a culmination of Peter’s longstanding
support for this area of repertoire.
This celebration of the expressive power
of song, and of the roots of the Italian
operatic style that gave so much to
the operatic tradition, will not only
delight lovers of the singer’s art, but
re-awaken our understanding of the
dramatic power of these essential
operas. All three works are dominated
by powerful and strikingly emotional
women, whose contrasted characters
are beautifully illustrated in the energy
and nuance of their very demanding
vocal lines. Anne Boleyn, Queen
Elizabeth and her deadly rival Mary
Stuart come to life in virtuoso portraits
of vocal display.
Linked by the theme of our common
heritage, the trilogy presents the
opportunity for “total immersion” in this
most enjoyable operatic style which so
aptly mirrors the grandeur, formality and
emotional intensity of the Tudor court.
David Pountney
8 Autumn 2013
The Tudors 9
Anna Bolena
Donizetti
“I am truly excited by the Anna Bolena
cast as I believe we will hear some
exceptionally beautiful voices!
I hope they will inspire our
audiences with their dramatically
intense performances as well as
virtuosic singing!”
Isabel Murphy
Director of Artistic Administration
New production
Anne is the original Boleyn girl. Few figures
in British history have dominated the
imaginations of writers, painters and film
directors quite like her. Donizetti’s re-imagining
of Anne’s final days in the scheming court of
Henry VIII is a touching one. It is a portrait of
an innocent stranded in a nest of vipers. You
will find it hard not to care deeply for her.
Director Alessandro Talevi’s production
will highlight personalities over pageantry,
and what personalities! Anna Bolena is an
exhilarating jewel of bel canto opera filled
with poignant arias and moving duets waiting
to be discovered by you.
wno.org.uk/tudors
Supported by a lead gift from
Swansong Project
Conductor Daniele Rustioni (until 6 Nov)
Andrew Greenwood (from 13 Nov)
Director Alessandro Talevi
Designer Madeleine Boyd
Lighting Designer Matthew Haskin
Cast includes
Anne Boleyn Serena Farnocchia (until 23 Oct)
Linda Richardson (from 6 Nov)
Henry VIII Alastair Miles
Jane Seymour Katharine Goeldner
Lord Percy Robert McPherson
Smeaton Faith Sherman
Lord Rocheford Daniel Grice
Lord Hervey Robert Lyn Evans
•All performances start at 7pm
•Running time approximately 3 hours 30 minutes
including one interval
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno)
10 Autumn 2013
The Tudors 11
Maria Stuarda
Donizetti
New production
What would have happened had Elizabeth I
and Mary Queen of Scots met face to face?
A thrilling imagining of this showdown is at
the heart of Maria Stuarda. Donizetti’s riveting
opera transports you to a Britain at war with
itself and overcome by uncertainty and strife.
Rudolf Frey’s production shines light on the
striking parallels between the two heroines:
the imprisoned Mary and Queen Elizabeth;
a woman shackled by the demands of office.
wno.org.uk/tudors
“Madeleine’s costume designs are
quirky twists on period dress.
We’re looking forward to bringing
them to life.”
Sian Price
Head of Costume
Conductor Graeme Jenkins (until 7 Nov)
Robin Newton (from 14 Nov)
Director Rudolf Frey
Designer Madeleine Boyd
Lighting Designer Matthew Haskin
Cast includes
Queen Elizabeth Judith Howarth
Mary Stuart Christine Rice
Leicester Bruce Sledge
Talbot Alastair Miles
Cecil Gary Griffiths
•All performances start at 7.15pm
(except 22 September at 4pm and 10 October at 7pm)
•Running time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
including one interval
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno)
Supported by a lead gift from
Swansong Project,
the WNO Friends and the
WNO Idloes Owen Society
12 Autumn 2013
Roberto
Devereux
Donizetti
The Tudors 13
“The process of setting up a production
on stage, of transforming a space is
like transforming a life. Will darkness
enlighten us and reveal all?”
Jan Michaelis
Technical Director
New production
Elizabeth I may rule the world but she does
not rule her own heart. When her favourite,
Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, is
threatened with charges of treason she
strives to save him. Should he ever be
arrested he simply has to present her ring
to ensure his freedom.
The public and the private clash with fatal
consequences in the trilogy’s final instalment
as Elizabeth’s grip on the throne begins to
loosen. Roberto Devereux is an explosive
operatic drama that enthrals throughout,
culminating in a shattering finale.
wno.org.uk/tudors
Supported by a lead gift from
Swansong Project
Conductor Daniele Rustioni (until 8 Nov)
Christian Capocaccia (from 15 Nov)
Director Alessandro Talevi
Designer Madeleine Boyd
Lighting Designer Matthew Haskin
Cast includes
Roberto Devereux Leonardo Capalbo
Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Deshorties
Sara the Duchess of Nottingham
Leah-Marian Jones
Duke of Nottingham David Kempster
Walter Raleigh William Robert Allenby
Cecil Geraint Dodd
•All performances start at 7.15pm
(except 6 October at 4pm and 11 October at 7pm)
•Running time approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
including one interval
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno)
14 Autumn 2013
The Tudors 15
Explore
The Tudors
WNO EXTRA
Make the most of The Tudors cycles with
these very special events.
the tudors and the national trust
Fact and Fiction
History has inspired great artists to create
thrilling re-imaginings of historical events.
Continue your journey with our dedicated
programme of concerts, events and extras
exploring each season’s theme.
The Tudors SEASON
Explorer packs
Book for two or more operas in the season
and receive this special pack of added extras:
•A copy of The Tudors programme
•A special Explore The Tudors CD with
extended extracts from all three operas
•Priority booking for The Tudors National
Trust events
Book for all three operas and receive
all the above plus:
•Free tickets to the Bel Canto Masters talk
•A complimentary glass of wine per person
prior to a performance of Roberto Devereux
WNO ORCHESTRA
Friday 1 November 2013 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Britten Sinfonia da Requiem
Britten The Courtly Dances from Gloriana
Shostakovich Symphony No 9
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tickets on sale May 2013
See page 44 for details
The Tudors leave the operatic stage to
dominate the concert hall with two works
inspired by the period. The concert also
pays tribute to Benjamin Britten in his
centenary year as well as his friendship
with Dmitri Shostakovich.
Explore with us and save money when you
book multiple operas together – see theatre
pages for details.
Set in the splendour of some of the finest
National Trust properties, Fact and Fiction
combines costumed operatic performances
with the perspectives of historians and
historical novelists.
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 5 October 2013
11.30am – 1pm & 2 – 3.30pm
Packwood House & Baddesley Clinton,
near Birmingham
Thursday 14 November 2013
11.30am – 1pm & 2 – 3.30pm
(Event takes place at Packwood House
but ticket also includes entry to
Baddesley Clinton).
Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens,
Anglesey
Thursday 21 November
11.30am – 1pm & 2 – 3.30pm
A Tudor Day Out
Visit two of the finest Tudor buildings on this
special coach trip to Speke Hall and Little
Moreton Hall, including lunch at Speke Hall.
Thursday 24 October
Leaving Liverpool Empire Theatre at 10am
and returning no later than 4.30pm
Priority will be given to audience members booking for
two operas or more and for National Trust members until
1 May 2013.
See theatre pages for full details.
Further events
Please check the theatre pages for details
of events taking place at your theatre.
Free pre-performance talks
Prior to every performance
of The Tudors operas.
The Whole Story
The perfect way to prepare for The Tudors.
Two weeks before performances begin, our
team of experts will guide you through the
music, stories and background to each opera.
Bel Canto Masters: Donizetti
As we begin our journey through the classics
of the bel canto repertoire, a specialist
speaker will provide a guide to the life and
work of Gaetano Donizetti.
At home with The Tudors
Explore The Tudor Merchant’s House in Tenby David Pountney in Conversation
with figures from the age of The Tudors.
David Pountney explores The Tudors theme
The House will be brought to life with the
with a key figure from the arts.
sounds of Donizetti’s operas during this hour
long experience.
Thursday 10 October at 11.30am,
1pm & 2.30pm
Supported by the WNO Orchestra Circle
In partnership with
the National Trust
16 Autumn 2013
Tosca
Puccini
Floria Tosca stands in shock, clutching a
dagger in her bloodstained hands. An hour
before she was singing hymns in church.
How did she come to this?
Tosca is a fast-paced operatic thriller.
From the first shattering bars Puccini’s
mastery puts you on the edge of your seat
and keeps you there. Michael Blakemore’s
classic period production returns with
American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams
and Austrian baritone Claudio Otelli making
their Welsh National Opera debuts.
New to opera? Tosca is the perfect place
to start. Join us for a special introduction
to opera before selected performances of
Tosca. See the theatre pages for details.
Tosca 17
“OK, so you know an aria from this?
Not enough! You’re missing out.
Blazing with dramatic music, the
Orchestra propels you towards
tragedy. Chorus? Magnificence in
Act 1, distant sadness in Act 2.
You’d better see it. Go on, jump...”
Peter Harrap
Chorus & Orchestra Director
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
(21 Sep; 15, 19 & 22 Oct; 12 & 16 Nov)
Simon Phillippo (28 Sept; 3, 8,12 & 26 Oct;
5, 9, 19, 23, 26 & 30 Nov)
Director Michael Blakemore
Designer Ashley Martin-Davis
Lighting Designer Mark Henderson
Cast includes
Floria Tosca Mary Elizabeth Williams
Mario Cavaradossi Gwyn Hughes Jones
Scarpia Claudio Otelli
Angelotti Daniel Grice
Sacristan William Robert Allenby
•All performances start at 7.15pm
(except 8 & 12 October at 7pm)
•Running time approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
including two intervals
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno)
•Co-production with State Opera of South Australia
Fallen Women
Spring 2014
Some of the most heartfelt
musical expression
of human sympathy
The obsession of 19th century music,
literature and the visual arts with she
who has strayed from the path –
(the literal translation of La traviata) –
may have embodied a degree of
hypocrisy, but it also inspired some of
the most heartfelt musical expression
of human sympathy. The hypocrisy lies
in permitting the audience the titillation
of watching a woman behaving badly
for three acts on the condition that she
points up the moral by dying miserably
in the fourth. The males in the audience
in 19th century Paris were not above
visiting such women themselves, but
they still demanded that their wives
and daughters were presented with
an elevating moral lesson.
The point about works of genius as
against run-of–the-mill followers of
fashion is that though they cannot
exist outside the Zeitgeist, they
nonetheless succeed in transcending
it with the power and uniqueness of
their artistic vision.
That is what makes Verdi’s La traviata
and Puccini’s Manon Lescaut such
emotionally convincing masterpieces:
within a conventional plot they find
an overwhelming strand of human
sympathy and understanding which lifts
these works onto a universal plane.
David Pountney
20 Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Puccini
New production
Manon has been seduced. As an
impressionable young woman she wanted
it all. She wanted to taste the tempting fruit
of adult life. Now just months later she has
discovered that the fruit is rotten at the core.
Does Manon have any chance of salvation?
Manon Lescaut is the classic Fallen Woman.
Puccini charts her rapid descent from
innocent to criminal with feverish intensity.
If you enjoy La bohème, Madam Butterfly
and Tosca you will want to explore Puccini’s
breakthrough hit and first great opera.
By setting this production in the
contemporary world we all recognise,
Mariusz Trelinski’s production brings this
breathless tale of obsession and selfdestruction urgently to life.
wno.org.uk/fallenwomen
Fallen Women 21
“I know whenever Puccini is in our
repertoire I need to bring tissues to
rehearsals, his music always moves
me to tears.”
Katie Heath-Jones
Deputy Stage Manager
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Director Mariusz Trelinski
Set Designer Boris Kudlicka
Costume Designer Magdalena Musial
Lighting Designer Felice Ross
Video Projections Bartek Macias
Choreographer Tomasz Wygoda
Cast includes
Manon Lescaut Chiara Taigi
Lescaut David Kempster
Chevalier des Grieux Gwyn Hughes Jones
Geronte di Ravoir Stephen Richardson
•All performances start at 7.15pm
•Running time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
including one interval
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff and Llandudno)
•Co-production with Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa,
Warsaw and the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie, Brussels
22 Spring 2014
Fallen Women 23
Boulevard
Solitude
Henze
New production
“Alongside Britten, Henze is surely
the most important representative
of opera in the 20th century.
Boulevard Solitude overflows
with sensuousness and subtlety.”
Lothar Koenigs
Music Director
Armand and Manon are penniless but in love.
A cruel world of 20th century capitalism and
corruption will soon shatter their happiness.
They will be left with nothing but memories
of happier days before they strayed onto
a boulevard of broken dreams.
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Director Mariusz Trelinski
Designer Boris Kudlicka
Lighting Designer Felice Ross
Video Designer Bartek Macias
Choreography Tomasz Wygoda
Henze’s potent 1950s updating of the
Manon story is a heady musical cocktail of
jazz, 19th century opera and 20th century
styles. It is an enveloping and immersive
cinematic vision of European society after
the war. This is a rare opportunity to
experience one of the greatest operas of
the last century. Join us for opera at its
most powerful and compelling.
Cast includes
Manon Lescaut Sarah Tynan
Armand des Grieux Peter Wedd
Lescaut Benjamin Bevan
Lilaque Pere Adrian Thompson
wno.org.uk/fallenwomen
•All performances start at 8pm
•Running time approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
with no interval
•Sung in English with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff and Llandudno)
24 Spring 2014
La traviata
Verdi
Giorgio Germont has made a terrible mistake.
Germont has realised that Violetta, the fallen
woman he drove away from his son, Alfredo,
was the best thing that will ever happen to
his inexperienced boy. His realisation comes
late in the day as Violetta’s health is getting
worse. Can he repair the damage before it’s
too late?
La traviata is an attack on hypocrisy. It is
also a life-affirming celebration of the fact that
essential human qualities like compassion,
love and self-sacrifice do exist. Most of
all, La traviata is deeply affecting. David
McVicar’s masterful production makes sure
that few leave the theatre with dry eyes.
New to opera? La traviata is the perfect
place to start. Join us for a special
introduction to opera before selected
performances of La traviata. See the
theatre pages for details.
wno.org.uk/fallenwomen
Supported by WNO Sponsors’ Group
Fallen Women 25
“I love this production because
of watching the effect that the
combination of a magical set, great
music and intense drama has on our
audience as they leave the theatre.”
Ian Douglas
Company Manager
Conductor Simon Phillippo
Director David McVicar
Designer Tanya McCallin
Lighting Designer Jennifer Tipton
Choreographer Andrew George
Cast includes
Violetta Valéry Georgia Jarman
Alfredo Germont Peter Sonn (until 1 March)
Leonardo Capalbo (from 4 March)
Giorgio Germont Alan Opie
•All performances start at 7.15pm
(except 16 February at 4pm)
•Running time approximately 2 hours 40 minutes
including two intervals
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff and Llandudno)
•Co-production with Scottish Opera and
Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona
26 Spring 2014
Fallen Women 27
Explore
Beyond the stage
Continue your journey with our dedicated
programme of concerts, events and extras
exploring each season’s theme.
Fallen Women explorer packs
Book for two or more operas in the season
and receive this special pack of added extras:
•A copy of the Fallen Women programme
•A complimentary glass of wine per person
for the performance of your choice
Book for all three operas and receive
all of the above plus:
•A copy of Abbé Prévost’s novel
Manon Lescaut
WNO ORCHESTRA
WNO EXTRA
Friday 17 January 2014 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Mezzo Soprano Sarah Connolly
Please check the theatre pages for details
of events taking place at your theatre.
Berg Lyric Suite
Wagner / Henze Wesendonck Lieder
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tickets on sale May 2013
See page 44 for details
An evening of potent and opulent music
paying tribute to great artistic muses who
inspired great composers.
Explore with us and save money when you
book multiple operas together – see theatre
pages for details.
Free pre-performance talks
Prior to every performance of Manon Lescaut
and Boulevard Solitude.
The Whole Story
The Whole Story is the perfect introduction
to the Fallen Women season. Before the
performances begin, our team of experts will
guide you through the music, stories and
background to each opera.
Literary inspirations
A special hour long talk looking at how the
season’s operas draw on classics by Dumas
and Prévost.
David Pountney in Conversation
David Pountney and a key figure from the
arts explore the Fallen Women theme.
Supported by the WNO Orchestra Circle
Faith
Summer 2014
A colossal subject,
illuminated by two
colossal works at the
opposite ends of the
operatic spectrum
A colossal subject, illuminated by
two colossal works at the opposite
ends of the operatic spectrum.
Nabucco was one of Verdi’s earliest
“hits”, and the world-wide recognition
rate of the famous chorus Va, pensiero
would dwarf anything written by
The Beatles! It is at the same time a
drama of exile, of the power of God
whose “moving finger” writes with
such lethal authority, and a telling
psychological study of a dysfunctional
family in which, as so often in Verdi,
a father/daughter relationship powers
its central human conflict.
Moses und Aron stands as one of the
mightiest musical statements of the
20th century, Schoenberg wrestling
with the existence of God, along with
his own musical and religious identity.
It was not an easy task for him, and
it remains a challenging one for us to
follow his complex musical language.
But the rewards of perseverance are
immense: quite simply, access to one
of the greatest musical minds of the
20th century. Those who follow the
journey to Moses’s anguished final
utterance: “Oh word, oh word that
I lack” have followed one of the most
powerful emotional, intellectual and
philosophical journeys that enrich our
European culture.
David Pountney
30 Summer 2014
Moses
und Aron
Schoenberg
New production
Imagine you’ve been told the most important
thing man has ever been told. What you have
been told will change the world and save
mankind. You must now share what you have
heard, you are God’s spokesperson on earth.
Imagine, however, that you are overcome with
despair that you find yourself unable to find
the right words to communicate God’s will.
Your brother takes on the role of mouthpiece
but he twists God’s words. This is Moses’s
tragedy in Moses und Aron.
It is impossible to listen to Schoenberg’s
masterpiece and not be stunned by his
achievement. Moses und Aron reaches to
the outer limits of what opera was capable of
in the last century. It’s a sound so unique, so
urgent that you might be forgiven for thinking
that it has come down from heaven itself.
Welsh National Opera is proud to stage this
rarely performed opera in Jossi Wieler and
Sergio Morabito’s highly charged production.
Moses und Aron is a huge undertaking for
both performers and audiences but the
rewards will be extraordinary.
wno.org.uk/faith
Faith 31
“Moses und Aron has been described
as ‘an absolutely unique conception’.
It is certainly an exciting challenge.
There is no doubt that it will be very
rewarding for the chorus to perform.
We started learning the score in the
autumn. The whole learning process
will have taken at least 18 months.
Worth it though I’m sure!”
Stephen Harris
Chorus Master
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Directors Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito
Designer Anna Viebrock
Original Lighting Designer Michael Alber
Cast includes
Moses Richard Angas
Aron Rainer Trost
A Young Maiden / First Naked Virgin
Elizabeth Atherton
A Young Man Alexander Sprague
Another Man / Ephraimite Daniel Grice
A Priest David Soar
•All performances start at 8pm except 25 & 26 July
•Running time approximately 1 hour 50 minutes
with no interval
•Sung in German with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff)
•Production originated at Stuttgart Opera
32 Summer 2014
Nabucco
Verdi
New production
When Nabucco is struck by lightning he
proclaims himself to be a god. Others think
he is a madman, a tyrant, yesterday’s news,
a father and possibly even a liberator. In the
final reckoning how will Nabucco be judged?
Faith 33
“Nabucco is a wonderful opera for the
Chorus and was initially responsible
for putting the company at the
forefront of British opera. The Chorus
of the Hebrew Slaves has for many
years been the signature tune of WNO”
Paul Gyton
Tenor, WNO Chorus
Conductor Xian Zhang (ex 8 June)
tbc (8 June)
Director Rudolf Frey
Designer Ben Baur
Costume Designers
Silke Willrett and Marc Weeger
Lighting Designer Reinhard Traub
Choreographer Beate Vollack
Best known for ‘Va, pensiero – The Chorus
of the Hebrew Slaves’, Nabucco is a rich
treasure by the young Verdi that all fans of
Cast includes
his work will want to discover. Nabucco is
Nabucco David Kempster
the operatic equivalent of a 1950s biblical
Hollywood epic with its rousing, soaring score. Abigaille Mary Elizabeth Williams
Zaccaria Kevin Short
We are delighted to present Nabucco once
Fenena Justina Gringyte
again as the company who re-introduced it
Ismaele Wynne Evans (ex 12 & 14 June)
to British audiences a century after it was
last performed on these shores. Rudolf Frey’s tbc (12 & 14 June)
High Priest David Soar
production set in the modern day puts
the WNO Chorus at the heart of the drama.
•All performances start at 7.15pm except 8 June at 4pm
Nabucco will send you home humming
•Running time approximately 2 hours 50 minutes
the tunes and tapping your feet for days
with one interval
to come.
•Sung in Italian with surtitles in English
wno.org.uk/faith
Supported by the WNO Partnership
(and Welsh in Cardiff)
•Co-production with Stuttgart Opera
34 Summer 2014
Faith 35
Explore Faith
Beyond the stage
Continue your journey with our dedicated
programme of concerts, events and extras
exploring each season’s theme.
FAITH Explorer packs
Book for both operas and receive this special
pack of added extras:
•A copy of the Faith programme
•Tickets to an exclusive special explorer event
Explore with us and save money when you
book multiple operas together – see theatre
pages for details.
WNO ORcHESTRA
WNO EXTRA
Friday 25 April 2014 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Please check the theatre pages for details
of events taking place at your theatre.
Messiaen L’Ascension
Bruckner Symphony No 8
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tickets on sale May 2013
See page 44 for details
Bruckner and Messiaen’s deeply held Catholic
faith enriches all of their work. This concert
brings these two great composers together
to create an evening of heartfelt and uplifting
music. Bruckner’s 8th Symphony is a towering
achievement which has to be experienced live
in a concert hall.
Supported by the WNO Orchestra Circle
Free pre-performance talks
Prior to every performance of Moses und Aron
and Nabucco.
The Whole Story
The Whole Story is the perfect introduction
to the Faith season. Before the performances
begin, our team of experts will guide you
through the music, stories and background
to each opera.
David Pountney in Conversation
David Pountney and a key figure from the
arts explore the Faith theme.
British Firsts
Summer 2014
An extraordinary
opportunity to re-engage
with contemporary
opera writing, and to
transform our perceptions
of new music
In Summer 2013, Jonathan Harvey’s
Wagner Dream launches our British
Firsts series which has been made
possible by a substantial grant from
the Getty family. The series will present
a total of five contemporary works over
the next five years which will all be
British stage premières. This gives
us an extraordinary opportunity
to re-engage with contemporary
opera writing, and to transform our
perceptions of new music.
This series, whose titles – from
Wagner Dream to Alice in Wonderland
reveal a love of fantasy and fairy tale,
will show us that we can enjoy modern
music and modern opera as part of our
normal cultural life, just as we enjoy
modern cinema, television, books or
fashion. It will open the doors to the
landscape of the new.
We hope to dispel two widespread
misconceptions. Firstly that modern
opera does not really exist. Nothing
could be further from the truth. There
is a massive amount of creative energy
in the artform, and new works are
constantly being created all over the
world. Secondly that such modern
opera as does exist is abstruse, remote,
and incomprehensible to a normal
audience. Whilst it is true that the hard
line modernism of the post war years,
in music as in architecture, alienated
many people, this is no longer the case.
Music being written today embraces
many different styles and is no longer
afraid to be audience friendly.
The British Firsts series includes:
Wagner Dream Jonathan Harvey 2013
La Chute de la Maison Usher Debussy
(Completed by Robert Orledge) 2014
Usher House Gordon Getty 2014
Peter Pan Richard Ayres 2015
Alice in Wonderland Unsuk Chin 2017
British Firsts is generously supported
by members of the Getty Family
38 Summer 2014
British Firsts 39
The Fall of the
House of Usher
Double bill
“What a thrill to have some new
Debussy to explore and to discover the
new sounds, rhythms and experiences
of a brand new work BY GORDON GETTY.
Refreshing, challenging and exciting.”
David Adams
Leader, WNO Orchestra
Based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe
Usher House Gordon Getty
World première
La Chute de la Maison Usher Debussy
Completed by Robert Orledge
British première of new version
Dare you enter the House of Usher? It’s a dark,
mysterious place, seemingly with a mind of
its own. In their one act operas Gordon Getty
and Claude Debussy bring Edgar Allan Poe’s
macabre tale to the operatic stage.
Both operas cast a magnificently oppressive
spell of menace and unease. Opera is
rarely associated with the chills of the horror
genre but this double bill achieves the nerve
shredding effect of the best horror films.
Step inside the House of Usher but look
out behind you.
Conductor Lawrence Foster
Director David Pountney
Designer Niki Turner
Video Designer David Haneke
Usher House cast includes
Roderick Usher Benjamin Bevan
Madeline Usher Anna Gorbachyova
Edgar Allan Poe Jason Bridges
Attendant Richard Angas
La Chute de la Maison Usher cast includes
Roderick Usher Robert Hayward
Lady Madeline Anna Gorbachyova
wno.org.uk/britishfirsts
•All performances start at 8pm except 15 June at 4pm
•Running time approximately 2 hours with one interval
•Usher House is sung in English with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff), La Chute de la Maison Usher
is sung in French with surtitles in English
(and Welsh in Cardiff)
•Usher House is a co-production with
San Francisco Opera
WNO Youth Opera 41
40 August 2013
Paul Bunyan
Britten
New production
Britten and Auden’s satirical take on the
American dream returns to the stage in
a colourful new production. To mark the
centenary of the birth of this great composer,
we present the first performances by the
acclaimed WNO Youth Opera in the Donald
Gordon Theatre. This spectacular staging
includes the forces of Only Boys Aloud.
If you have yet to experience the vibrancy
and excellence of WNO Youth Opera,
Paul Bunyan is the perfect opportunity.
Propelled forward by the dramatic presence
of the chorus, Britten’s operetta plays to the
strengths of this exceptional ensemble.
wno.org.uk/paulbunyan
Supported by The Atlantic Foundation,
the Britten-Pears Foundation,
The Idlewild Trust and the WNO Partnership
“Paul Bunyan is an opera I have loved
for years – Britten’s music is witty
and surprising. Watching the Youth
Opera bring it to life is going to
be really thrilling for me.”
Rhian Hutchings
WNO Max Director
Conductor Alice Farnham
Director Martin Constantine
Designer Cai Dyfan
Movement Director Jem Treays
•Performances start at 7.30pm except matinee
on 24 August at 2.30pm
•Running time approximately 2 hours 20 minutes
including one interval
•Paul Bunyan is sung in English
Music Theatre Wales 43
42 October 2013
Greek
Turnage
Music Theatre Wales’s production
presented by Welsh National Opera
‘An outstanding performance, fierce with
raw immediacy.’ The Observer
‘This is the best it’s ever been.’
The composer on this production
Greek is a visceral operatic adaptation of
Steven Berkoff’s updating of the Oedipus
myth. For one night only, we are delighted
to present Music Theatre Wales’s production
which won the 2011 TMA Theatre Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Opera. Music
Theatre Wales’s Greek is widely regarded
as the definitive production of one of the
key British operas of the last 30 years.
“Greek is a wonderful work,
one of the great successes of
20th century British opera, and it
is a huge enrichment to have this
excellent production from Music
Theatre Wales as an additional jewel
in our repertoire.”
David Pountney
Conductor Michael Rafferty
Director Michael McCarthy
Designer Simon Banham
Lighting Designer Ace McCarron
Cast includes
Eddy Marcus Farnsworth
Eddy’s Mum / Waitress / Sphinx Sally Silver
Eddy’s Sister / Waitress who becomes Eddy’s
Wife / Sphinx Louise Winter
Eddy’s Dad / Café Manager / Chief of Police
Gwion Thomas
•Performance starts at 8pm
•The performance lasts approximately
1 hour 50 minutes with one interval
•Sung in English
WNO Orchestra 45
44 WNO Orchestra
WNO Orchestra
At St David’s Hall
Music Director Lothar Koenigs and the
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera want to
share some extraordinary music with you.
This music may be less familiar than the
popular classics. However through their
conviction and passion, the orchestra prove
that it is no less moving, exhilarating or
beautiful. Lothar and the orchestra believe
deeply in this music. By spending a couple
of hours with them at St David’s Hall we are
sure you will too.
THE TUDORS
Friday 1 November 2013 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme
by Thomas Tallis
Britten Sinfonia da Requiem
Britten The Courtly Dances from Gloriana
Shostakovich Symphony No 9
FALLEN WOMEN
Friday 17 January 2014 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly
Berg Lyric Suite
Wagner / Henze Wesendonck Lieder
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
FAITH
Friday 25 April 2014 7.30pm
Conductor Lothar Koenigs
Supported by the WNO Orchestra Circle
Messiaen L’Ascension
Bruckner Symphony No 8
On sale May 2013
Take Part 47
46 Take Part
Transforming Lives
Opera can transform lives. Here are just some
of our projects in 2013/2014 that will help
people find the opera in their lives.
Find out more
wno.org.uk/takepart
029 2063 5062
COMMUNITY
Wrexham Street Songs
Over the past two years we’ve encouraged
the people of Wrexham to see opera in a
different way. We’ve done this by taking
opera into their daily lives. In year one, we
staged soap opera episodes across the town,
popping up in the shopping centre, pub,
market and bowling alley. You can see the
results at wno.org.uk/takepart
In year two we showed that music is just
what the doctor ordered. There has been
increasing evidence to support our belief
that music can help those in pain, and our
Singing Doctors initiative has seen singers
lifting the spirits of patients throughout
Wrexham’s hospital wards.
In this third and final year of the project
2013/2014, as part of the Faith season,
we will take residents on an operatic
adventure to discover the wonders of
their own town.
YOUNG PEOPLE
Streetwise Opera
Welsh National Opera is a creative partner of
Streetwise Opera. By offering homeless and
formerly homeless people in Cardiff a weekly
opera workshop we hope to give them a
dependable source of creative and inspiring
activity in the midst of chaotic circumstances.
Come and Sing
Over recent years our community singing
projects have brought together people from
different backgrounds and age groups
through a love of singing. This year we will
run a series of choral workshops exploring
choral highlights from the operas we are
performing. No singing experience or music
reading ability is necessary; you just need a
passion for singing. Visit wno.org.uk/takepart
for more details.
Tudors!
Tudors! is a creative adventure giving
primary school children a lively and engaging
first taste of opera. The project, which
accompanies The Tudors on the main
stage, will take children on a time-travelling
adventure to one of the most grisly periods
of British history. This final part of the project
will take place in National Trust properties as
part of our partnership.
Supported by WNO Friends
Fern Hill
Fern Hill is the latest project for the talented
members of WNO Singing Club. Over the
last few years, Singing Club has introduced
young people with a passion for music to
opera and has turned them into accomplished
performers. Fern Hill is a setting of Dylan
Thomas’ famous poem by composer Julian
Phillips in celebration of the birth of one of
Wales’ greatest writers.
Manon Project
The Manon Project takes the theme of our
Fallen Women season, the exploitation of
young women, to create a new opera for
teenagers. Composed by Errollyn Wallen,
the opera will give a voice to victims of female
exploitation in Birmingham.
48 WNO website
Explore opera online
WNO’s new website
49
Theatre by Theatre
2013/2014
Welsh National Opera’s new website
launches in Spring 2013
wno.org.uk
50
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66
68
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72
Birmingham Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Milton Keynes Theatre
New Theatre Oxford
Theatre Royal Plymouth
The Mayflower, Southampton
Swansea Grand Theatre
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51
Birmingham Hippodrome
PERFORMANCE DATES
AUTUMN 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 13 November 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 14 November 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 15 November 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 12 & Saturday 16 November 7.15pm
SPRING 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 5 & Friday 7 March 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 6 March 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 4 & Saturday 8 March 7.15pm
SUMMER 2014
Moses und Aron
Wednesday 18 June 8pm
Nabucco
Thursday 19 & Saturday 21 June 7.15pm
The Fall of the House of Usher
Friday 20 June 8pm
ON SALE DATES
Friends of WNO booking opens on Monday
25 March 2013. General booking opens on
Monday 8 April 2013
(online, phone, post or in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £48 / £42 / £36 / £24
Circle £48 / £42 / £36 / £24 / £16
Boxes £42 / £36 / £16 (per person)
Boulevard Solitude, Moses und Aron
and The Fall of the House of Usher
Stalls £30 / £20 / £10
Circle £30 / £20 / £10
Boxes £30 / £20 / £10 (per person)
Booking charges apply. Surtitles are available
at every performance, please check when booking
to ensure visibility.
HOW TO BOOK
Book online birminghamhippodrome.com
By phone 0844 338 5000*
Group Sales 0844 338 7000
(Calls cost from 5p per minute)
Transaction charge included in group ticket price.
By post or in person Ticket Sales,
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street,
Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB
*Calls cost from 5p per minute / 5% Transaction fee applies
Birmingham
EXPLORE WITH US AND SAVE
Multi-Buy
Multi-buy is a simple and flexible way to save
money on your opera tickets. It is available
on all operas on sale at any one time (except
those priced £10 – £30). You do not have to
book the same number of tickets for each
opera. You can also book for different seating
areas / price bands for each opera. Please
note does not apply to lowest price tickets.
Book any three operas and save 15%
Book any four operas and save 20%
Book five or more operas and save 30%
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Groups 10+
10+ £3 discount per ticket
20+ £4 discount per ticket
35+ £5 discount per ticket
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
(Includes £1 booking fee. Organiser goes free)
Booking charges are levied and retained in their entirety
by the theatre. Book by telephone, online, post or in
person. All transactions are subject to a booking charge,
except cash bookings made in person (if you are buying
fewer than 10 tickets).
Groups 8+
Boulevard Solitude, Moses und Aron and
The Fall of the House of Usher £15 plus
one free for every 35 booked.
Ticket Sales is open from 10am to 8pm, 6pm on
non-performance days (phone and counter) Monday to
Saturday, Groups Sales 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Cheques should be made payable to‘Birmingham
Hippodrome’. Most major credit cards accepted.
Patrons with disabilities
£5 off each ticket for patrons with disabilities.
Two tickets for the price of one for those with
disabilities who require the support of
a companion.
Only one discount per ticket may apply. Valid ID must
be presented where applicable. Discounts are generally
available on the top three price bands only. All discounts
are subject to availability and restrictions may apply for
certain shows. Birmingham Hippodrome and WNO reserve
the right to remove or limit discounts at any time. Please
ask Ticket Sales for full details.
60+, Registered Claimants,
Passport to Leisure
£3 off. Discount applies in top three price
bands only and top two for Boulevard
Solitude, Moses und Aron and The Fall of
the House of Usher.
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three price
bands. Tickets must be booked in person.
ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Student and Passport to Leisure standby
May be available 24 hours prior to
performance, best available seats for the
lowest price, limited to two per booker.
ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Schools, Education and Youth Groups
of 10 or more
£13 each, (£10 for Boulevard Solitude, Moses
und Aron and The Fall of the House of Usher)
every 11th seat free for teachers (includes
transaction charge). Applies to 3rd, 4th and
5th price bands for standard priced operas
and 2nd and 3rd price bands for Boulevard
Solitude, Moses und Aron and The Fall of the
House of Usher.
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Birmingham Hippodrome
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 13 November 6pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 14 November 6.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 15 November 6.15pm
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 5 & Friday 7 March 6.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 6 March 7pm
Summer 2014
Moses und Aron
Wednesday 18 June 7pm
Nabucco
Thursday 19 & Saturday 21 June 6.15pm
The Fall of the House of Usher
Friday 20 June 7pm
Birmingham
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALKS
Fact and Fiction
FREE Post-show discussion
Autumn 2013
Packwood House & Baddesley Clinton,
near Birmingham
Thursday 14 November
11.30am – 1pm & 2 – 3.30pm
(Event takes place at Packwood House but
ticket also includes entry to Baddesley Clinton)
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 6 March
Moses und Aron
Wednesday 18 June
The Fall of the House of Usher
Friday 20 June
Tosca
Saturday 16 November 6.15pm
Spring 2014
La traviata
Tuesday 4 March 6.15pm
Tickets £5 per person
Set in the splendour of some of the finest
National Trust properties, Fact and Fiction
thrillingly combines costumed operatic
performances in surprising locations with
the perspectives of historians and historical
novelists. If you are making time to see all
three Tudor operas, Fact and Fiction is the
perfect way to spend the middle afternoon
of a consecutive cycle. Tudor themed
refreshments are available.
Bel Canto Masters
Tickets £15 per person
The Whole Story
The Tudors
Wednesday 30 October 7 – 9pm
Fallen Women
Wednesday 19 February 7 – 9pm
Faith
Tuesday 3 June 7 – 9pm
Donizetti
Friday 15 November 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
A dedicated coach service will leave from the theatre at
1pm (11.30am for Packwood House & Baddesley Clinton
to allow time for a visit to Baddesley Clinton) and return
from the properties at 4.30pm. Places on the coach are
an additional £5 and must be booked in advance.
Book your tickets for our pre-performance
talks at the same time as your opera tickets.
In partnership with
the National Trust
FREE Post-show cast talkback
La traviata
Tuesday 4 March
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
The audio described performance will be
preceded by a touch tour at 6pm.
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 14 November 7pm
Manon Lescaut
Friday 7 March 7.15pm
Nabucco
Saturday 21 June 7.15pm
Call Birmingham Hippodrome on
0844 338 5000 to book your tickets for
all WNO Extra events.
54
55
The Bristol Hippodrome
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
AUTUMN 2013
Book online atgtickets.com/bristol*+
By phone 0844 871 3012*
Groups of 10+ 0844 871 3032
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 6 November 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 7 November 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 8 November 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 5 & Saturday 9 November 7.15pm
SPRING 2014
Manon Lescaut
Friday 11 April 7.15pm
La traviata
Saturday 12 April 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013 (online, phone, post
and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £40 / £34 / £26
Grand Circle £40 / £34 / £26
Upper Circle £16 / £7.50
Boxes £40 (Rear Stalls Box)
£34 (Front Side-view Box)
Price includes a theatre restoration levy of £1 which is
retained by the theatre. Surtitles may not be visible from
all seats, please check with the Box Office when booking.
(Mon – Fri 10am – 6pm)
By post or in person The Bristol Hippodrome,
St Augustine’s Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
*Subject to booking / transaction fee
+Some concessions are not available online
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
Booking charges are levied and retained in their entirety
by the theatre.
Telephone (National call rate) and online: £7.50 & £15
tickets, £2.90 per ticket; £26 – £40 tickets, £3.90 per
ticket. There is an additional one-off transaction fee of £4.
Booking charges are subject to change. Please check at
time of booking.
Book by telephone, online, post or in person. The Box
Office is open from 10am to 6pm Monday – Saturday
(extending to 15 minutes after curtain-up on performance
days). Cheques should be made payable to ATG London
Ltd. Cheques are accepted for postal bookings only
(please allow 28 days for delivery of tickets).
Explore with us and save
Subscription deals
Book two operas and save 20%
Book three or four operas and save 25%
Book five operas and save 30%
Book six operas and save 35%
Simply book for two operas or more to take
advantage of our discounts. You can buy your
subscription over the phone or in person.
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Senior Citizens and Claimants
£5 off £40, £34, £26 and £16 seats.
Bristol
Groups of 10+
£3 off £40, £34 and £26 seats, plus one seat
free with every 10 purchased.
Schools and colleges
Groups of 10 or more, buy any £26 seats
for £15, or any £16 seats for £7.50.
Restricted mobility
If you have access requirements or are
a wheelchair user please contact our
Access Officer on 0117 302 3222 for
availability and prices.
Young people
Full-time students and Under-16s all
seats half-price.
ATG Theatre Card Members
£5 off £40, £34, £26 and £16 prices for first
performance of each opera.
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Friday 11 April 5.30pm
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALKS
Autumn 2013
Tosca
Tuesday 5 November 6.15pm
THE WHOLE STORY
The Tudors
Wednesday 23 October 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Friday 8 November 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance for
£5. Seats located within first three price bands Audio Description
The audio described performance will be
Only one discount applies per ticket.
preceded by a touch tour at 6pm.
Discounted seats are allocated at the
Maria Stuarda
discretion of the Box Office Manager and
Thursday 7 November 7pm
may be limited.
Manon Lescaut
Friday 11 April 7.15pm
WNO Extra
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 6 November 5.30pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 7 November 5.30pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 8 November 5.30pm
Tickets to Free Pre-performance talks,
Free New to opera talks and audio described
performances can be booked through the
theatre box office at the same time as booking
your opera tickets.
Tickets for The Whole Story and Bel Canto
Masters can be booked through WNO
Marketing on 029 2063 5030.
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57
Wales Millennium Centre
PERFORMANCE DATES
AUTUMN 2013
Anna Bolena
Saturday 7, Saturday 14 & Friday 27
September, Friday 4 October 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Friday 13 September & Saturday 5 October
7.15pm; Sunday 22 September 4pm
Roberto Devereux
Wednesday 2 October 7.15pm
& Sunday 6 October 4pm
Tosca
Saturday 21 & Saturday 28 September,
Thursday 3 October 7.15pm
SPRING 2014
Manon Lescaut
Saturday 8, Saturday 15, Saturday 22
& Thursday 27 February 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Wednesday 26 & Friday 28 February 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 11, Friday 21 & Tuesday 25 February,
Saturday 1 March 7.15pm, Sunday 16
February 4pm
SUMMER 2014
Moses und Aron
Saturday 24 & Friday 30 May,
Saturday 7 June 8pm
Nabucco
Saturday 31 May, Thursday 12 & Saturday
14 June 7.15pm; Sunday 8 June 4pm
The Fall of the House of Usher
Friday 13 June 8pm & Sunday 15 June 4pm
WELSH NATIONAL YOUTH OPERA
Paul Bunyan
Friday 23 August 2013 7.30pm & Saturday 24
August 2013 2.30pm & 7.30pm
MUSIC THEATRE WALES IN
THE WESTON STUDIO
Greek
Tuesday 1 October 2013 8pm
ON SALE DATES
Subscription booking (Friends only) opens
Monday 11 February 2013
(post using booking form)
Subscription booking (General) opens
Monday 4 March 2013
(post using booking form)
Individual operas (Friends only)
opens Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
Individual operas (General) opens
Monday 8 April 2013 (online, phone, post
and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls & Circle £40 / £36 / £32
Upper Circle £24* / £18 / £12 / £5
Boulevard Solitude and
The Fall of the House of Usher
Stalls & Circle £25
Upper Circle £15* / £5
*Please note that the handrail on the front of the Upper Circle
may cause a restricted view for some audience members.
Paul Bunyan £15 (Under 30s £5)
Greek £20
HOW TO BOOK
Book online wmc.org.uk
By phone 029 2063 6464
Group bookings 029 2063 6464 option 4
By post or in person WNO Subscription,
Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place,
Cardiff, CF10 5AL
Cardiff
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
Booking fees are retained in their entirety by the
theatre. Subscriptions (bookings of three operas or more
at the same time) are subject to a one off booking fee
of £4. Bookings for one or two operas are subject to the
following per ticket fees:
•£1.50 per ticket for telephone, postal bookings
and in person bookings
•£1 per ticket for internet bookings
•All subscriptions will be charged a £4 fee per booking
•Any individual operas booked via postal bookings will
be charged at the usual rate of £1.50 per ticket
•No booking fee applies if you pay for individual operas
in cash over the counter or if you’re a group of 10+
Payments can be made in cash (if buying in person),
cheque, (payable to Wales Millennium Centre), Gift
Certificates, Credit Vouchers, Theatre Tokens or the
following credit and debit cards – Visa, MasterCard,
MasterCard Debit, Visa Debit / Delta, Maestro and
Electron. Tickets must be paid for at the time of booking.
Tickets can only be reserved for group bookings of 10
or more or temporarily whilst we process your access
application. No fee applies if you book in person and
pay by cash or Wales Millennium Centre Gift Certificates.
Plus there is a fee-free Lloyds TSB cash point situated
in the Glanfa Foyer.
By telephone: Phone lines are open Monday to Saturday
10am – 7pm on performance days and 10am – 6pm
on non-performance days. On Sundays lines open for
four hours before the start of the first performance
and on non-performance days lines are closed.
In person: On performance days the Ticket Desk is open
from 10am until 30 minutes after the start of the last
performance. The Information Desk will remain open for
any ticketing enquiries until the end of the last Donald
Gordon Theatre performance. On non-performance days
the Ticket Desk is open 10am – 6pm.
Only one discount applies per ticket. Tickets can
be paid for by cheque, credit / debit card or cash.
The Ticket Office will endeavour to exchange your tickets
from one performance to another performance of the
same event, up to 24 hours prior to the original
performance (subject to availability). A £1 handling fee
will be charged per ticket. The Ticket office will also
accept tickets for re-sale subject to a 10% fee but cannot
guarantee that a new purchaser will be found. Full terms
and conditions are available online.
Explore with us and save
Subscription deals
Book any three operas and save 20%
Book any four or five operas and save 25%
Book any six or seven operas and save 30%
Book eight or more operas and save 35%
Use the Cardiff booking form to make your
Subscription booking. If you do not have
one already please call 029 2063 5030, email
marketing@wno.org.uk or download from
wno.org.uk/form. Does not include Paul Bunyan
or Greek or £5 seats for any performance.
If you require advice or assistance please
call Wales Millennium Centre’s Subscription
Information line on 029 2063 4663
(10am – 6pm Monday to Friday).
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Patrons with disabilities
Customers who require a personal assistant
to support them at the Centre can now join the
Access Scheme. Where applicable the Centre
offers either a discounted or complimentary
seat to carers so please visit our website for
further information and to download a form:
wmc.org.uk/access. If you’ve any queries
please do get in touch with the Ticket Office
who will be happy to explain the system in
more detail.
58
59
Wales Millennium Centre
Groups
Get a group of 10 together and get one extra
ticket free (that’s two free tickets for a group
of 20 etc). This offer only applies to £40, £36
and £32 tickets (£25 for Boulevard Solitude
and The Fall of the House of Usher). Tickets
for groups booking two or more operas go
on sale on Monday 4 March.
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three price
bands. This offer is available from general
onsale 8 April 2013. ID required and subject
to availability.
PRE-SHOW DINING
Roberto Devereux
Wednesday 2 October 6.15pm & Sunday
6 October 3pm
Greek
Tuesday 1 October 7pm
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Saturday 8, Saturday 15, Saturday 22
& Thursday 27 February 6.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Wednesday 26 & Friday 28 February 7pm
Summer 2014
Moses und Aron
Saturday 24 & Friday 30 May, Saturday
7 June 7pm
Nabucco
Saturday 31 May, Thursday 12 & Saturday
14 June 6.15pm; Sunday 8 June 3pm
The Fall of the House of Usher
Friday 13 June 7pm & Sunday 15 June 3pm
Pre-show meals at ffresh Restaurant at the
Centre cost from £19.95 for two courses and
£23.95 for three courses*. Menus and serving
times are available at ffresh.org.uk. You can
book a two course meal with your subscription
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALKS
or when booking individual operas through
the Ticket Office. For three courses a top up
Autumn 2013
fee can be paid at the restaurant.
Tosca
*Subject to change.
Saturday 21 September
& Thursday 3 October 6.15pm
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Saturday 7, Saturday 14 & Friday 27
September, Friday 4 October 6pm
Maria Stuarda
Friday 13 September & Saturday 5 October
6.15pm; Sunday 22 September 3pm
Spring 2014
La traviata
Tuesday 11 February
& Saturday 1 March 6.15pm
Cardiff
THE WHOLE STORY
LITERARY INSPIRATIONS
The Tudors
Wednesday 4 September 7 – 9pm
Fallen Women
Thursday 6 February 7 – 9pm
Faith
Thursday 22 May 7 – 9pm
Friday 28 February 5pm – 6.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Sunday 6 October 2pm – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
DAVID POUNTNEY IN CONVERSATION
The Tudors
Thursday 5 September 8 – 9.30pm
Fallen Women
Friday 7 February 8 – 9.30pm
Faith
Friday 23 May 8 – 9.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
FACT AND FICTION
Tredegar House, Newport
Saturday 5 October 2pm – 4pm
Set in the splendour of some of the finest
National Trust properties, Fact and Fiction
thrillingly combines costumed operatic
performances in surprising locations with
the perspectives of historians and historical
novelists. If you are making time to see all
three Tudor operas, Fact and Fiction is the
perfect way to spend the middle afternoon
of a consecutive cycle. Tudor themed
refreshments are available.
Tickets £15 per person
FREE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Boulevard Solitude
Friday 28 February
Moses und Aron
Friday 30 May
The Fall of the House of Usher
Sunday 15 June
FREE POST-SHOW CAST TALKBACK
La traviata
Tuesday 11 February & Saturday 1 March
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio described performances will be
preceded by a touch tour.
Maria Stuarda
Sunday 22 September 4pm
Manon Lescaut
Saturday 22 February 7.15pm
Nabucco
Sunday 8 June, 4pm
Call Wales Millennium Centre on
029 2063 6464 to book your tickets
for all WNO Extra events.
In partnership with
the National Trust
60
61
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool
PERFORMANCE DATES
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
WNO EXTRA
AUTUMN 2013
Booking charges are levied and retained in their
entirety by the theatre.
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 23 October 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 24 October 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 25 October 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 22 & Saturday 26 October 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £25 / £5
Circle £25 / £15 / £5
Price includes a theatre restoration levy of £1.
Surtitles are available at every performance,
please check when booking to ensure visibility.
HOW TO BOOK
Book online atgtickets.com/liverpool*
By phone 0844 871 3017*
Groups of 10+ 0844 871 3037
(Mon – Fri, 10am – 6pm)
Access for All 0151 702 7328
(Mon – Fri, 10am – 6pm)
By post or in person Liverpool Empire
Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool L1 1JE
(Mon – Sat, from 12pm, closing times and
Sunday opening times vary)
Telephone (National call rate) and internet:
Tickets priced £5 & £15 – £2.90 per ticket;
Tickets priced £25 – £3.90 per ticket.
There is a handling charge of £2.85 for all bookings.
Explore with us and save
Subscription deals
Book two operas and save 25%
Book three or four operas and save 35%
Simply book for two operas or more to take
advantage of our discounts. You can buy your
subscription over the phone or in person.
OTHER DISCOUNTS
If you have access requirements or are
a wheelchair user please contact our
Access Officer on 0151 702 7328 for
availability and prices.
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three price
bands. Tickets must be booked in person.
ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Only one discount applies per ticket.
Discounted seats are allocated at the
discretion of the Box Office Manager and
may be limited.
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 23 October 6pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 24 October 6.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 25 October 6.15pm
A TUDOR DAY OUT
Speke Hall & Little Moreton Hall
Visit two of the finest Tudor buildings on
this special coach excursion to Speke Hall
and Little Moreton Hall. On your way to the
properties our speaker will give a special talk
putting the properties and The Tudors into
context. Lunch will be served at Speke Hall.
Ticket includes talks, coach travel, entry to
the properties and lunch.
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALK
Tickets £25
Autumn 2013
Thursday 24 October
Leaving Liverpool Empire Theatre at 10am
and returning no later than 4.30pm.
Tosca
Saturday 26 October 6.15pm
THE WHOLE STORY
The Tudors
Wednesday 9 October 7pm – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Friday 25 October 2pm – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
Priority will be given to audience members booking for
two operas or more and for National Trust members until
1 May 2013.
Tickets for Free pre-performance talks,
audio described performances and
Free New to opera talks can be booked
through the theatre box office at the same
time as booking your opera tickets. Tickets
for The Whole Story, Bel Canto Masters and
A Tudor Day Out can be booked through
WNO Marketing on 029 2063 5030.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio described performances will be
preceded by a touch tour.
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 24 October
(*Mon to Sat 9am – 10pm, Sun 10am – 8pm. Fees apply)
In partnership with
the National Trust
62
63
Venue Cymru
Llandudno
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
OTHER DISCOUNTS
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALKS
AUTUMN 2013
Book online venuecymru.co.uk
By phone 01492 872000
By post and in person Venue Cymru,
Promenade, Llandudno LL30 1BB
Schools and Colleges
Groups of 10 or more, all seats £7.50,
one teacher free with every 10 pupils.
Autumn 2013
Groups of 10 or more
10% off the top three prices.
Spring 2014
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 20 November 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 21 November 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 22 November 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 19 & Saturday 23 November 7.15pm
SPRING 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 2 & Friday 4 April 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 3 April 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 1 & Saturday 5 April 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
Book by telephone, post, online or in person.
The Box Office is open Monday – Saturday 10am – 7.45pm
on the counter and 10am – 7pm on the phone lines.
Box Office is closed on Sunday and Bank Holidays on
non-show days and 1 hour prior to the show on
performance days (counter service only).
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
Booking charges are levied and retained in their
entirety by the theatre.
Telephone: £2.50 fee per booking (inc. postage)
Internet: £2.50 fee per booking (inc. postage)
Post: £2.50 fee per booking, please send SAE
for return of tickets
In Person: £2.50 fee per booking
(excludes cash payments)
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013
(phone and post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013
(online, phone, post and in person)
Explore with us and save
TICKET PRICES
Simply book for two operas or more and take
advantage of our discounts. You can buy your
subscription over the phone or in person.
Stalls £40 / £35 / £23
Circle £40 / £35 / £23 / £10
Boulevard Solitude
Stalls £30 / £20
Circle £30 / £20 / £10
Surtitles are available at every performance,
please check when booking to ensure visibility.
Subscription deals
Book two operas and save 20%
Book three or four operas and save 25%
Book five or six operas and save 30%
Book seven operas and save 35%
OPERA HOLIDAYS
Llandudno Opera Holidays are the perfect way
to gain even more enjoyment from the Welsh
National Opera performances.
For details contact Barbara Sandbach, Opera
Holidays Administrator on 01492 879526
or email barbara.sandbach@sky.com
Registered disabled
£5 off the top three prices.
Wheelchair users
Free companion seat with each
wheelchair space.
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three
price bands.
Only one discount applies per ticket. Proof
of status must be shown where appropriate.
Discounts are subject to availability.
Tosca
Saturday 23 October 6.15pm
La traviata
Saturday 5 April 6.15pm
THE WHOLE STORY
The Tudors
Wednesday 6 November 7 – 9pm
Fallen Women
Wednesday 19 March 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Friday 22 November 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
WNO EXTRA
FACT AND FICTION
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 20 November 3pm & 5.45pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 21 November 3pm & 5.45pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 22 November 3pm & 5.45pm
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 2 April 3pm & 5.45pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 3 April 3pm & 6.30pm
Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens.
Anglesey
Thursday 21 November
11.30am –1pm & 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £15
FREE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Boulevard Solitude Thursday 3 April
FREE POST-SHOW CAST TALKBACK
La traviata Saturday 5 April
Tickets for all WNO Extra events can be
booked through the Venue Cymru Box Office.
64
65
Milton Keynes Theatre
Milton Keynes
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
OTHER DISCOUNTS
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALK
SPRING 2014
Book online atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes*
By phone 0844 871 7652*
Group bookings 01908 547609
Access bookings 0844 871 7677*
By post and in person
Milton Keynes Theatre, Marlborough Gate,
Central Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ
Senior Citizens, Under 16s, Full time
students and registered unemployed
£2 off prices £50, £40 and £32
(Tue, Wed, Fri only)
La traviata
Saturday 15 March 6.15pm
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 12 & Friday 14 March 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 13 March 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 11 & Saturday 15 March 7.15pm
*Booking fee applies
ON SALE DATES
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013 (online, phone,
post and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls & Circle £50 / £40 / £32
Upper Circle £40 / £32 / £26 / £18
Boulevard Solitude
Stalls & Circle £30 / £20 / £10
Upper Circle £20 / £10
Price includes £1 building improvement levy which
is retained by the theatre in its entirety. Surtitles are
available at every performance; please check when
booking to ensure visibility.
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
£3.90 booking fee per ticket. There is a transaction
charge of £2.85 for all bookings. Booking charges are
levied and retained by the theatre in their entirety.
Telephone Sales: Monday to Saturday 9am – 10pm and
Sunday 10am – 8pm
Counter Service: Monday to Saturday 10am until 15
minutes after the last performance commences, closing at
6pm when there is no evening performance. Sundays open
from 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to the first show, closing
15 minutes after the last performance commences.
Explore with us and save
Package discounts
Book any two operas and save 25%
Book any three operas and save 35%
Package discounts can be booked by phone
or in person and only apply when all seats are
booked at the same time. Package discounts
cannot be combined with any other discount.
Equal Access for all customers who require
additional assistance to attend should make
this known at the time of booking.
THE WHOLE STORY
Fallen Women
Wednesday 26 February 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
Groups of 10 or more
£4 off prices £50 and £40
FREE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Groups of 20 or more
£7.50 off prices £50 and £40
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 13 March
School Groups
£32 seats for £10 for mid-week evening
performances (Tue – Wed only).
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three price
bands. Tickets must be booked in person.
ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Only one discount applies per ticket.
Discounted seats are allocated at the
discretion of the Box Office Manager
and may be limited.
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 12 March 5.45pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 13 March 6.30pm
FREE POST-SHOW CAST TALKBACK
La traviata
Saturday 15 March
Audio Description
The audio described performance will
be preceded by a touch tour.
Manon Lescaut
Friday 14 March 7.15pm
Tickets for Free Pre-performance talks,
Free New to opera talks and audio described
performances can be booked through the
theatre box office at the same time as booking
your opera tickets. Tickets for The Whole Story
can be booked through WNO Marketing on
029 2063 5030.
66
67
New Theatre Oxford
PERFORMANCE DATES
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
AUTUMN 2013
Booking charges are levied and retained in their entirety
by the theatre. Telephone (National call rate) and internet:
Tickets priced £15 – £2.90 per ticket;
Tickets priced £26 & £38 – £3.90 per ticket;
Tickets priced £54 – £4.90 per ticket
There is a transaction charge of £4 for all bookings.
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 16 October 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 17 October 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 18 October 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 15 & Saturday 19 October 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013 (online, phone,
post and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £54 / £38 / £26 / £15
Circle £54 / £38 / £26 / £15
Balcony £26 / £15
Includes £1 restoration levy retained by the theatre.
Surtitles are available at every performance, please
check when booking to ensure visibility.
HOW TO BOOK
Book online atgtickets.com/oxford*
By phone 0844 871 3020*
Group bookings 0844 871 3040
(Mon – Fri, 9.30am – 6pm)
Access bookings 01865 320770
(Mon – Fri, 9.30am – 6pm)
By post and in person
New Theatre, George Street,
Oxford, OX1 2AG
*Booking fee applies
The Box Office is open 10am – 6pm Monday to Saturday
(on performance days the Box Office closes
30 minutes after the advertised performance time).
Cheques should be made payable to Ambassador
Theatre Group Venues Limited and can only be accepted
no later than three weeks prior to the performance.
Post: No fee, please send SAE for return of tickets
In Person: No fee
Telephone & Online: Booking and transaction fees apply
Group Bookings 10+: No fee when booking on
0844 871 3040
Explore with us and save
Book two operas and save 25%
Book three or four operas and save 35%
The above package discounts only apply
when all seats are booked at the same time.
Package discounts cannot be amalgamated
with any other discounts.
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Early Booking Offer
Book before Friday 26 July 2013 and get £10
off the top two prices. This offer applies to
concessionary tickets only which includes
Seniors / Students / Under 18s / Claimants.
Groups of 10+
£8 off tickets priced £38 and £54.
Schools and colleges
£38 and £26 seats for £9.50 and a free ticket
for supervising teacher.
Oxford
Standby
Available one week before the performance:
Seniors / Students / Under 18s / Claimants:
£3.50 off selected seats.
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALK
If you have access requirements or are a
wheelchair user please contact our Access
Team on 01865 320770
for availability and prices
(Mon – Thu 9.30am – 6pm).
THE WHOLE STORY
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three
price bands. Tickets must be booked in
person. ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Tosca
Saturday 19 October 6.15pm
The Tudors
Wednesday 2 October 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Friday 18 October 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
Only one discount applies per ticket.
Terms and conditions of discounts may apply.
Discounted seats are allocated at the
discretion of the Box Office Manager and
may be limited.
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
WNO EXTRA
Tickets for Free Pre-performance talks and
Free New to opera talks can be booked
through the theatre box office at the same
time as booking your opera tickets. Tickets
for The Whole Story and Bel Canto Masters
can be booked through WNO Marketing on
029 2063 5030.
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 16 October 6pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 17 October 6.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 18 October 6.15pm
Audio described performances will
be preceded by a touch tour.
Maria Stuarda
17 October
68
69
Theatre Royal Plymouth
Plymouth
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
OTHER DISCOUNTS
SPRING 2014
Book online theatreroyal.com
By phone 01752 267222
In person Theatre Royal,
Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2TR
Groups
Groups of 10 or more – £2.50
Groups of 20 or more – £3.50
Groups of 40 or more – £4.50
(top three prices only)
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 26 & Friday 28 March 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 27 March 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 25 & Saturday 29 March 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
WNO Friends, Theatre Royal Plymouth
Corporate Members and TRAC booking
opens Monday 25 March 2013 (phone only)
General booking opens Monday 8 April 2013
(online, phone and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £49 / £42 / £10*
Circle £49 / £31 / £10*
Upper Circle £29 / £24 / £10*
*restricted view
Boulevard Solitude
Stalls £30 / £20 / £10*
Circle £30 / £20 / £10
Upper Circle £20 / £10*
Surtitles are available at every performance;
please check when booking to ensure visibility.
BOOKING DETAILS
Box Office: Telephone bookings are open 10am – 7pm
Monday to Saturday and personal bookings are open
10.30am – 8pm Monday to Saturday (10.30am – 6pm
on non-performance days).
You can buy your tickets by using any of the following
cards: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Delta (£1 charge
per booking) or you can reserve your seats and send full
payment within 3 working days. Tickets can be posted for
a charge of 80p.
When booking by phone a transaction fee of £1 will be
charged and tickets will can be posted for 80p. A total
transaction charge of £1.50 applies when booking online.
School groups of 10 or more
£10 seats for all performances
(limited availability)
Students, Under 16s, Young Company
Members, ANLO, Unwaged
Half price for all performances
(limited availability)
Over 60s, Disabled
£5 off top three ticket prices,
for all performances
The above charges applied by the venue were correct at
the time of printing. Please check with the Box Office for
current charges.
TRAC
£4 off top three ticket prices,
for all performances
Explore with us and save
People’s Company
£3.50 off top three prices for all performances
Package discounts
Book any two operas and save 25%
Book any three operas and save 35%
Package discounts can be booked by phone
or in person and only apply when all seats are
booked at the same time and for the same
seating area for each performance.
MAX Youth Groups
£5 tickets (limited availability)
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance
for £5. Seats located within first three price
bands. Tickets must be booked in person.
ID required for each ticket purchased.
Subject to availability.
Only one discount applies per ticket.
Discounted seats are allocated at the
discretion of the Box Office Manager
and may be limited.
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 26 March 6pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 27 March 6.45pm
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALK
La traviata
Tuesday 25 March 6.15pm
THE WHOLE STORY
Fallen Women
Wednesday 12 March 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
FREE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 27 March
FREE POST-SHOW CAST TALKBACK
La traviata
Tuesday 25 March
Tickets for all WNO Extra events can be
booked through the Theatre Royal Plymouth
Box Office.
70
71
The Mayflower
Southampton
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
AUTUMN 2013
Book online mayflower.org.uk*
By phone 02380 711811*
Group bookings 02380 711812*
By post and in person
The Mayflower, Commercial Road,
Southampton SO15 1GE
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 27 November 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 28 November 7.15pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 29 November 7.15pm
Tosca
Tuesday 26 & Saturday 30 November 7.15pm
SPRING 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 19 & Friday 21 March 7.15pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 20 March 8pm
La traviata
Tuesday 18 & Saturday 22 March 7.15pm
ON SALE DATES
*Booking fee applies
BOOKING CHARGES AND DETAILS
Telephone: 7.5%
Internet: 7.5%
In person: No fee
Booking charges are levied and retained in their entirety
by the theatre.
Book by telephone, online, post or in person. Tickets may
be booked in person at The Mayflower or Ticket South
located in The Marlands Shopping Centre’ Southampton.
Cheques should be made payable to The Mayflower.
All major credit cards are welcome. Students must present
ID on entering the performance.
Friends booking opens Monday 25 March 2013 EXPLORE WITH US AND SAVE
(phone only)
Book 2 operas and save 20%
General booking opens Monday 8 April 2013
Book 3 or 4 operas and save 25%
(online, phone, post and in person)
Book 5 or 6 operas and save 30%
Book all 7 operas and save 35%
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £40 / £35 / £19 / £7.50
Circle £40 / £35 / £19 / £7.50
Balcony £25 / £19 / £15 / £7.50*
Boxes £40 (per seat, 4 seats per box)
*£7.50 seats are not available to buy with a subscription
package unless booking a wheelchair space
Boulevard Solitude
Stalls £25 / £15 / £7.50
Circle £25 / £7.50
Balcony £25 /£15 / £7.50
Boxes £25 (per seat, 4 seats per box)
Surtitles are available at every performance,
please check when booking to ensure visibility.
Simply book for two operas or more to take advantage
of our discounts. You can buy your subscription over the
phone or in person. Subscription bookings can be made
for a maximum 9 tickets per opera.
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Please note that the discounts detailed below
do not apply to Subscription bookings.
Schools and colleges
Groups of 10 or more, all seats £8.50 each
allocated at box office discretion. One teacher
admitted free with every 10 pupils.
Over 60s and concessions
£6 off £35 seats in Stalls and Rear Circle.
Children under 18
Half price.
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance for
£5. Seats located within first three price bands.
Tickets must be booked in person, maximum
2 tickets per booking. ID required for each
ticket purchased. Subject to availability.
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 27 November 5.30pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 28 November 5.45pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 29 November 5.45pm
Spring 2014
Manon Lescaut
Wednesday 19 March 5.45pm
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 20 March 6.30pm
Discounts are available on £35 and
£25 tickets only.
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALKS
Groups of 8 or more
£3 off each ticket and one free ticket with
every 20 purchased.
Tosca
Saturday 30 November 6.15pm
Autumn 2013
Spring 2014
La traviata
Tuesday 18 March 6.15pm
THE WHOLE STORY
The Tudors
Wednesday 13 November 7 – 9pm
Fallen Women
Wednesday 5 March 7 – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
BEL CANTO MASTERS
Donizetti
Friday 29 November 2 – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
FREE POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Boulevard Solitude
Thursday 20 March
FREE POST-SHOW CAST TALKBACK
La traviata
Tuesday 18 March
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio described performances will
be preceded by a touch tour.
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 28 November 7pm
Manon Lescaut
Friday 21 March 7.15pm
Tickets for all WNO Extra events can be
booked through The Mayflower, Southampton
Box Office.
72
73
Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea
PERFORMANCE DATES
HOW TO BOOK
Explore with us and save
AUTUMN 2013
Book online www.swanseagrand.co.uk
By phone 01792 475715
By post and in person
Grand Theatre, Singleton Street,
Swansea SA1 3QJ
Package deals
Book two operas and save 25%
Book three operas and save 35%
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 9 October 7pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 10 October 7pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 11 October 7pm
Tosca
Tuesday 8 & Saturday 12 October 7pm
ON SALE DATES
Friends booking opens
Monday 25 March 2013 (post only)
General booking opens
Monday 8 April 2013 (online, phone,
post and in person)
TICKET PRICES
Stalls £34.50 / £30.50 / £24.50
Grand Circle £37.50 / £34.50 / £24.50
Upper Circle £27.50 / £24.50 / £19.50
Restricted view* £16.50 / £5
Boxes £150
*Stalls, Grand Circle and Upper Circle. The nature of
Swansea Grand Theatre means that at certain times and
from particular seats the surtitles screens are not always
visible. Please check with box office at time of booking
BOOKING DETAILS
All tickets are subject to a 50p Restoration
Fund Contribution. The Box Office is open Monday
to Saturday 9.30am – 8pm (9.30am – 6pm on
non-performance days) and open for one hour before
performances on Sunday. Either call in person or
telephone on 01792 475715. Cheques should be made
payable to Grand Theatre, Swansea. MasterCard, Visa,
Maestro, Delta and Electron Solo payments are welcome.
Simply book for two or more operas to take
advantage of our discounts, You can buy over
the phone or in person.
OTHER DISCOUNTS
Groups of 10 or more
£4 off full price Stalls and Grand Circle seats.
WNO EXTRA
FREE PRE-PERFORMANCE TALKS
Autumn 2013
Anna Bolena
Wednesday 9 October 6pm
Maria Stuarda
Thursday 10 October 6pm
Roberto Devereux
Friday 11 October 6pm
FREE NEW TO OPERA TALK
Schools and Colleges
Groups of 10 or more; all seats £8.50,
accompanying teacher free.
Tosca
Tuesday 8 October 6pm
Standby
If you are over 65, a student or under 21:
book selected seats 24 hours before the
performance and save £10 per ticket. Please
note this offer is subject to availability.
THE WHOLE STORY
Early Booking offer
If you are over 65, a student or under 21:
book a £36.50 or £33.50 ticket before
Monday 5 August and save £7.50 per ticket.
BEL CANTO MASTERS
The Tudors
Wednesday 25 September 7pm – 9pm
Tickets £5 per person
Donizetti
Friday 11 October 2pm – 3.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
Under 30s
50 tickets available at every performance for
AT HOME WITH THE TUDORS
£5. Seats located within first three price bands
Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby
Only one discount applies per ticket.
Thursday 10 October 12pm and 1.30pm
Discounted seats are allocated at the
Tickets £15
discretion of the Box Office Manager
and may be limited.
Tickets for all WNO Extra events can be
booked through the Swansea Grand Theatre
Wheelchair spaces
Box Office.
There are five spaces in the Stalls and
two in the Circle.
74
75
Season at a glance
Autumn 2013
August
Opera
TimeVenue
Friday 23
Paul Bunyan
7.30pm
Saturday 24
Paul Bunyan
2.30pm
Saturday 24
Paul Bunyan
7.30pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
September
Saturday 7
Anna Bolena
7pm
Friday 13
Maria Stuarda
7.15pm
Saturday 14
Anna Bolena
7pm
Saturday 21
Tosca
7.15pm
Sunday 22
Maria Stuarda
4pm
Friday 27
Anna Bolena
7pm
Saturday 28
Tosca
7.15pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
October
Tuesday 1
Greek
8pm
Wednesday 2
Roberto Devereux
7.15pm
Thursday 3
Tosca
7.15pm
Friday 4
Anna Bolena
7pm
Saturday 5
Maria Stuarda
7.15pm
Sunday 6
Roberto Devereux
4pm
Weston Studio,
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 8
Wednesday 9
Thursday 10
Friday 11
Saturday 12
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7pm
7pm
7pm
7pm
7pm
Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
Tuesday 15
Wednesday 16
Thursday 17
Friday 18
Saturday 19
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
New Theatre, Oxford
New Theatre, Oxford
New Theatre, Oxford
New Theatre, Oxford
New Theatre, Oxford
Tuesday 22
Wednesday 23
Thursday 24
Friday 25
Saturday 26
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool Empire Theatre
Liverpool Empire Theatre
November
Friday 1
Orchestra of WNO
in concert
7.30pm
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tuesday 5
Wednesday 6
Thursday 7
Friday 8
Saturday 9
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
Tuesday 12
Wednesday 13
Thursday 14
Friday 15
Saturday 16
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Birmingham Hippdrome
Birmingham Hippdrome
Birmingham Hippdrome
Birmingham Hippdrome
Birmingham Hippdrome
Tuesday 19
Wednesday 20
Thursday 21
Friday 22
Saturday 23
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Tuesday 26
Wednesday 27
Thursday 28
Friday 29
Saturday 30
Tosca
Anna Bolena
Maria Stuarda
Roberto Devereux
Tosca
7.15pm
7pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
76
77
Season at a glance
Spring 2014
January
Opera
Season at a glance
Spring / Summer 2014
TimeVenue
Friday 17
Orchestra of WNO
7.30pm
in concert
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
February
Saturday 8
Manon Lescaut
7.15pm
Tuesday 11
La traviata
7.15pm
Saturday 15
Manon Lescaut
7.15pm
Sunday 16
La traviata
4pm
Friday 21
La traviata
7.15pm
Saturday 22
Manon Lescaut
7.15pm
Tuesday 25
La traviata
7.15pm
Wednesday 26
Boulevard Solitude
8pm
Thursday 27
Manon Lescaut
7.15pm
Friday 28
Boulevard Solitude
8pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
March
Saturday 1
La traviata
7.15pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tuesday 4
Wednesday 5
Thursday 6
Friday 7
Saturday 8
La traviata
Manon Lescaut
Boulevard Solitude
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
8pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
Tuesday 11
Wednesday 12
Thursday 13
Friday 14
Saturday 15
La traviata
Manon Lescaut
Boulevard Solitude
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
8pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Milton Keynes Theatre
Milton Keynes Theatre
Milton Keynes Theatre
Milton Keynes Theatre
Milton Keynes Theatre
Tuesday 18
Wednesday 19
Thursday 20
Friday 21
Saturday 22
La traviata
Manon Lescaut
Boulevard Solitude
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
8pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
The Mayflower, Southampton
Tuesday 25
Wednesday 26
Thursday 27
Friday 28
Saturday 29
La traviata
Manon Lescaut
Boulevard Solitude
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
8pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
April
Tuesday 1
Wednesday 2
Thursday 3
Friday 4
Saturday 5
La traviata
Manon Lescaut
Boulevard Solitude
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
8pm
7.15pm
7.15pm
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Venue Cymru, Llandudno
Friday 11
Saturday 12
Manon Lescaut
La traviata
7.15pm
7.15pm
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome
7.30pm
St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Friday 25 Orchestra of WNO in concert
May
Saturday 24
Moses und Aron
8pm
Friday 30
Moses und Aron
8pm
Saturday 31
Nabucco
7.15pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
June
Saturday 7
Sunday 8
Thursday 12
Friday 13
Saturday 14
Sunday 15
Moses und Aron
Nabucco
Nabucco
The Fall of the
House of Usher
Nabucco
The Fall of the
House of Usher
8pm
4pm
7.15pm
8pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
7.15pm
4pm
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Wednesday 18
Thursday 19
Friday 20
Saturday 21
Moses und Aron
Nabucco
The Fall of the
House of Usher
Nabucco
8pm
7.15pm
8pm
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome
7.15pm
Birmingham Hippodrome
Moses und Aron Moses und Aron 7.30pm
7.30pm
Royal Opera House, London*
Royal Opera House, London*
July
Friday 25
Saturday 26
* Performances go on sale in 2014,
please visit roh.org.uk for details
78
Credits
Page 3
David Pountney Portrait by Nick Treharne
Page 9
Anne Boleyn by unknown artist © National Portrait Gallery, London
Page 10
Mary, Queen of Scots, c.1559-60, Clouet, Francois /
The Royal Collection © 2011 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II / The Bridgeman Art Library
Page 13
Portrait of a Man with a Sword, English School, (16th century) / Private Collection /
Photo © Rafael Valls Gallery / The Bridgeman Art Library
PAGES 14, 26, 34, 47
Photography by Brian Tarr
Page 42
Greek image by Marcus Ginns
Page 47
(Third image) The Sleeper Kirsten Mcternan
Designed by hat-trick design
Illustrations by Rebecca Sutherland and Sarah Harrison
Notes
Notes