Press Contact: Natalie Thomas
03 March 2025
Welsh National Opera has announced its 2025/2026 Season, which will also see the Company celebrate its 80th anniversary.
The year includes a new production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman during the Spring Season, and a new production of Puccini’s Tosca, originally seen at Opera North, during the Autumn Season.
Recent hits Blaze of Glory! and Candide will return to the stage, as well as the popular A Night at the Opera concerts and WNO’s family show, Play Opera LIVE.
There will also be a continuation of WNO Orchestra’s New Year concert tour, and WNO Programmes and Engagement work in communities across Wales and the Southwest of England.
Autumn 2025: Tosca and Candide
WNO’s Autumn Season opens with a new production of Puccini’s Tosca. Edward Dick, who originated this production at Opera North in 2018, joins WNO to direct this opera classic which is full of passion, power and deceit, set to Puccini’s unforgettable score including the spine-tingling aria Te deum and the hauntingly beautiful Vissi d’arte.
Returning to WNO is Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw who will sing the lead role. She will be joined by Andrés Presno who returns to WNO to sing Cavaradossi.
Hungarian conductor Gergely Madaras makes his WNO debut to conduct this powerful and dramatic new production, which originally opened to critical acclaim.
Returning to WNO during the Autumn Season is the Company’s celebrated production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, which brings the energy of a West End show to the opera stage.
18th-century France collides with 20th-century post-war America for this story that remains as relevant now as when it was first written. Combining the brilliance of Bernstein’s music with the wit of Dorothy Parker, this production pulls together Broadway, operetta and the satire of Voltaire’s original novella.
Clever animations work in harmony with the staging, music and dance to create an imaginative world on stage where audiences are taken on a ride from the Alps to the Amazonian jungles, and beyond.
Originally seen in Summer 2023, the original production team return to WNO, led by director James Bonas. Costume designs are by Nathalie Pallandre with sets by Thibault Vancraenenbroeck, and video and animation design by Grégoire Pont with Choreography by Ewan Jones. This time, the production will be under the baton of American conductor Ryan McAdams, making his WNO debut.
Ed Lyon returns in the title role of Candide, which won him critical acclaim as well as Welsh tenor Aled Hall who returns to the role as the Governor. The cast also includes Soraya Mafi – most recently seen at WNO as Gilda in Rigoletto – returning to sing Cunégonde.
The performances will both open in Cardiff before touring to Southampton, Llandudno and Bristol.
Spring 2026: The Flying Dutchman and Blaze of Glory
Opening the Spring Season is a new production of The Flying Dutchman. Welsh director, producer and video designer Jack Furness makes his WNO debut to direct this fresh and contemporary reimagining of Wagner’s early masterpiece, which will be conducted by WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus.
From the opening notes of the thunderous overture to the haunting arias, Wagner’s music evokes the power of the ocean, perfectly setting the scene for this tale which explores the deeply human emotions of loneliness and longing for connection.
In a fitting nod to WNO’s 80th anniversary, the Spring Season will see the return to the stage of Blaze of Glory!, which follows a group of Welsh miners as they embark on a musical journey to reform their male voice choir after a local mining disaster.
Steeped in the Welsh choral tradition and with community spirit at its heart, this is the perfect way to celebrate this special milestone for WNO, which itself emerged from the post-War period, sparked by the passion for music held by a group of amateur performers from across South Wales, including doctors, miners and teachers.
Composed by David Hackbridge Johnson, and with a libretto by Emma Jenkins, this uplifting show combines traditional Welsh harmonies with the a capella sounds of the 1950s, with operetta, gospel and big band added into the mix.
Caroline Clegg returns to direct, with James Southall conducting. Many of the original cast will return, including Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts as the Chorus Master Dafydd Pugh, Rebecca Evans as Nerys Price, Themba Mvula as Anthony and Feargal Mostyn-Williams as Bryn Bevan.
The performances will both open in Cardiff before touring to Theatre Royal Plymouth, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Swansea.
Concert and Engagement Activity
The season will also see the continuation of WNO’s family show, Play Opera LIVE which this time will have a Shipwrecked! theme. Brought to life by WNO Orchestra and Chorus, Tom Redmond returns to steer the ship as presenter for this series of shows which continue to captivate audiences young and old.
WNO Chorus and Orchestra coming together again for A Night at the Opera concerts. Bringing together passion, drama and unforgettable melodies, with performances during the Autumn season. The concerts will feature music from Cavalleria rusticana, Madam Butterfly and Macbeth.
In what has become an annual tradition, WNO Orchestra will ring in the New Year with their popular tour of Viennese music which will tour to venues in Wales and the Southwest of England.
WNO’s extensive programme and engagement activity will also continue into this year, which includes regular schools activity and concerts, WNO Youth Opera and the Wellness with WNO programme.
WNO co-CEOs / General Directors Sarah Crabtree and Adele Thomas said:
‘It is so thrilling to be announcing our first season at the helm of WNO: a season in which Welsh artists and Welsh stories are front and centre. It is a joy to welcome back so many old friends, see new emerging talent take the step up onto our stages and, through our extraordinary work with young people and a huge range of projects in our local communities, so many people make their first visit to the opera. We believe opera is the dynamic artform of our age and we are excited to be opening the doors on EICH Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru: YOUR Welsh National Opera.’
A Night at the Opera will play for one night only at TRP on 31 October 2025, while for 2026, Blaze of Glory! plays on 23 April, before The Flying Dutchman on 24 April and Play Opera LIVE – Shipwrecked! on 25 April.
Tickets for A Night at the Opera and the spring season are now on sale https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on