Mid Wales Opera will be back on the road from May 15th with a series of outdoor, Covid safe performances celebrating the return of live music.
MWO have been busy lining up singers and musicians, and some stunning outdoor venues, for their pop up concerts in May and June.
Current Covid regulations mean each performance will be limited to 26 tickets, and there will be three 40 minute shows per day. Tickets can only be booked by emailing admin@midwalesopera.co.uk.
The first performance at The Judge’s Lodging, Presteigne on Saturday May 15th has already sold out but there are still some tickets for Sunday May 16th at The Willow Globe, Llanwrthwl, as well as Plas Glan Y Weddw, Llanbedrog on Saturday May 22 and Canolfan Ucheldre, Holyhead on Sunday May 23. There will also be performances at Lampeter House, Lampeter Velfrey with Span Arts on Saturday May 29th, at Sparc, Bishops Castle, Shropshire on Saturday June 5th and in the Secret Garden beside the Magic Lantern Cinema, Tywyn on Sunday June 6th.
Performers include Rebecca Afonwy Jones (mezzo), Thomas Elwin (tenor), Alys Mererid Roberts (soprano), Emyr Lloyd Jones (baritone), Elfair Grug (harp), Peryn Clement Evans (clarinet), Robyn Lyn Evans (tenor) and Stephanie Windsor-Lewis (mezzo).
Top left to right, Rebecca Afonwy Jones – mezzo, Thomas Elwin – tenor, Peryn Clement-Evans – clarinet. Second row left to right, Jonathan Lyness – piano
Emyr Lloyd Jones – baritone, Elfair Grug – harp and Alys Mererid Roberts – soprano
Robyn Lyn Evans (tenor) and Stephanie Windsor-Lewis (mezzo) who perform at the Bishops Castle concerts on June 5 and Tywyn June 6
Each weekend’s concerts will feature a different musical programme and combination of professional performers. MWO’s Music Director Jonathan Lyness, who will accompany all the performances on the piano, told us “These short concerts will feature an eclectic mix of joyful, entertaining and uplifting musical treats, from the world of song, opera and cabaret and much else besides – a chance for us all to remember and celebrate the importance of live classical music, and go home feeling all the better for it!”
MWO were on tour with their production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro when the first lockdown happened in March 2020, and like many arts organisations they have managed to keep going through a mix of digital programming and pop up concerts when possible, but are determined to get back to presenting live music.
Their Executive Director Lydia Bassett told us, “MWO has always been about bringing high quality live opera and classical music to places where it wouldn’t normally be performed. We’re delighted to be able to support singers and musicians, many of whom have struggled with little or no work during the pandemic, and bring live music back to audiences across rural Wales by performing outdoors in carefully controlled spaces right across the country. We can’t wait to get back on the road”.