Latest news with #WelshNationalOpera
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Powys hall to host open air concert for Mid Wales Opera
Some of Wales' finest classical voices will be taking centre stage later this month in an open air-concert at a historic Powys building. Mid Wales Opera have announced their artist line up for the 2025 fundraising garden concert at Gregynog Hall, near Newtown. The concert will be held on Sunday, July 13, in an open air event titled 'The Great American Dream' to raise money for Mid Wales Opera as an arts organisation. This year's event will be led by MWO's renowned Music Director and pianist Charlotte Forrest, joined by a cast of Welsh vocal talent that includes soprano Erin Rossington, mezzo soprano Angharad Lyddon and baritone John Ieuan Jones. Charlotte Forrest is one of the UK's most respected opera coaches and recitalists. Currently Senior Vocal Coach for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, she also works regularly with English National Opera, Grange Festival, Opera Holland Park, Longborough Festival and Garsington Opera. She has performed at Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Salle Pleyel and Pisa Duomo, and collaborated with artists including Dame Felicity Lott, Sir John Tomlinson and Sir Tom Jones. Joining Charlotte is Angharad Lyddon, whose recent roles include Mary in The Flying Dutchman, Flosshilde in Götterdämmerung with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Branwen in Blaze of Glory with Welsh National Opera. Erin Rossington is a rising star and winner of Llangollen Eisteddfod's International Voice of the Future competition. A recent WNO Associate Artist, her roles include Micaëla in La Tragédie de Carmen and Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro. Rounding out the main lineup is John Ieuan Jones, who fans of Mid Wales Opera will remember as Claudio in MWO's Beatrice & Benedict in 2023, has performed widely with Welsh National Opera, Opra Cymru and at major festivals in the UK and North America. The concert will take place in the gardens of Gregynog Hall, where audiences are invited to bring their own chairs or picnic rugs and enjoy an extended interval for picnics, garden strolls or woodland walks. The café will also be open before the performance. In case of bad weather, the concert will move indoors to Gregynog's historic Music Room.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Welsh opera star Stuart Burrows dies aged 92
Welsh tenor Stuart Burrows has died at the age of 92 after a short illness, his son has confirmed. Born in Cilfynydd, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, his voice was world-renowned. He first sang with the Welsh National Opera in the early 1960s. He performed in some of the most famous venues in the world including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Opera House in London. In 1965, his career took off after the composer Igor Stravinsky asked him to perform Oedipus Rex in Athens. He was particularly well known for singing music by Mozart and in the 1970s and 80s, but then reached even more people with his own BBC Two series, Stuart Burrows Sings. Before becoming a professional singer, he was also a talented rugby player and turned down an offer to play for Leeds so he could focus on his music. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter. READ MORE: Original lead singer of The Searchers dies aged 84 READ MORE: Girl, 13, found man committing sex act and touching her while he thought she was asleep Over the years he has received a number of honours including an OBE in 2007 for his services to music and honorary awards from Welsh universities. Broadcaster Beverley Humphreys said he had an "astounding career" and a voice that "touched hearts all over the world". His son, Mark, shared the news of his passing on Facebook, writing: 'It is with very great sadness that I write about the passing of my lovely Dad this morning after a short illness Words cannot express how much I will miss this true Welshman who (as he liked to say) loved to sing a bit! "Sleep now my lovely man and Dad. Love Mark B, Cathy and Patricia." The Fron Male Voice Choir shared: 'We at the Fron Male Voice Choir had the great honour of sharing the stage with Stuart Burrows at Venue Cymru, Llandudno – a memory we will always treasure. "His warmth, humility, and extraordinary musicianship left a lasting impression on all who were present." Classic FM shared a statement from Aled Jones. "Aled, who was mentored by Burrows as a boy, described the great Welsh opera singer as the greatest lyric tenor of his generation, adding, how lucky that we still have recordings of his to enjoy." Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore Chris Bryant also shared in a post on X: "Really sad to hear that the magnificent tenor, the Rhondda's own Stuart Burrows has died aged 94. Requiescat in pace."
Wales Online
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh opera star Stuart Burrows dies aged 92
Welsh opera star Stuart Burrows dies aged 92 He has been described as the 'great Welsh opera singer as the greatest lyric tenor of his generation' Portrait of opera singer Stuart Burrows, September 1983 (Image: Tim Roney/) Welsh tenor Stuart Burrows has died at the age of 92 after a short illness, his son has confirmed. Born in Cilfynydd, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, his voice was world-renowned. He first sang with the Welsh National Opera in the early 1960s. He performed in some of the most famous venues in the world including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Carnegie Hall, and the Royal Opera House in London. In 1965, his career took off after the composer Igor Stravinsky asked him to perform Oedipus Rex in Athens. He was particularly well known for singing music by Mozart and in the 1970s and 80s, but then reached even more people with his own BBC Two series, Stuart Burrows Sings. Before becoming a professional singer, he was also a talented rugby player and turned down an offer to play for Leeds so he could focus on his music. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Over the years he has received a number of honours including an OBE in 2007 for his services to music and honorary awards from Welsh universities. Broadcaster Beverley Humphreys said he had an "astounding career" and a voice that "touched hearts all over the world". His son, Mark, shared the news of his passing on Facebook , writing: 'It is with very great sadness that I write about the passing of my lovely Dad this morning after a short illness Words cannot express how much I will miss this true Welshman who (as he liked to say) loved to sing a bit! Article continues below "Sleep now my lovely man and Dad. Love Mark B, Cathy and Patricia." The Fron Male Voice Choir shared: 'We at the Fron Male Voice Choir had the great honour of sharing the stage with Stuart Burrows at Venue Cymru, Llandudno – a memory we will always treasure. "His warmth, humility, and extraordinary musicianship left a lasting impression on all who were present." Article continues below Classic FM shared a statement from Aled Jones. "Aled, who was mentored by Burrows as a boy, described the great Welsh opera singer as the greatest lyric tenor of his generation, adding, how lucky that we still have recordings of his to enjoy." Labour MP for Rhondda and Ogmore Chris Bryant also shared in a post on X: "Really sad to hear that the magnificent tenor, the Rhondda's own Stuart Burrows has died aged 94. Requiescat in pace."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charity Theatre Trips offering Bristol outings to Somerset residents
A charity is inviting people from Somerset to enjoy theatre shows to help raise money. Charity Theatre Trips has arranged for people to travel from Somerset to Bristol to enjoy an outing at the theatre. The organisation has reserved tickets for The Bristol Light Opera Company's amateur premiere of Les Misérables and Fiddler on the Roof, both set to be performed at the Bristol Hippodrome in July. It has also secured tickets for the Welsh National Opera's performance of Tosca in October. To find out more about the trips and to reserve tickets, visit Tickets can be reserved without obligation, with payment due two months before the performance date. A spokesperson for the charity said: "There is a lot to choose from, with coach travel included in the price." "We start at Curry Rivel, pick-up in Langport and Somerton, then either Keinton Mandeville and Shepton Mallet, or Street, Glastonbury and Wells." "Any profit is donated to British Red Cross."
South Wales Guardian
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
UK culture sector leaders ‘unwilling' to police which toilets people use
Over the Easter period, it was declared that the words 'woman' and 'sex' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. The ruling has been interpreted to mean that transgender women, who are biologically male but identify as women, can be excluded from women-only spaces like toilets and changing rooms. More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) which claims its interim update on the practical implications of the judgment 'overlooks the need to protect trans, non-binary and intersex people from discrimination'. Signatories include joint chief executives and general directors of the Welsh National Opera (WNO), Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree, the founder of the Vagina Museum, Florence Schechter, and the director of Queer Britain museum, Andrew Given. The letter says: 'The majority of cultural venues – who are already facing significant financial challenges and are often based in listed and old buildings – are unable to magic up new toilet facilities. As well as being profoundly unfair, this kind of segregation will have significant social, cultural and economic impact. 'In addition, your interim update is not practical or possible to apply.' It adds: 'We are unable and unwilling to police the gender of people using our toilets. 'Before any guidance or legislation is issued, we urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with the trans, intersex and non-binary communities about the potential impact of any legislation along similar lines to your update. 'We also urge you to undertake full and appropriate consultation with those running cultural venues and public buildings to understand the impact this would have on operations, our ability to keep people safe and our ability to ensure inclusive and welcoming spaces.' It comes after actors including Oscar-winning star Eddie Redmayne, The Brutalist actor Joe Alwyn and Babygirl star Harris Dickinson signed an open letter addressed to film and TV industry bodies, encouraging them to support the trans community. The letter said that the signatories wish to 'add our voices to the 2,000+ signatories of the Open Letter from UK Writers to the Trans Community', which was signed by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and Chewing Gum's Michaela Coel. The EHRC has issued guidance aimed at clearing up questions about what the judgment will mean in practice. Transgender women 'should not be permitted to use the women's facilities' in workplaces or public-facing services like shops and hospitals, the EHRC said. The same applies to transgender men, who are biologically female, using men's toilets. The watchdog also insisted that transgender people 'should not be put in a position where there are no facilities for them to use'. The Supreme Court decision was hailed as a victory by some women's rights campaigners, but LGBT+ charity Stonewall described it as 'incredibly worrying for the trans community'. EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner told the political magazine The House: 'I can wholeheartedly reassure all who rely on us that every explanation of equality law from the EHRC will be accurate and authoritative. That is our job.' 'The unambiguous ruling of the Supreme Court has now clarified what the law is. 'Claims that trans people are not being listened to are simply incorrect.' The EHRC is currently reviewing its statutory code of practice for services. It will seek affected stakeholders' views on how the practical implications of the judgment can be reflected in the updated guidance in a consultation expected to launch later this month.
