Saturday 18th February 2017, and would you believe it, I’m back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay, for my 4th performance of the WNO production of Madam Butterfly. For tonight’s opera we have Karah Son and Jonathan Burton returning as Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton. I have been greatly impressed by all four of these leading ladies and gents, with each of them giving stand out performances at all occasions I’ve visited

My last few blogs have concentrated on how amazingly brilliant the female leads have been, with Karah, Linda and Rebecca outstanding on every performance I’ve seen so far. So I’m moving onto the male leads today.

As the curtain rises, we have Goro played by Simon Crosby Buttle with Lieutenant Pinkerton played by Jonathan Burton (for last nights  performance Paul Charles Clark played this role). Followed on by David Kempster as Sharpless (the American Consul). Again I was very impressed with the singing voices these gentlemen generated throughout the opera. Mixing well with the female cast members to produce some wonderful tones as the opera progresses. With a good mix of musical ranges (Simon and Jonathan as the two tenors and David a baritone), we have a great opportunity to listen to these performers sing their hearts out. And I must say they do just that.

I also have to mention the WNO Chorus, whose members fill in the rest of the cast, and again are so brilliant in everything they achieve on stage, adding some wonderful harmonies to proceedings, especially in the first act, as we meet Cio-Cio-san’s relatives etc at the wedding party. I’ve always said the chorus of the WNO have to be one of the best you’ll ever hear when visiting any opera company, and they’ve never proved me wrong so far.

Another mention has to go to the wonderful Orchestra of the WNO, who are just phenomenal every time they play. I think I must have mentioned this fact a million times. They also have to be one of the best Orchestras around at this moment in time, playing to near perfection at every opportunity. 

An amazing season of top class opera, which I have enjoyed immensely. I’ve heard some fabulous voices throughout, just beautiful. Tonight, as well, is the last opera performance at the Millenium Centre before the whole season goes on tour. I feel very lucky to have been able to enjoy so many performances of Madam Butterfly and La Boheme while they have been camped at the centre. So I’m looking forward to more offerings at the Centre for the next season in May/June 2017.

Friday 17th February 2017, another day off work for a visit to Cardiff Bay, and the Millenium Centre for my 3rd performance of the WNO production of Madam Butterfly.  A really beautiful opera, that’s packed with amazing voices and a wonderful score, (played to perfection by the brilliant WNO Orchestra).

For tonight’s performance we have the role of Cio-Cio-San (Madam Butterfly) played by Linda Richardson. With Paul Charles Clarke playing Lieutenant Pinkerton.  A chance to hear some new voices playing the lead roles in this classic opera. May I be the first to say wow, really impressed with the two performers, Paul taking total command of the role, and Linda has such a fabulous voice, it’s just breathtaking to listen to. I’ve never heard Linda sing before (having missed her in previous roles), but can’t wait to hear her again in future roles with the WNO. 

I love act two when we get to hear Cio-Cio-San (Linda) sing with her maid Suzuki (played by the amazing Rebecca Afanwy-Jones). Together the harmonies are perfect (as I’ve been saying all through each of the shows I’ve seen).

As usual I have to commend the whole cast and orchestra for just being superb. Its brilliant to come here week after week and get blown away by every performance, of every show, I see. And of course tonight’s was no exception.  Magnificent from everyone, feel the need to see more again and again. 

Day 3 of my weekend opera extravaganza, its Sunday 12th February 2017 and I’m back at the Millenium Centre here in Cardiff Bay for my second instalment of Madam Butterfly, performed by the WNO company. 

A weekend of sheer bliss listening to some fabulous voices resonating out into this amazing auditorium. Together with the brilliant WNO Orchestra, playing to perfection on every visit, just magnificent, really bringing so much joy to the end of each working week.

So to today’s performance and a second chance in a few days to listen to the beautiful voices of Karah Son (Madam Butterfly) and Rebecca Afonwy-jones (Suzuki). Hearing them together in act two, as they wait for Pinkerton’s ship, each complementing the other with such stunning vocals, is just phenomenal. With ‘One Fine Day’ a stand out aria for Karah, and of course the humming chorus for the brilliant orchestra.  Another brilliant array of singing is the end of act one, with a beautiful piece of music as Pinkerton (Jonathan Burton) and Butterfly sing their hearts out at their wedding evening, as they are left alone after the guests leave. 

In all another fabulous opera, so good, beautifully done from all, with a real privilege to see such great opera so close to home, who are just magnificent on every occasion I get to watch. Need to see more, and knowing me, I definitely will. 

Saturday 11th February 2017, and back yet again to the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay, for my 3rd performance of La Boheme, a 4 act opera from Puccini with the libretto co written by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. 

The main plot for this wonderful opera consists of two love affairs. The on/off partnership between Musetta (Lauren Fagan) and Marcelo (Gary Griffiths), along with the tempestuous relationship of Rodolfo (Dominick Chenes) with Mimi (Marina Costa-Jackson). As I’ve said before a beautiful opera, with some comic moments intermingled with jealousy and tragedy, as Mimi confronts the ultimate end as the opera progresses to a tearful climax.

As usual the WNO company are just magnificent in everything they do. I have to commend the singing, the music played by the wonderful orchestra (just as I have done after every opera I’ve seen for the past few years) and the fact that I can just relax throughout the whole performance and drift away into the world of live theatrical wonderment. 

A word about tonight’s performance and yet again absolutely outstanding. So good, I even cried in the same places as I did on the previous occasions. Fabulous just fabulous. 

Friday 10th February 2017, a day off from work today to watch the opening  night performance  of Madam Butterfly from the wonderful WNO, at the Wales Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay. Another opera I’m really looking forward to, having seen this with the Ellen Kent company a few years ago, it will be good to see how the WNO handle this classic opera.

The cast for tonight’s performance  includes David Kempster as Sharpless. Karah Son playing Cio-Cio-San. Jonathan Burton as Pinkerton and Rebecca Afonwy-Jones as Suzuki. The magnificent WNO orchestra is conducted by Lawrence Foster. 

Another beautiful opera written by Puccini (as was La Boheme), and performed to perfection by this brilliant company. Karah Son is absolutely brilliant, such an amazing, beautiful voice, and a huge applause from a very appreciative audience as the curtain came down. Together with Jonathan Burton they make a great vocal pairing, so fabulous to listen to. The second act also gave us the fabulous voice of Rebecca as Suzuki and another chance to hear David Kempster with his Suberb vocal tones as well. As usual the singing from the chorus and the cast was also fabulous just a delight to sit in comfort and wallow in its brilliance.

The set looks stunning, so well thought out, fabulously designed and I must say built to perfection, with everything sliding into place without a fuss. Well worth another visit to this wonderful theatre for another showing. 

Another Saturday arrives and another show to see tonight, it’s the 4th of February 2017, and I’m back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay for my 2nd performance of the brilliant La Boheme, from the Welsh National Opera. A fabulous opera from Puccini, so beautifully undertaken by this wonderful company. Having seen this last weekend I’m so looking forward to watching it unfold all over again.

And so to tonight’s performance, with the cast remaining as last week. I’d like to talk about some of the things I never got around to, last time out. As usual the WNO have produced an excellent show. The set is well thought out, with an exquisite front curtain, opening up for the main scenes. A versatile set which changes, with ease as the opera rolls along. The snowy scenes of act two look very realistic, and make you feel cold for a split second, before the fabulous voices on show, quickly warm you back up to normal temperature. Along with the set goes the lighting designs, which add a great deal to the feel of the opera, enhancing the stage presence of each character, with its surroundings. The costumes have a really simple design theme to them, although work extremely well with the plot of this opera, with many of its characters struggling to make ends meet. Another aspect of this production is the use of the children in some of the scenes, with a few sung lines dotted around these particular stages of the opera. Even though they don’t sing an awful lot, they still sound good, as their combined voices resonate around the auditorium. 

Again, during most of this wonderful opera I had a tear in my eye, mainly due to the Superb vocal talent on show here tonight. Another fabulous performance from all on show. So impressed I just wanted to listen to this all night. Still, on the plus side I will hopefully get to see it again before it begins its tour later in the month.

As I said last week, the standard of the voices on show is just magnificent, (which always seems to be the case with the WNO), they never fail to deliver exactly what they set out to achieve. Which is one of the reasons I keep coming back for more every season. 

Saturday 28th January 2017, and I’m back at the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay, for the Welsh National Opera (WNO) production of La Boheme. Looking forward to watching this opera. I’ve seen it once before, with the Ellen Kent company. It will be nice to see how the WNO take on this classic opera. I have to say that everything I’ve seen of them so far (over the last four years) has greatly impressed me,  having seen nearly all of their productions in that time period.

This opera was just brilliant. The voices on show tonight were of the highest quality. Mimi played by Marina Costa- Jackson had such a beautiful voice and together with Dominick Chenes as Rudolfo, made a great couple, as his voice was just excellent too. Marcelo played by Gary Griffiths and Musetta by Lauren Fagan were also brilliant, making this a great pairing to go with Mimi and Rudolfo. 

The whole cast were excellent, as they usually are with the WNO, from the other principal singers, through to the chorus and the children appearing in the background. As usual the WNO orchestra, lead by Manlio Benzi, were just superb, playing this wonderful score to perfection.

An amazing opening night, and a full house to go with it, and as usual I had a few tears in my eyes during many of the scenes, as great music and fabulous voices combined to make this an unforgettable evenings entertainment. Will definitely be watching this production again at the Centre, before it goes out on tour.

Of course later in the year (April 2017), we have the brilliant musical ‘Rent’ which is based on this great opera. Another one of my favourite shows, I’m really looking forward to seeing this live on the Millenium Centre stage. 

Saturday 24th September 2016 in Cardiff Bay,for my final viewing of the WNO production of Macbeth at the Wales Millenium Centre. An opera beautifully written by Verdi and performed to perfection by this magnificent company. In my opinion,this is worth watching as many times as possible, I enjoy it every time I see it, and shows just how good this opera company is, producing the goods every season.

Many people have asked me how I can keep watching ‘Shakespeare’, and I keep explaining that this opera is only based on the play, as its music is just brilliant and sung in Italian, which takes the emphasis off the play, giving the audience a new ‘angle’ in which to view the whole experience. With the WNO making their home at the centre, this also adds to the spectacle, with probably the best theatre in Britain at this moment. The acoustics in the main auditorium are second to none, and really aid the singers achieve amazing tones, as they sing their hearts out throughout. We also have a brilliant orchestra located in a huge pit area, purpose built for such occasions.

Having written about this opera twice already, I seemed to have mentioned Mary Elizabeth Williams quite a lot, with good reason. I know I keep going on about this, but when I hear a fabulous voice singing from that huge stage, I have to write about it. Listening to beautiful singing is one of the main reasons I watch shows over and over, it really brings the week to a fitting end, knowing that you can look forward to watching live entertainment so close to home, every weekend after a hard week at work.

On that note we move on to tonight’s performance.  Very impressed again, musically so good,with the WNO orchestra again wonderful value for money, The chorus exquisite, as they always are, at every performance they do. And so onto the principals who again were outstanding. With special mention to Mary Elizabeth Williams and Luis Cansino for two absolutely brilliant performances tonight, with the biggest Cheer of the evening going to Mary, and as usual, totally deserved. An absolutely brilliant evenings viewing again. Looking forward to the next instalment.