31 July 2010 
Started in 1946, now Welsh National Opera is Europe's busiest touring opera company and the largest provider of touring opera in the UK serving a catchment area of over 12 million people in some of the most densely populated urban areas in Britain. In Autumn 2004, WNO moved into its first ever home theatre in the new Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay.

PMF involvement:

Audience development and touring

WNO Peter Moores Week in Liverpool offered all seats at £2.50 for first-time opera-goers.

1998/9 help with set refurbishment for Puccini's Madama Butterfly for touring

2000/1 help with set refurbishment for Verdi's La traviata for touring

New Work

November 2007 London premiere of James MacMillan’s new opera, The Sacrifice at Sadlers Wells

Rarely performed opera

1979 Verdi's Ernani (co-production with Royal Northern College of Music)

1989 Janáček's Osud, recorded in 1989 and subsequently remastered and issued on Chandos Opera in English

1993/4 Donizetti's La Favorite and Lucia di Lammermoor
MacMillan's The Sacrifice
The Financial Times
'The Sacrifice offers as many thrills as Tosca, as much agony as Peter Grimes, more violence than Elektra and Salome combined and a suspense quotient to rival Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. MacMillan's expertly crafted music has easy-to-identify theme tunes and gut-wrenching climaxes.'

The Independent
'WNO's principals sing powerfully, with Milne radiant in Sian's long laments and her trio of attendants Amanda Baldwin, Rosie Hay and Samantha Hay beautifully blended, while the chorus and orchestra give this old/new score immediacy under MacMillan's beat. Few operas enjoy premieres as well-executed as this.'
Evening Standard

‘There are nearly three hours of impassioned, richly melodic music in James MacMillan's The Sacrifice, excellently performed by a fine cast. This was appreciated by last night's audience at the Oxford leg of the opera's world premiere tour - culminating next week at Sadler's Wells - who cheered composer, singers and orchestra warmly… Lisa Milne, Christopher Purves and Sarah Tynan led an impeccable cast, with top quality singing and playing from the all important chorus and orchestra of Welsh National Opera, conducted by MacMillan…

MacMillan's music is stirring and heartfelt... It's flawed, but this is a huge, eloquent score that deserves a hearing.’

Macmillan's The Sacrifice
Macmillan's The Sacrifice
MacMillan’s The Sacrifice