Rian Evans, The Guardian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Mid Wales Opera continue to survive against the odds, and this small-scale but lively evening is full of wit and strong singing”
theguardian.com – read the full review
“I was dumbfounded by the brilliance with which MWO…managed to conjure up the spirit of 1950s American suburbia. This little Welsh Production, smartly directed by Richard Studer and dynamically conducted by Jonathan Lyness, was completely satisfying.”
Michael White, The Catholic Herald
These dates are all in the past.
Bernstein’s one act opera is an exquisite dissection of the great American Dream, through the eyes of Sam and Dinah in their 1950’s Pastel house and white picket fence marriage. A Jazz ‘scat’ trio provides a running commentary as the couple avoid the realities of their relationship. For Sam it’s gym buddies and work, for Dinah trips to her therapist and the glorious technicolour escapism of Hollywood – can their ‘dream marriage’ survive?
Performed in Yannotta’s chamber arrangement for seven instrumentalists, with a cast of five led by MWO’s Music Director from the piano, the opera forms the first half of the evening, with the second half celebrating American opera and musical theatre, with a theme of The American Dream, featuring all the performers.
“The MWO cast delivers a performance of sustained power and grace and the orchestra revels in its role as aider and abetter of strife and its attempts at resolution”
Nigel Jarrett Arts Scene in Wales – read the full review
“MWO are nothing if not adventurous and game in their choice of challenging work with problems to solve in staging small-scale, whilst still giving the full experience to audiences across Wales.”
Jenny March Theatre in Wales – read the full review
Music and Libretto: Leonard Bernstein
Chamber Arrangement: Bernard Yannotta
Music Director: Jonathan Lyness
Director/Designer: Richard Studer
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Dinah: Samantha Price
Sam: Samuel Pantcheff
Trio #1: Kirsty McLean
Trio #2: Sam Marston
Trio #3: John Ieuan Jones
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Flute / Piccolo / Alto Flute: Nicola Woodward.
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet: Chris Goodman
Trumpet: Sian Davis
Trombone: Peter Richards
Double Bass: Dave Ayre
Timpani / Percussion: James Harrison
Piano: Jonathan Lyness
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Trouble in Tahiti: 45 mins
INTERVAL
The American Dream: 45 mins
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All shows at 7.30pm
Richard Bratby, The Spectator
“Modest in scale but uncompromising in quality”
David Truslove, Opera Today
“Mid Wales Opera has virtually created an instruction manual for the performance of community-based opera in rural areas, shrink-wrapping works into spaces that rarely enjoy professional presentation.”
