“The timpani part in Macbeth stipulates just two timpani. The result? A host of wrong notes for the timpanist! What on earth is going on?” I received an email the other day that included a message from our timpanist for...Read More
I have to be honest: I’ve always had a somewhat equivocal relationship with Berlioz. And I know that, amongst musicians and music lovers, I’m not alone. Some of his works have widespread appeal, such as the song cycle Les nuits...Read More
Credit: Banner artwork by Clive Hicks-Jenkins Fairy Tales are nightmare, not dreamscapes. They play on our primitive and primordial fears. They are the knock in the dark, the crack of a branch, the footstep on the stair rousing you from...Read More
With less than a month to go until opening night in Newtown on March 4th we caught up with the stars of our first ever production of Hansel and Gretel in rehearsals. We’re working with some familiar faces – including...Read More
“Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel would never have existed if it wasn’t for the composer’s sister, the German folklore enthusiast Adelheid Wette” The story of Hansel and Gretel begins in 1812 when two academic brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, publish a...Read More
We’re excited to announce the cast of MWO’s first ever production of Humperdinck’s fabulous fairy tale opera Hansel and Gretel. We will be joined by some familiar faces from our Puss in Boots tour including Philip Smith (Father) and Alys...Read More
Once upon a time, an author was commissioned to produce a charming tale as a primer book for children to help them to learn to read. He was so frustrated with the list of prescribed words he was allowed to...Read More
We catch up with our Puss and Princess, Miller, King and Ogre as they get ready to hit the road. We’re nearly ready to open our Autumn tour of Montsalvatge’s Puss in Boots – and it is high time we...Read More
Since first encountering Xavier Montsalvatge’s music, way back in 1995, MWO’s Music Director has been fascinated by the Catalan composer’s work. Now for our SmallStages tour this Autumn, twenty years after the composer’s death, MWO are thrilled to bring Montsalvatge’s...Read More
