The O Word

Gareth returns to question ‘What does it take to be an opera singer?’, this time sitting down with Soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams. Together they discuss Mary Elizabeth’s career to date and consider what lies ahead for the opera world in challenging and uncertain times.

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Mae Gareth yn dychwelyd at y cwestiwn ‘Beth sydd ei angen er mwyn bod yn ganwr opera?‘, gan eistedd i lawr y tro hwn gyda’r Soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams. Gyda’i gilydd maent yn trafod gyrfa Mary Elizabeth hyd yma ac yn ystyried y dyfodol agos ar gyfer y byd opera yn ystod y cyfnod heriol ac ansicr hwn.

Credits:

Un Ballo in Maschera, with thanks to WNO Orchestra, Mary Elizabeth Williams and Gwyn Hughes Jones

La Forza del Destino, cond. Molinari-Pradelli, Deutsche Grammophone (1955)

Il Trovatore, ‘D’amour Sull’alli Rosee’ performed by Maria Callas

Tosca: ‘Vissi D’arte’, performed by Maria Callas 

Gareth talks to WNO producer Jennifer Hill about the formation of Welsh National Opera’s Cradle Choir, a project which brings together 96 primary school children and people living with dementia for a shared choral experience.  He also its down with Celi Barberia from the Sing Up Foundation to discuss the wider implications and health benefits of singing. Can singing really improve your physical and mental health?
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Caiff Gareth sgwrs â chynhyrchydd Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Jennifer Hill, ynghylch ffurfio Côr Cysur Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, prosiect sy'n uno 96 o blant oed cynradd a phobl sy'n byw gyda dementia wrth iddynt rannu profiad corawl.  Mae Gareth hefyd yn eistedd gydag Celi Barberia o Sing.

Gareth meets writers Shreya Sen-Handley, Edson Burton and Miles Chambers, to discover more about their unique approaches to writing a libretto for the first time. Acclaimed librettist Emma Jenkins, known for works such as In Parenthesis, also joins Gareth to discuss her writing process.

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Mae Gareth yn cwrdd â'r ysgrifenwyr Shreya Sen-Handley, Edson Burton a Miles Chambers, er mwyn darganfod mwy am eu dulliau unigryw o ysgrifennu libreto am y tro cyntaf. Mae'r libretydd enwog Emma Jenkins, sy'n adnabyddus am weithiau er enghraifft In Parenthesis, hefyd yn ymuno â Gareth i drafod ei phroses ysgrifennu.


Credits:
In Parenthesis
Composers: Antrobus/Bell/Jenkins/Jones
Publisher: Chester Music Ltd 

Gareth investigates how contemporary writers approach creating an opera from scratch. As opera is a medium known for reviving and reinventing established works, what are the essential components needed for a brand-new opera to be representative of today? Celebrated composer Will Todd explains his process and performs extracts from his new opera Migrations.
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Mae Gareth yn ymchwilio er mwyn darganfod sut mae ysgrifenwyr cyfoes yn creu opera o ddim. Cyfrwng yw opera sy'n adnabyddus am ailddyfeisio ac adfywio gweithiau parod, beth yw'r elfennau hanfodol sydd eu hangen er mwyn i opera newydd sbon gynrychioli'r byd cyfoes? Mae'r cyfansoddwr enwog Will Todd yn egluro ei broses ac yn perfformio detholiad o'r opera newydd Migrations.

Credits:
Rhondda Rips It Up!, Welsh National Opera, with thanks to Elena LangerFigaro gets a divorce, Welsh National Opera, with thanks to Elena Langer
La Boheme, ‘Si, mi chiamano Mimi’, 1912 (Soloist Farr)
 

Does opera have an image problem? Gareth looks to the future of opera with Aidan Lang (General Director, WNO) and James Clutton (Director, Opera Holland Park. Gareth is also  joined by leading figures in youth opera; Dan Perkin and Sian Cameron, to discuss the intricacies of training opera’s next generation.
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Oes gan opera 'broblem delwedd'? Mae Gareth yn edrych i'r dyfodol gydag Aidan Lang (Cyfarwyddwr Cyffredinol, Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru) a James Clutton (Cyfarwyddwr, Opera Holland Park). Hefyd yn ymuno â Gareth mae ffigyrau blaenllaw ym myd opera ieuenctid; Dan Perkin a Sian Cameron, er mwyn trafod y cymhlethdodau sy'n ymwneud â hyfforddi cenhedlaeth nesaf byd opera.
 

Gareth sits down with tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones to discover what it takes – physically, mentally and spiritually – to be an opera singer in 2020. At a time when many singers face isolation away from the stage, how important is it to stay positive and active? What methods can be used to protect and maintain a voice during lockdown?

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Caiff Gareth sgwrs â'r tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones er mwyn darganfod beth sy'n ofynnol - yn gorfforol, yn feddyliol ac yn ysbrydol - i fod yn ganwr opera yn y flwyddyn 2020. Mewn cyfnod pan mae nifer o gantorion yn wynebu ynysu i ffwrdd o'r llwyfan, pa mor bwysig yw cadw'n weithgar a chynnal meddylfryd cadarnhaol? Pa ddulliau sydd ar gael i amddiffyn a chynnal llais yn ystod y cyfnod o dan gyfyngiadau?

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All music licenced courtesy of Naxos.

Join journalist and opera enthusiast Gareth Jones as he explores the world of opera, both on stage and beyond it. With guests ranging from internationally-renowned musicians to leading figures in arts and culture, Gareth tries to answer some of opera’s burning questions. 

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Ymunwch â'r newyddiadurwr sy'n frwd dros opera, Gareth Jones, yn ei archwiliad o fyd opera, ar y llwyfan a thu hwnt. Gyda gwesteion yn amrywio o gerddorion adnabyddus ledled y byd i ffigyrau amlwg o fewn y celfyddydau, diwylliant a thu hwnt, bydd Gareth yn ceisio datrys rhai o bynciau llosg byd opera.