Mid Wales Opera (MWO) celebrated a resounding success with its OpenStages 2026 project, culminating in performances in Brecon and Hay-on-Wye earlier this month.
Two fully staged performances of Dido and Aeneas at Brecon Cathedral alongside a special Musical Soirée at Hay Castle sold out in record time.
Demand for the cathedral performances was so high that two additional release of tickets had to be created, with a waiting list introduced at Theatr Brycheiniog.
At the heart of this success was the OpenStages project itself, an intensive and inspirational week of music-making that brought together professional artists, students and amateur musicians in a shared creative process.
Rehearsing across Brecon and Hay, participants worked as one integrated company under Mid Wales Opera’s creative team, culminating in performances that combined artistic excellence with a powerful sense of community collaboration.
MWO artistic director, Richard Studer explained the importance of these projects in the community. “What I love about MWO’s OpenStages projects, like this production of Dido and Aeneas, is that it’s an opportunity for early career singers, amateurs and professionals to work alongside each other in a supportive environment.
“I think it’s the responsibility of all artists at any level to have a strand of their work dedicated to connecting to new audiences and promoting their art form. It doesn’t matter what level of your career you have achieved, or where you are in terms of appreciation, we were all beginners once!”
Sung in Nahum Tate’s original English libretto and accompanied by the OpenStages Orchestra, the production offered a vivid and emotionally compelling interpretation of Henry Purcell’s timeless opera.
Louise Wood, a Welsh mezzo-soprano currently based in Manchester and studying at the Royal Northern College of Music, took part in the project alongside other new and emerging talent.
“I’m very excited to play the role of Sorceress,” she said. “She’s such an interesting character, as the audience only sees her for a fraction of the opera, but boy does she make an impact!”
Audience response to the two cathedral performances was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and both events demonstrated the breadth and flexibility of the OpenStages model, reaching audiences in different settings while maintaining the same high artistic standard.
The orchestra was conducted by Jonathan Lyness and led by the talented Elenid Owen. The ensemble brought together a dedicated group of string musicians.
A community chorus was also at the heart of the production, assembling singers of all ages and experience levels to form a vital part of the storytelling.
Chorus alto Lucy Green said: “When I moved to Wales from London I thought I had given up opera singing. But my heart leapt on seeing the poster about one of the greatest gems amongst all opera in the English language. I couldn’t help myself applying!”
