Welsh National Opera returns to MK Theatre this November with Ainadamar & La Traviata

A colourful spectacle of music, dance and poetry comes to Milton Keynes with Welsh National Opera, who are bringing Ainadamar and La traviata to the city on Thu 16 & Sat 18 Nov.

Following their previous visit to Milton Keynes Theatre last April, Welsh National Opera returns with two acclaimed productions. Audiences can look forward to seeing Ainadamar, directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer Deborah Colker, and Sir David McVicar’s production of La traviata (Verdi) conducted by Alexander Joel.

More details on both performances can be found below.

Ainadamar

Flamenco and poetry meet opera as Welsh National Opera’s Autumn Season opens with the Welsh premiere of Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar. A co-production with Opera Ventures, Scottish Opera. Detroit Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera, the UK stage premiere was delivered by Scottish Opera in Autumn 2022 to wide critical acclaim. Sung in Spanish – a first for WNO – the twice-Grammy-winning work reimagines the life of Spanish poet and playwright Federico

García Lorca as an artistic martyr through a flashback of memories by his muse and collaborator, the actress Margarita Xirgu.

In the director’s chair is internationally renowned and Olivier award-winning Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker (Rio 2016 Olympics, Cirque du Soleil) whose approach promises a colourful spectacle of music, dance, and theatre. Ainadamar combines classical opera and traditional flamenco to tell Lorca’s story.

Matthew Kofi Waldren returns to WNO to conduct Ainadamar, following a triumphant run of Migrations with the Company in Summer and Autumn 2022. Led by a trio of female voices, the international cast includes Argentinian soprano Jaquelina Livieri (Margarita Xirgu) and Polish mezzo-soprano Hanna Hipp (Federico García Lorca).

Joining the two are the rising star, Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong (Nuria), who has recently been crowned Cardiff Singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Audience Prize winner, as well as Andalucian flamenco singer Alfredo Tejada (Ruiz Alonso). The cast also includes Annie Reilly (Niña 1) and WNO’s new Associate Artist Beca Davies (Niña 2).

La traviata

Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed production of Verdi’s much-loved opera La traviata returns to WNO with Sarah Crisp directing. Based on Alexandre Dumas fils’ novel, La Dame aux Camélias, the story is a classic tale of thwarted love, scandal and self-sacrifice.

Conducted by Alexander Joel, the production will feature Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume making her WNO debut as the elegant courtesan Violetta Valéry who faces the choice of giving up her glamorous lifestyle for true love with the penniless aristocratic poet Alfredo Germont played by Korean tenor David Junghoon Kim. Also joining the cast is American bass-baritone Mark S Doss, returning to WNO to sing the role of Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father.

WNO General Director Aidan Lang said: “We are very excited to open this Autumn season with the hugely anticipated Welsh premiere of Osvaldo Golojov’s Ainadamar. This will be the first time that audiences in Wales and England will get to see this production, which combines opera with Latin music, flamenco, dance and poetry, and promises to be a true spectacle. Ainadamar offers our audiences something completely different to what they may have previously experienced. Alongside this new production, the Company will be performing the well-loved production of La traviata by Sir David McVicar, under the baton of Alexander Joel. We are delighted to feature the UK debut of the exciting Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume in the title role.”

Book your tickets now here.