HRH The Prince of Wales meeting the cast of La forza del destino .Photo Credit-Roger Donovan
HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of Welsh National Opera, attended a performance of WNO’s new production of La forza del destino at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
On arrival, His Royal Highness was met by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of South Glamorgan, Mrs Morfudd Meredith, and hosts including WNO Honorary President Mathew Prichard, WNO Chairman Mark Molyneux, WNO Artistic Director David Pountney, WNO Managing Director Leonora Thomson and WNO Music Director Tomáš Hanus. His Royal Highness was greeted on arrival by 72 young singers aged 10 to 18 from WNO Youth Opera singing “Sisi Ni Moja” (We Are One) by Jacob Narverud accompanied by WNO percussionist Jonathan Helm.
His Royal Highness was also met by His Excellency the Italian Ambassador Raffaele Trombetta who is Patron of WNO’s Verdi Trilogy and Mr Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Transport, Welsh Government.
Following the performance, Artistic Director of WNO David Pountney introduced His Royal Highness to the performers and Company members on stage.
The Prince of Wales has been Patron of WNO since 1997, and in 2016 celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Company with a special Gala performance at Buckingham Palace.
La forza del destino was directed by WNO Artistic Director David Pountney and conducted by WNO Conductor Laureate Carlo Rizzi. The cast featured Gwyn Hughes Jones in the role of Don Alvaro and Mary Elizabeth Williams in the role of Donna Leonora. The performance was supported by The Kobler Trust, the WNO Verdi Syndicate and WNO Verdi Patrons.
David Pountney said “We were very proud to welcome our patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, to this important premiere of La Forza del Destino, to launch our Verdi trilogy. HRH is an enthusiastic supporter of our work and we greatly value his encouragement and enthusiasm.”
Ambassador Raffaele Trombetta said: “It is a true honour for me to serve as Patron of the Verdi Trilogy and I am most grateful to Welsh National Opera for their important contribution in furthering the reach of Italian opera across the whole of the UK.”
For further information on Welsh National Opera visit wno.org.uk
