26 September 2024 , Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport: Evidence session with Arts Council of Wales (2)
Well, Welsh National Opera is a really interesting and well-publicised situation. I think I have to be quite sensitive in my comments in this committee, because I don't want to do anything that could undermine the … management and the quite intricate negotiations with the unions. I have had constant discussions with the Welsh National Opera and with Arts Council England. We did, actually, ACE and ourselves as ACW, assist the Welsh National Opera …
Shown in Welsh: there is no English text.
4 March 2026 , Plenary
Short Debate: How can Wales protect, enhance, and enshrine our world-leading cultural organisations for the enrichment of the people of Wales and beyond?
… music service's innovative leadership and collaborative approach with National Youth Arts Wales, and alongside providers like Welsh National Opera , has marched through the schools of Wales, establishing first-experience programmes, whole-class initiatives, the roll-out … and creative landscapes of Wales and our economy. And then the jewel in the performance crown, the Welsh National Opera , has also welcomed hugely a massive Welsh Government injection of funding, and this was a direct result …
22 May 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
… Llywydd. For those who witnessed the wonderful spectacle on the steps of the Senedd yesterday by the Welsh National Opera , the orchestra and the chorus, performing the Easter Hymn, conducted by Maestro Carlo Rizzi, I think … many Members across this Chamber, have been relaying their concern and outrage about the cuts to the Welsh National Opera . The crisis, of course, threatens the future of our flagship arts organisation and the only full-time opera …
14 May 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
… would like to request a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, please. Welsh National Opera is currently engulfed in a crisis that threatens its future as our flagship arts organisation and only full-time … opera company here in Wales. Welsh National Opera is the jewel in Wales's crown. It is the largest arts employer, created in the 1940s by a group of doctors, miners and teachers who wished to build …
8 October 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
… demonstrated fully the sparkling quality and excellence of our publicly funded organisations—BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera , Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, National Music Service for Wales, Creative Wales, Anthem—and it also … recognised the amazing economic contribution of the music stakeholders present to Wales. Today in 2024, the Welsh National Opera is defunded, withering and facing strike action—and it's not an organisation known for that militancy—and staring …
26 September 2024 , Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport: Evidence session with Arts Council of Wales (2)
… just like to make one point, though, in terms of the Welsh National Opera . I haven't seen this particular project that you refer to, personally, so I'm not going to comment on the content of that … seen it, so I won't answer any more. The one thing I will say about the Welsh National Opera , though, is that you need to consider our blend of funding. The Welsh National Opera is the highest …
17 July 2024 , Plenary
Finance Committee Debate: Welsh Government's spending priorities for the 2025-26 budget
… also as the chair of the Senedd's cross-party group on music, and as a musician. Welsh National Opera , the world-renowned jewel in the Welsh crown, faces cuts that will see it becoming part-time, unable … intervene, and I urge Welsh Government to reprioritise and provide a £550,000 priority cash injection to Welsh National Opera , and for urgent talks to start formally with the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the …
4 June 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice: Culture and Social Justice—Reaffirmation of our values
… music, I was also able to welcome the renowned conductor, Carlo Rizzi, and members of the Welsh National Opera to the steps of the Senedd, where they protested for their very existence. So, it is absolutely right that … right and, Cabinet Secretary, I welcome your willingness to meet with the interim general director of Welsh National Opera , as well as me, to discuss the huge concerns that exist. And it is right that our organisations …
21 May 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
Yes, I think we heard the wonderful singing from the Welsh National Opera and so many of us appreciate the wonderful opera , the Welsh National Opera , and what they have delivered in terms of their track record and … this in terms of those decisions. But I think it is important, just in terms of the Welsh National Opera , which we heard about today, that it is still receiving the largest multi-year funding offer of all …
24 April 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice
Diolch, Deputy Presiding Officer. Diolch. Cabinet Secretary, for over three quarters of a century, Welsh National Opera has richly contributed to promoting the cultural heritage of Wales. It is the jewel in our crown across the UK, internationally … meet with me to discuss the very real and serious concerns about the consequences of cuts to Welsh National Opera funding, substantively from Arts Council England and, of course, the Arts Council of Wales. It is very clear …
12 December 2022 , Equality and Social Justice Committee
Annual scrutiny of the work of the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
… Cardiff and I was suffering with long COVID, I might benefit from the partnership with the Welsh National Opera , who are using singing to help to restore vocal cords and air and lung capacity and … suspects: who would have thought, as I said, that Cardiff health board would be partnering with the Welsh National Opera ? Who would have thought that the Welsh National Opera would even bother thinking about what their role was …
4 March 2026 , Plenary
Short Debate: How can Wales protect, enhance, and enshrine our world-leading cultural organisations for the enrichment of the people of Wales and beyond?
… the Welsh Government to do all it can to support that development. And, again, Rhianon mentioned the Welsh National Opera . It is an absolute tragedy that that has been under threat. So, I think we have to make … certain that the Welsh National Opera survives and flourishes. Because if we value these institutions, we must give them the stability they need. Diolch …
26 September 2024 , Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Impact of funding reductions for culture and sport: Evidence session with Welsh National Opera (3)
… joint general director and CEO, and the tagline was, 'Eich Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru'; that it's your Welsh National Opera . And I've been hugely inspired by the sorts of opera companies and the companies that Chris was … cultural diversity in Wales that is not being reflected, necessarily, at the moment—not just in Welsh National Opera , but in opera in general—and to really celebrate that. We'd love to balance the work that—Chris …
18 June 2024 , Plenary
Statement by the Minister for Social Partnership: Creative Wales skills update
… evaluation of the creative skills plan, bearing in mind also the skills development of the outreach of Welsh National Opera , is there any consideration in the third year of how that will be undertaken, going forward? Because … vital established cultural sectors, such as those that I have mentioned at our conservatoire and at the Welsh National Opera . Diolch …
18 June 2024 , Plenary
Questions to the First Minister
… for conservatoire-style study. The serious dismantling and erosion of Wales’s finest economic export, the Welsh National Opera , from its joint arts council funding bodies, will ruin its capacity to perform and deliver first-class world-beating … Minister, is the Cradle Choir—an innovative schoolchildren intergenerational programme; one amongst many, many others—that the Welsh National Opera provides for Wales’s young musicians. Combined with the very shocking announcement of the realistic closure next month …
14 May 2024 , Plenary
Business Statement and Announcement
… certainly, last week as well. Obviously, there have been high-profile, public questions and concerns raised about Welsh National Opera , which we dearly, dearly treasure. Wales's culture and sport sectors are an integral part of our society … adverse impact as well, and, of course, that has an impact in terms of touring opportunities for Welsh National Opera . I think this is something where we need to take account of what is emerging. Of course, the …
6 December 2023 , Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Scrutiny of the Arts Council of Wales - Autumn 2023
… think they have been difficult decisions. I think the Welsh National Opera is unique, in a sense. There are only two organisations in Wales that get funding from both ACE and us. They have an international remit … investment means that we can keep an eye on that and make sure that we have a Welsh National Opera that we’re proud of in terms of quality …
4 March 2026 , Plenary
Short Debate: How can Wales protect, enhance, and enshrine our world-leading cultural organisations for the enrichment of the people of Wales and beyond?
… story internationally through touring, through collaboration and through co-production. Our investment of £767,000 in the Welsh National Opera demonstrates our commitment to protecting our nationally significant and internationally recognised organisations. And our cultural organisations also contribute …
4 March 2026 , Plenary
Short Debate: How can Wales protect, enhance, and enshrine our world-leading cultural organisations for the enrichment of the people of Wales and beyond?
… did Wales create the national health service and the people's opera —and many know that the Welsh National Opera was devised by doctors, amateurs and miners—but we were also the very first nation in the world …
9 July 2025 , Plenary
90-second Statements
… went on to study at Trinity College Carmarthen, pursuing a career as a teacher before joining Welsh National Opera in 1963. In 1965, his big break came, when he was chosen by Stravinsky himself to perform the main …