麻豆社

15 April 1946. Seven months after the end of the war, Wales was launching a new opera company. It had been a long time coming (as long as 50 years, if you count the early adventures of the original Welsh National Opera Company, which formed in 1890 but folded a decade later) but nobody ever doubted that Wales could sing. There was ample proof in the formidable male voice choirs and at the eisteddfodau held up and down the country. Amid the depths of the Second World War, a singing teacher and choral conductor called Idloes Owen announced his mission to found a serious operatic institution for Wales. A select group met to talk it over at his home in Llandaff: miners, teachers, doctors, all united by a passion for opera.

By 1946, they were ready. The Prince of Wales Theatre was booked. Tickets were as cheap as three shillings, and the opening night was a classic double bill: Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. The poster proudly listed a cast including Tudor Davies, a veteran tenor who had sung star roles at Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells. Not listed, though very much there, was the tenor Robert Tear, whose opera experience was launched as a schoolboy chorister that night.

And so Welsh National Opera was born. Serious vocal talent was formed on its stage, but the heart of the company is its chorus. After those first productions in 1946, applications flooded in from amateur singers all over Wales. They made a sound like no other opera chorus: lusty, warm and always passionate. In the 1970s, the chorus became professional and members were able to give up their regular jobs and become full-time choristers. Wales, nation of song, finally had its emblematic opera company to match.

This is one of 100 significant musical moments explored by 麻豆社 Radio 3鈥檚 Essential Classics as part of Our Classical Century, a 麻豆社 season celebrating a momentous 100 years in music from 1918 to 2018. Visit bbc.co.uk/ourclassicalcentury to watch and listen to all programmes in the season.

This archive recording features the 麻豆社 Philharmonic with conductor Gianandrea Noseda.

Show less