Musical excellence was truly inspirational
I CONSIDER myself extremely fortunate that I can attend the cinema upon occasions, and listen to the most glorious music, performed to perfection, beamed down to any of thousands of cinemas, from the Royal Opera House or the New York Metropolitan Opera.
These organisations have a global reputation of more than a century and huge financial assets, to deliver this incomparable standard.
But image my astonishment to visit the Riverfront Theatre in Newport, to hear Ensemble Cymru enact Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin, on the stage before an appreciative audience, to be overwhelmed by the quality of the musical talent displayed.
The standard of the singing was inspiring, most particularly in the rendition of complicated duets and quartets, while the solo arias were hugely impressive.
If a Philistine like myself was mesmerised, then a more sensitive person could take even more from the performance.
Wales owes a huge debt of gratitude to these young and vastly gifted artists, who may be from several nations, to keep vibrant and alive for later generations, our finest cultural heritage from past genius, to enrich their minds and souls.
Neville Westerman Brynna