Why deny opera fans of WNO for six months?

IT has been a privilege to attend performances of Welsh National Opera’s sell-out spring season at the Wales Millennium Centre.

However, one has to question the fundamental and long-term decisions by WNO not to perform a summer season from this year.

Traditionally, the summer season has been used to mount large-scale productions not suitable for touring, such as the legendary production of Die Meistersinger and last year’s beautiful Der Rosenkavalier.

Was this decision taken due to substantial cuts to the company’s budget? If so, should we not be aware of the facts?

The company are going to tour a music hall-style “cabaret opera” with a stage band. The magnificent orchestra is going to be sent out, presumably to perform “opera pops”. Is this what the public wants?

The increasing popularity of “live” full-scale opera screenings in cinemas and arts centres suggests not.

It seems the WMC has now become another “touring” venue, as the company’s recent publications and website shows.

The Donald Gordon Theatre was built with superb sightlines and a sublime acoustic, primarily to perform opera.

How sad that we will now be deprived of hearing the fantastic chorus and orchestra at the WMC for six months of the year.

The very many subscribers who have loyally supported WNO, and have rejoiced in seeing the company perform in conditions befitting their international status, cannot help being somewhat disappointed. JA Evans Porth Tywyn