This is now our fifth production since becoming Swansea City Opera and we wanted to return to the magic of Mr Mozart. The Magic Flute is not often toured, despite being one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, because of its large cast and the technical difficulties it poses. For this production we have looked towards modern technology for a solution and we are very pleased to be working, not only once again with our very talented regular team of designers, Gary McCann and Gabriella Ingram, but also with Shanaz Gulzar the designer of the video graphics. She has helped us solve the problem of some of the more magical elements of the opera.

We are also fortunate again to have been supported by The Arts Council Wales for our Education and Audience development programme, and in certain venues in Wales, as per in Mozart’s original production, talented local children will be singing the roles of the Genii. This side of our work is something we enjoy tremendously. The art form has such power to feed and enrich the imagination, teaching at the same time the tremendous value of shared teamwork. In fact our education work is a constant reminder of why we go through the trials and tribulations of running a touring opera company!

Last year we were proud to have been associated with the creation of Wales’ first Street opera, Cars to Mars, through a collaboration with Dragon Arts & Learning in Swansea, an organisation that supports the homeless and socially disadvantaged in the City. The whole process was one of discovery not only for the talented people that attend Dragon Arts, but also for the Swansea City Opera team, who saw at first hand how the magic of opera can enrich all our lives. We are looking forward to working with the members of Dragon Arts once again for this production, when they join us on stage at the Grand Theatre in Swansea!

Bridgett Gill