Time, please: Welsh National Opera chief retires

Time, please: Welsh National Opera chief retires

News

norman lebrecht

September 26, 2023

Welsh National Opera’s General Director Aidan Lang has decided to retire at the end of 2023, after just four years in the job.

Having started his career at Glyndebourne and in Wales, he went on to head New Zealand Opera from 2006-2014 and Seattle Opera from 2014m to 2019.

His short period in charge has been marred by Covid shutdown and drastic cuts to WNO’s touring programme by Arts Council England.

He has picked a good time to withdraw.

Comments

  • Musician says:

    Glad he is out of the business. His legacy at Seattle Opera is pathetic. Selling off one of the only costume shops in the country to make a nicer lobby and throwing out all of the Ring sets. What a disgrace.

  • Susie Pearce says:

    There really is a dearth of exciting leadership in the UK opera companies at the moment

  • Kenneth Griffin says:

    Announced on the day before tomorrow’s Arts Council Wales announcement of future revenue funding in the Investment Review.

    Storm Agnes is also forecast to strike Wales Millennium Centre tomorrow.

    I sense impending catastrophe.

    On a more positive note, the Cello Octet Amsterdam is to give a brief free foyer concert at noon tomorrow. Relish while you may!

  • Anonymous says:

    Oh no, hope he isn’t planning to come to the Lyric in Chicago.

  • Paul Joschak says:

    Really weird haircut

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