An opera made by neurodiverse young people

An opera made by neurodiverse young people

Opera

norman lebrecht

December 18, 2023

Music Theatre Wales (MTW) has produced a short opera on ideas by a group of neurodiverse youngsters.

It is moving in more ways than we can express.

MTW has just been stripped of public funding by Arts Council Wales.

Comments

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    Da iawn MTW llongyfarchiadau. Well done and congratulations.

  • Herbie G says:

    I never thought I would ever applaud the de-funding of an arts organisation – but three cheers for Arts Council Wales! If this work achieves the same popularity as Carmen, Cav and Pag, and The Mikado, then I shall be willing to eat my Kobbe’s guide. It’s bound to be heavily plugged by Radio 3 though, as it ticks all their boxes.

    To all you contributors to SD, Happy Christmas, Winter Holiday or call it what you will, and have a great 2024 – and thanks, NL, for this amazing forum.

  • John Borstlap says:

    Apart from the message, it sounds terrible.

    • Guest says:

      Can you be more specific? Did it all sound terrible, or were there any parts that met your critical approval?

    • David says:

      John, don’t you know enough music history to understand that we should stop limiting totalizing thoughts such as “terrible” and rather question both the work and our perception of it? If not, there is a high chance you will miss out on great art, regardless of the genre. Imagine being Van Gogh’s neighbor and thinking his paintings are “terrible”. What a loss!

      • John Borstlap says:

        Actually, Van Gogh’s neighbours – all of them – thought his work was ‘terrible’ and therefore he moved to France, where his neighbours thought the same but did not tell him.

  • Elizabeth Owen says:

    There but for the grace of God go you – miserable so and so’s.

  • Kenneth Griffin says:

    The September 2023 Investment Review offered £222,191 to MTW, subject to appeals process and ACW’s own Welsh Government funding (which will be proposed in tomorrow’s budget statement). When was it subsequently defunded?

    • Jonathan says:

      I suspect NL is confusing MTW with MWO…Mid Wales Opera who have lost their funding recently. MTW have based their entire existence around the performance of new work, or works from the C20th. MWO tours small scale productions of well known operas around Wales, they are ‘dedicated to bringing live opera to theatres across Wales and The Borders.’. You would think the #1 Classical Music News Site would know the difference, or at least check.

  • Bone says:

    Very interesting. I’m glad the arts is an inclusive place for people of all physical and mental abilities.

  • Bone says:

    Arts “are” would be correct.

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