Welsh National Opera
We are absolutely delighted to have our latest window in support of Welsh National opera (WNO) & their upcoming new production of Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss.
Rebecca Evans was kind enough to pay us a visit just a few days before the opening night this Sunday 4th June. She is playing the lead role of the aristocratic Marschallin who has to accept the passing of time & give up her young lover, Octavian. The staging & story telling of this aspect is very clever & beautiful. We have tried to give a feeling of this with the stopped clock as a table, & also showcasing some of Aled Jenkins lovely Welsh slate clocks.
Obviously (well to those of us who know this opera!) the presentation of a ceremonial silver rose is key to the whole story. It is where Octavian, the Rosenkavalier meets Sophie for the first time & they fall in love. Cutlery artist Alexana Blott specially made us a large tablespoon rose for the window which is being showcased in front of the enormous poster for the production. There are also lots of gorgeous smaller ones to add to the effect. We presented Rebecca with a silver rose as a thank you for coming down to see us & as a good luck for her debut in this role on Sunday.
The window is further embellished with ‘musical’ themed glass pieces by fused glass artist Cathy O’Doherty beside a backdrop of masks & fans which is a nod to Die Fledermaus, the other WNO production on during this season.
What we have in Penarth is a hub of very creative people. It is filled with people who are highly skilled, be that in the genre of musical performance & production as well as makers & fine artists ( & loads of doctors thrown into the mix!). We are so lucky to have things like WNO on our doorstep. We can walk from here to see stars like Rebecca perform her magic on stage). We hope our window will help to bring opera to a wider audience who may not know of the local talent living & working here in Penarth. So in the words of David Baker Estate Agents (our next door neighbour here at Station approach) we ‘Love Living Here’!