FROM tender love story to powerful brutality and ultimate tragedy, Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ has it all as probably the most operatic opera ever written.

Theatrically gripping from start to finish, and featuring some of Puccini’s most memorable and dramatic musical moments, it’s an ideal choice for Mid Wales Opera’s (MWO) new spring tour which opens at Newtown’s Hafren theatre this Saturday, February 23.

Their brand-new production also celebrates 30 years of the company premiering its productions at the Newtown venue

Once again, they bring fully staged live opera, in partnership with Ensemble Cymru as the orchestra, with a wonderfully Welsh Tosca played by Elin Pritchard who last performed with MWO in 2014’s ‘Carmen’ as Micaela.

Since then Elin’s performed with Scottish Opera, Opera North and many others but she’s delighted to be heading back to Wales. She said: “I’m Welsh through and through! Fluent speaker and I’m from Rhyl in North Wales.

“Tosca as a character is wonderful to sing. She has the most glorious music with some huge climactic lines, she’s passionate and has a huge amount of fire in her. Her music with Cavaradossi, especially in act three is so beautiful and poignant a complete contrast to what has happened in the act two torture scene.”

Elin is joined by London born tenor Charne Rochford, who last sang the role of Cavaradossi for Bermuda Festival.

Internationally renowned baritone Nicholas Folwell will make his MWO debut in the role of Baron Scarpia, one of opera’s most disreputable villains.

Call The Hafren box office for ticket availability on 01686 614555.

Tonight (Friday, February 22) MWO team up with the Wales International Academy of Voice for its 30th anniversary gala night at The Hafren.

Entitled ‘Ignite the Passion’ its features guests who have worked with MWO, as well as future stars of the international opera stage.