Funding threat to Welsh opera company

The Mid Wales Opera Company is struggling to keep going

Disharmony has crept into Welsh opera with cutbacks in the funding of one of Wales' most popular opera companies.

But Mid Wales Opera, which has only two full time staff and an annual grant of £26,000, still manages to entertain thousands of opera lovers each year.

The company has been touring Wales and beyond with full theatrical productions of opera for 13 years.

The company regularly tours Wales

During the past three years its annual grant from the Arts Council has been supplemented by additional monies from the National Lottery.

But their funding from the Lottery has recently been cut.

And when they appealed for extra funds the company was told that the Welsh National Opera already served its audience well.

The Welsh National Opera which receives almost £3m a year from the Arts Council of Wales admits that there are difficulties in taking full scale opera to rural Wales due to the facilities available.

The cutbacks have incensed the Mid Wales Opera company.

Spokeswoman Barbara McGuire said: "I don't think I really want ramming down my throat what the WNO are doing for £3m.

"I just know what a struggle it is to continue on £26,000 and how hard I have to go out on the road begging for money to keep this company afloat."

The cut in funding Mid Wales Opera has meant an annual festival being shelved, a community chorus falling silent and the summer production of Madam Butterfly starting on a sour note.