Under Milk Wood: An Opera

Under Milk Wood: An Opera
Opera by John Metcalf
A statue in Swansea's Maritime Quarter of Captain Cat, one of the opera's main characters
Based on	Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
Premiere	3 April 2014 (2014-04-03) Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea

Under Milk Wood: An Opera is a chamber opera in one act by the Welsh composer John Metcalf. The libretto is directly adapted from the play for voices Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. It premiered on 3 April 2014 at the Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea.

Under Milk Wood: An Opera is the seventh opera by John Metcalf, which he began composing in 2007, with the first workshops being held in 2008. The world premiere production was produced by Taliesin Arts Centre (Wales) in co-production with Le Chien Qui Chante (Quebec) & Companion Star (New York) and in association with Welsh National Opera, with the premiere performance at Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea on 3 April 2014. The production was directed by Keith Turnbull, and the Musical Director was Wyn Davies, who also played the piano and synthesiser and sang the role of Organ Morgan.

The opera requires five instrumentalists: a string player who plays violin, viola and crwth; a harpist who plays concert harp and lever harp; a flautist who plays flute and bass flute; a keyboard player who plays piano and synthesiser; and a percussionist. There are also various other instruments and sound effects which include an accordion and are played by members of the cast.

The premiere production received broadly positive coverage in the Welsh and UK press. It was nominated for Best World Premiere in the International Opera Awards, Best New Opera by the Royal Philharmonic Society, Best Opera and Best Scenic and Costume Design in the Wales Theatre Awards. The Guardian named the opera one of the best of 2014.