Explore every episode of the podcast The O Word

Michael interviews Meurig Price, Tony Kear and Geraint York, members of Dowlais and Blaenavon Male Voice Choirs. 

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Mae Michael yn cyfweld Meurig Price, Tony Kear a Geraint York, aelodau o gorau Meibion Dowlais a Blaenafon. 

Singers Nafissatou Batu Daramy and Mark Llewellyn Evans discuss their roles in Blaze of Glory! and provide further insight into the value of community singing.

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Mae’r cantorion, Nafissatou Batu Daramy a Mark Llewellyn Evans, yn trafod eu rolau yn Blaze of Glory! ac yn cynnig mewnwelediad pellach i werth canu cymunedol.

Conductor Tianyi Lu discusses the first steps a graduate takes towards a professional career. Tianyi is joined by soprano Elin Pritchard, baritone Oscar Dom Victor Catellino, Head of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artist’s Programme Elaine Kidd and Head of Artistic Management at WNO Kathryn Joyce.
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Bydd yr Arweinydd Tianyi Lu yn trafod y camau cyntaf y bydd graddedigion yn eu cymryd tuag at yrfa broffesiynol. Bydd y soprano Elin Pritchard, y bariton Oscar Dom Victor Catellino, Pennaeth Rhaglen Artistiaid Ifanc Jette Parker y Royal Opera House Elaine Kidd, a Phennaeth Rheolaeth Artistig WNO Kathryn Joyce, yn ymuno â Tianyi.

Music Credits:
This performance of the overture from Mozart’s The Magic Flute is produced by Telefunken (1952), and is available in the Public Domain. Joseph Keilberth conducts the Bamberger Symphoniker.

This performance of The Marriage of Figaro was recorded with Decca in 1959; now in the Public Domain. Erich Kleiber conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker; Cesare Siepi, Hilde Gueden, Alfred Poell and Lisa della Casa sing the main roles.

Our thanks to go to Kalmus Publishing, Harid Conservatory Philharmonia and Arthur Weisberg for the use of ‘Intermezzo’ from Cavelleria Rusticana. Used under the creative commons licence 4-0 .

Conductor and Music Director Tim Rhys-Evans investigates the process of studying at conservatoires and universities, while discovering more about the day-to-day life of an artist in training. Providing his own insight on this process as Director of Music at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Tim meets with Clair Rowden from Cardiff University's School of Music alongside students and graduates to discuss the differences between university and conservatoire education.

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Bydd yr Arweinydd a’r Cyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth Tim Rhys-Evans yn trafod y broses o astudio mewn ysgolion cerddoriaeth a phrifysgolion, gan ddysgu mwy am fywyd beunyddiol artist sy’n hyfforddi. Bydd Tim yn cynnig ei gipolwg ei hun ar y broses hon, ac yntau’n Gyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth yng Ngholeg Brenhinol Cerdd a Drama Cymru, a bydd yn cyfarfod â Clair Rowden o Ysgol Gerddoriaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd, ynghyd â myfyrwyr a graddedigion, i drafod y gwahaniaethau rhwng addysg prifysgol ac addysg ysgolion cerddoriaeth.

Music Credits:
This performance of The Marriage of Figaro was recorded with Decca in 1959; now in the Public Domain. Erich Kleiber conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker; Cesare Siepi, Hilde Gueden, Alfred Poell and Lisa della Casa sing the main roles.

The recording of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is conducted by Josef Krips and sees Cesare Sepi in the title role. Recorded in 1955 with the Weiner Philharmoniker Orchestra and Chorus; we would also like to extend out thanks to Decca, with whom this recording was published.

The recording of Bizet’s Carmen is conducted by Thomas Beecham, with Janine Micheau, Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc. Recorded in 1960, used with thanks to Parlaphone records.

Soprano Natalya Romaniw explores how the early experiences of classical music in youth can shape the perspective of an artist. Reflecting on her own experiences of singing with WNO Youth Opera, she catches up with her friend and fellow soprano Rhian Lois in a roundtable interview which also features Abigail Kelly (WNO Youth Opera Leader in Birmingham) and Ruth Rosales (Bassoonist & Animateur). Natalya also meets with three young participants to find out more about what drew them to sing opera at such a young age.

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Y soprano Natalya Romaniw a fydd yn trafod sut y gall profiadau cynnar o gerddoriaeth glasurol yn ystod ieuenctid ffurfio safbwynt yr artist. Gan fyfyrio ar ei phrofiadau ei hun o ganu gydag Opera Ieuenctid WNO, mae’n cael sgwrs gyda’i chyfaill a’i chyd-soprano Rhian Lois yn ystod cyfweliad bord gron, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys Abigail Kelly (Arweinydd Opera Ieuenctid WNO ym Mirmingham) a Ruth Rosales (Baswnydd ac Animeiddiwr). Mae Natayla hefyd yn cyfarfod â thri o bobl ifanc i gael gwybod mwy am yr hyn a’u denodd at ganu opera a hwythau mor ifanc.

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Music Credits:
Our thanks go to Oddio Overplay, MIT Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and Adam K Doyles for the use of the opening chorus to Cavalleria Rusticana. Used under the creative commons licence 4-0

The recording of Bizet’s Carmen is conducted by Thomas Beecham, with Janine Micheau, Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc. Recorded in 1960, used with thanks to Parlaphone records.

This recording of ‘Un Bel Di, Vedremo’ from Puccini’s Madam Butterfly is performed by Maria Callas.

Bonus unheard extracts from Gareth's interview with Welsh National Opera's Music Director Tomáš Hanus.

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What is the difference between directing a play and directing an opera? Opera director Daisy Evans talks to Gareth about her unique approach to directing, how she got started in the industry and why a kebab van was an essential component of her recent production of Don(er) Pasquale!

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Don Pasquale ‘Quel guard oil cavaliere’ (Soloist. Lina Pagliughi)
Don Pasquale ‘Bella siccome un angelo’ (1947)
Don Pasquale ‘Pronta son; purch’io non manchi’ (Soloist. Lotte Schone, Willi Domgraf-Fassbender, 1930)
Don Pasquale ‘Tornami a dir’ (Soloist. Amelita Galli-Curci, Tito Schipa. 1932)

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Beth yw'r gwahaniaeth rhwng arwain drama ac arwain opera? Cyfarwyddwr opera, Daisy Evans, yn sgwrsio gyda Gareth am ei dull cyfarwyddo unigryw, sut dechreuodd arni yn y diwydiant a pham oedd fan cebab yn rhan hanfodol o'i chynhyrchiad diweddar o Don(er) Pasquale!

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Gareth meets with donors and fundraisers to discuss how philanthropy ensures the future survival of opera. Delving beyond works seen on stage, Gareth investigates the different ways in which donations can bring the art of opera to schools, care homes and community hubs across the UK.

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Mae Gareth yn cwrdd â rhoddwyr a chodwyr arian er mwyn trafod sut mae haelioni yn sicrhau dyfodol a goroesiad byd opera. Gan gloddio tu hwnt i'r gweithiau a welir ar y llwyfan, mae Gareth yn archwilio'r gwahanol ffyrdd y gall cyfraniadau ariannol ddod â chelfyddyd opera i ysgolion, cartrefi gofal a hybiau cymunedol ledled y DU.

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Les vepres siciliennes ‘Overture’ is used with thanks to WNO Orchestra 
An excerpt from Un Ballo in Maschera is used with thanks to Gwyn Hughes Jones, Mary Elizabeth Williams and WNO Orchestra
La forza del destino ‘Overture’ is used with thanks to WNO Orchestra  

Gareth meets Welsh National Opera’s Music Director Tomáš Hanus to discuss his career to date and to discover what it takes to work as a conductor on an international scale. 
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Mae Gareth yn cwrdd â Chyfarwyddwr Cerddoriaeth Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru Tomáš Hanus i drafod ei yrfa hyd yma ac er mwyn darganfod beth sydd ei angen i weithio fel arweinydd ar raddfa ryngwladol.
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Credits:

• The Cunning Little Vixen ‘Overture’ appears with thanks to WNO Orchestra 
• The Cunning Little Vixen ‘Bezi liska Táboru’ appears with thanks to WNO Children’s Chorus and WNO Orchestra 
• The Cunning Little Vixen ‘Vixen’s aria’ appears with thanks to Aoife Miskelly and WNO Orchestra  
• Mahler’s Symphony No.1 is used with permission from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 
• Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 is used with permission from the DuPage Symphony Orchestra 

Gareth interviews young opera singers and enthusiasts to establish whether opera is relevant to their generation. Featuring baritone John Ieuan Jones, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama student Rosie Rowell and Max Catalano from Cardiff University’s Operatic Society. 
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Mae Gareth yn cyfweld cantorion a chefnogwyr opera ifanc er mwyn profi a yw opera yn berthnasol i'w cenhedlaeth hwy. Yn cynnwys y bariton John Ieuan Jones, myfyrwraig Coleg Brenhinol Cerddoriaeth a Drama Cymru Rosie Rowell a Max Catalano o Gymdeithas Operatig Prifysgol Caerdydd. 

Gareth meets WNO Female Conductor in Residence Tianyi Lu to find out more about the role of a conductor in opera. Gareth also sits down with British conductor Alexander Joel and David Adams from WNO Orchestra to discuss the challenges they face during a live performance.

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Gareth yn cwrdd ag Arweinydd Preswyl Benywaidd WNO, Tianyi Lu, i gael gwybod mwy am rôl arweinydd yn y byd opera. Yn ogystal, eistedda Gareth gyda'r arweinydd Prydeinig, Alexander Joel, ac David Adams o Gerddorfa WNO i drafod yr heriau maent yn eu hwynebu yn ystod perfformiad byw.

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Credits:
Welsh National Opera - Rigoletto - La donna è mobile

Gareth invites leading arts critics and correspondents for a roundtable discussion about the importance of a critical voice in opera and live performance. Joining Gareth is The Telegraph’s Rupert Christiansen; journalist and composer Steph Power; regional journalist and blogger Diane Parkes and BBC Radio 3's Nicola Heywood-Thomas.

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Pam bod angen llais beirniadol arnom?

Gareth yn gwahodd beirniaid blaenllaw y byd celfyddydol a gohebwyr am drafodaeth o amgylch y bwrdd ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd llais beirniadol mewn opera a pherfformiadau byw. Yn ymuno â Gareth mae Rupert Christiansen o The Telegraph; y newyddiadurwraig a chyfansoddwraig Steph Power; y newyddiadurwraig ranbarthol a blogiwr Diane Parkes a Nicola Hayward Thomas o BBC Radio 3.

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Michael Graham-Court explores how singing can enrich communities and learns about the Welsh tradition of Male Voice Choirs that has inspired WNO’s new production Blaze of Glory! 

In this episode, Michael is joined by the director and conductor of Blaze of Glory!, Caroline Clegg and Stephen Higgins.

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Mae Michael Graham-Court yn archwilio sut all canu gyfoethogi cymunedau wrth iddo ddysgu am draddodiad Corau Meibion Cymru a ysbrydolodd gynhyrchiad newydd WNO, Blaze of Glory!

Mae Michael yn cael cwmni cyfarwyddwr ac arweinydd Blaze of Glory!, Caroline Clegg a Stephen Higgins.

Gareth returns to question ‘What does it take to be an opera singer?’, this time sitting down with Soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams. Together they discuss Mary Elizabeth’s career to date and consider what lies ahead for the opera world in challenging and uncertain times.

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Mae Gareth yn dychwelyd at y cwestiwn ‘Beth sydd ei angen er mwyn bod yn ganwr opera?‘, gan eistedd i lawr y tro hwn gyda’r Soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams. Gyda’i gilydd maent yn trafod gyrfa Mary Elizabeth hyd yma ac yn ystyried y dyfodol agos ar gyfer y byd opera yn ystod y cyfnod heriol ac ansicr hwn.

Credits:

Un Ballo in Maschera, with thanks to WNO Orchestra, Mary Elizabeth Williams and Gwyn Hughes Jones

La Forza del Destino, cond. Molinari-Pradelli, Deutsche Grammophone (1955)

Il Trovatore, ‘D’amour Sull’alli Rosee’ performed by Maria Callas

Tosca: ‘Vissi D’arte’, performed by Maria Callas 

Gareth talks to WNO producer Jennifer Hill about the formation of Welsh National Opera’s Cradle Choir, a project which brings together 96 primary school children and people living with dementia for a shared choral experience.  He also its down with Celi Barberia from the Sing Up Foundation to discuss the wider implications and health benefits of singing. Can singing really improve your physical and mental health?
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Caiff Gareth sgwrs â chynhyrchydd Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Jennifer Hill, ynghylch ffurfio Côr Cysur Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, prosiect sy'n uno 96 o blant oed cynradd a phobl sy'n byw gyda dementia wrth iddynt rannu profiad corawl.  Mae Gareth hefyd yn eistedd gydag Celi Barberia o Sing.

Gareth meets writers Shreya Sen-Handley, Edson Burton and Miles Chambers, to discover more about their unique approaches to writing a libretto for the first time. Acclaimed librettist Emma Jenkins, known for works such as In Parenthesis, also joins Gareth to discuss her writing process.

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Mae Gareth yn cwrdd â'r ysgrifenwyr Shreya Sen-Handley, Edson Burton a Miles Chambers, er mwyn darganfod mwy am eu dulliau unigryw o ysgrifennu libreto am y tro cyntaf. Mae'r libretydd enwog Emma Jenkins, sy'n adnabyddus am weithiau er enghraifft In Parenthesis, hefyd yn ymuno â Gareth i drafod ei phroses ysgrifennu.


Credits:
In Parenthesis
Composers: Antrobus/Bell/Jenkins/Jones
Publisher: Chester Music Ltd 

Gareth investigates how contemporary writers approach creating an opera from scratch. As opera is a medium known for reviving and reinventing established works, what are the essential components needed for a brand-new opera to be representative of today? Celebrated composer Will Todd explains his process and performs extracts from his new opera Migrations.
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Mae Gareth yn ymchwilio er mwyn darganfod sut mae ysgrifenwyr cyfoes yn creu opera o ddim. Cyfrwng yw opera sy'n adnabyddus am ailddyfeisio ac adfywio gweithiau parod, beth yw'r elfennau hanfodol sydd eu hangen er mwyn i opera newydd sbon gynrychioli'r byd cyfoes? Mae'r cyfansoddwr enwog Will Todd yn egluro ei broses ac yn perfformio detholiad o'r opera newydd Migrations.

Credits:
Rhondda Rips It Up!, Welsh National Opera, with thanks to Elena LangerFigaro gets a divorce, Welsh National Opera, with thanks to Elena Langer
La Boheme, ‘Si, mi chiamano Mimi’, 1912 (Soloist Farr)
 

Does opera have an image problem? Gareth looks to the future of opera with Aidan Lang (General Director, WNO) and James Clutton (Director, Opera Holland Park. Gareth is also  joined by leading figures in youth opera; Dan Perkin and Sian Cameron, to discuss the intricacies of training opera’s next generation.
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Oes gan opera 'broblem delwedd'? Mae Gareth yn edrych i'r dyfodol gydag Aidan Lang (Cyfarwyddwr Cyffredinol, Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru) a James Clutton (Cyfarwyddwr, Opera Holland Park). Hefyd yn ymuno â Gareth mae ffigyrau blaenllaw ym myd opera ieuenctid; Dan Perkin a Sian Cameron, er mwyn trafod y cymhlethdodau sy'n ymwneud â hyfforddi cenhedlaeth nesaf byd opera.
 

Gareth sits down with tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones to discover what it takes – physically, mentally and spiritually – to be an opera singer in 2020. At a time when many singers face isolation away from the stage, how important is it to stay positive and active? What methods can be used to protect and maintain a voice during lockdown?

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Caiff Gareth sgwrs â'r tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones er mwyn darganfod beth sy'n ofynnol - yn gorfforol, yn feddyliol ac yn ysbrydol - i fod yn ganwr opera yn y flwyddyn 2020. Mewn cyfnod pan mae nifer o gantorion yn wynebu ynysu i ffwrdd o'r llwyfan, pa mor bwysig yw cadw'n weithgar a chynnal meddylfryd cadarnhaol? Pa ddulliau sydd ar gael i amddiffyn a chynnal llais yn ystod y cyfnod o dan gyfyngiadau?

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All music licenced courtesy of Naxos.

Join journalist and opera enthusiast Gareth Jones as he explores the world of opera, both on stage and beyond it. With guests ranging from internationally-renowned musicians to leading figures in arts and culture, Gareth tries to answer some of opera’s burning questions. 

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Ymunwch â'r newyddiadurwr sy'n frwd dros opera, Gareth Jones, yn ei archwiliad o fyd opera, ar y llwyfan a thu hwnt. Gyda gwesteion yn amrywio o gerddorion adnabyddus ledled y byd i ffigyrau amlwg o fewn y celfyddydau, diwylliant a thu hwnt, bydd Gareth yn ceisio datrys rhai o bynciau llosg byd opera. 

Host Michael Graham-Court delves behind-the-scenes of WNO Youth Opera’s brand-new production of Cherry Town, Moscow. In a roundtable discussion with director Daisy Evans, conductor Alice Farnham and WNO General Director Aidan Lang, Michael explores this retitled and reimagined version of Shostakovich’s Cheryomushki. The cast of young singers also lend their voices to this episode, sharing their experiences of rehearsing for a full-scale production, which will be performed in Wales Millennium Centre’s beautiful Donald Gordon Theatre.

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Mae’r cyflwynyddMichael Graham-Court yn mynd y tu ôl i lenni cynhyrchiad newydd sbon Opera Ieuenctid WNO o Cherry Town, Moscow. Mewn trafodaeth agored gyda’r cyfarwyddwr Daisy Evans, yr arweinydd Alice Farnham a Chyfarwyddwr Cyffredinol WNO Aidan Lang, mae Michael yn archwilio’r fersiwn hon o Cheryomushki gan Shostakovich sydd wedi’i hail-ddychmygu a’i hail-enwi. Mae’r cast o gantorion ifanc hefyd yn rhoi benthyg eu lleisiau i’r bennod hon, gan rannu eu profiadau o ymarfer ar gyfer cynhyrchiad  raddfa fawr a fydd yn cael ei berfformio ar lwyfan y Donald Gordon o fewn Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru.

Lorna meets WNO’s long-serving Company Manager Ian Douglas as he completes his final touring Season with the Company after over forty years working with WNO.  

Lorna Prichard delves behind the scenes to find out more about the touring lives of members of WNO’s Technical department. Guests include, Touring Wardrobe Assistants Bethan Kelly and Stevie Haynes-Gould, Lead Driver Daniel Sammons and Head of Lighting and Sound Ian Jones. 

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Mae Lorna’n mynd y tu ôl i’r llenni i ddysgu mwy am fywydau aelodau adran dechnegol WNO ar daith. Mae’r gwesteion yn cynnwys Bethan Kelly a Stevie Haynes-Gould, Cynorthwywyr Gwisgoedd ar Daith, y Prif Yrrwr Daniel Sammons a’r Pennaeth Goleuo a Sain, Ian Jones.

Comedian and Opera enthusiast Lorna Prichard gains an insight into the life of a performer on tour and explores how touring life has evolved over the years. Guests include, Soprano Alexia Voulgaridou, WNO Chorus member Julian Boyce and WNO Orchestra member Patrick King.  

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Mae Lorna Prichard yn codi cwr y llen ar fywyd perfformiwr ar daith wrth iddi archwilio sut mae bywyd ar daith wedi datblygu dros y blynyddoedd. Mae’r gwesteion yn cynnwys y Soprano Alexia Voulgaridou, aelod o Gorws WNO Julian Boyce, a Patrick King, aelod o Gerddorfa WNO. 

Gareth Jones explores new opera commissions, looking back at some of WNO’s original works and discovering how they portrayed contemporary themes. He is joined by the cast and creatives from WNO’s recent commission A Song for the Future, a collaborative project with Oasis Cardiff, in which WNO participants devised and performed an opera in response to their personal experiences.   

Bydd Gareth Jones yn archwilio comisiynau opera newydd, yn edrych yn ôl ar rai o weithiau gwreiddiol WNO, ac yn dysgu sut y gwnaethant bortreadu themâu cyfoes. Bydd yn cael cwmni cast a gweithwyr creadigol o gomisiwn diweddar WNO, A Song for the Future. Prosiect ar y cyd ag Oasis Caerdydd, a welodd cymuned o ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches yn creu ac yn perfformio opera mewn ymateb i'w profiadau personol.   

Gareth Jones is joined by renowned opera critic Rupert Christiansen as he delves into the history of one of  opera’s most enduring characters, Figaro. Director David Pountney also chats with Gareth about how he built on The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro to create his sequel Figaro Gets a Divorce.

Bydd Gareth Jones yn cael cwmni'r adolygydd opera enwog, Rupert Christiansen, wrth iddo ymchwilio i hanes un o gymeriadau mwyaf diddorol opera, Figaro. Mae'r cyfarwyddwr David Pountney hefyd yn sgwrsio â Gareth ynglŷn â sut yr adeiladodd ar The Barber of Seville a The Marriage of Figaro i greu ei ddilyniant Figaro Gets a Divorce.

Gareth Jones speaks to Cardiff University lecturer Clair Rowden and together they explore how Carmen has evolved over the years since its premiere in 1875. Gareth is also joined by director Oliver Lamford who talks about his involvement in a recent production of Carmen that was reinterpreted for a post-‘me too’ era.   

Bydd Gareth Jones yn siarad â Clair Rowden, darlithydd ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd, a byddant yn archwilio sut mae Carmen wedi esblygu dros y blynyddoedd ers ei pherfformiad cyntaf yn 1875. Bydd Oliver Lamford, y cyfarwyddwr, hefyd yn ymuno â Gareth i drafod ei gyfraniad mewn cynhyrchiad diweddar o Carmen a gafodd ei ail-ddehongli ar gyfer oes ôl-‘fi hefyd’.