Opera on 3 - The Sacrifice, by James MacMillan

The Sacrifice By James MacMillan. Including at 6.30pm: Christopher Cook is at the Wales Millennium Centre to explore the sound world of James MacMillan's new opera The Sacrifice. Commissioned by Welsh National Opera, The Sacrifice has been ten years in the making. MacMillan and librettist Michael Symmons Roberts discuss its development and how working collaboratively with director Katie Mitchell and designer Vicki Mortimer has created an opera based on the mythological Welsh stories of the Mabinogion. Soprano Lisa Milne and baritone Christopher Purves describe their experience of singing new roles. 6.40pm The Sacrifice Anthony Negus conducts the chorus and orchestra of Welsh National Opera and a hand-picked cast in his opera The Sacrifice. A tribal war between two countries has resulted in bloodshed and destruction. In a bid for peace, The General on one side gives his daughter Sian's hand in marriage to his volatile enemy Mal. Sian sacrifices her lover Evan, The General's personal aide, for the sake of her country, even though she still loves him. Seven years later, at the investiture of Sian and Mal's son Gwyn, Evan's passionate fury for the sacrifice they have made is unleashed with devastating consequences. Sian ...... Lisa Milne (soprano) Evan ...... Leigh Melrose (baritone) General ...... Christopher Purves (baritone) Megan ...... Sarah Tynan (soprano) Mal ...... Peter Hoare (tenor) 3 Birds/Dressers ...... Rosie Hay, Samantha Hay, Amanda Baldwin Gwyn (non-singing child) ...... Cameron Jones/Oscar Notley Elis (non-singing child) ...... Tomos Hardy/Ben Evans Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera Anthony Negus (conductor).