The Orchestra of Welsh National Opera was founded in 1970. Since then it has established itself as an extremely fine and versatile orchestra, highly praised as much for its distinction in a wide-ranging operatic repertoire as for its concert work and extensive portfolio of recordings.

Former music directors include Richard Armstrong, Sir Charles Mackerras, Tugan Sokhiev and Carlo Rizzi. The music director from September this year will be Lothar Koenigs.

The orchestra gives many concerts in venues large and small, throughout England and Wales, including appearances at major festivals including the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

The orchestra has made many recordings under distinguished conductors including Sir Reginald Goodall, Sir Charles Mackerras, Carlo Rizzi, Richard Bonynge and Pierre Boulez, with repertoire including including Bellini, Verdi, Wagner, Maxwell Davies and Gilbert and Sullivan.

Together with the full company, the orchestra has toured to Tokyo, New York, Milan, Paris, Wiesbaden, Lisbon, Berlin, Leipzig, Porto and Hong Kong.

Outside the busy WNO operatic schedule this year, plans for the orchestra include concerts at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Warwick Castle, the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Welsh Proms in Cardiff, the Fishguard and Lichfield Festivals and Grange Park Opera.