POWYS’ very own opera company will be back on the road this week with a series of outdoor Covid-safe performances celebrating the return of live music - including two Radnorshire shows.

Mid Wales Opera (MWO) have been busy lining up singers, musicians and some stunning outdoor venues for their pop-up concerts in May and June, with their first show taking place this weekend.

Current Covid-19 regulations mean each performance will be limited to 26 tickets, and there will be three 40-minute shows per day.

The first performance is at the Judge’s Lodging, Presteigne, on Saturday, May 15, and has already sold out, but there are still some tickets for Sunday, May 16, at the Willow Globe, Llanwrthwl, near Rhayader, as well as Plas Glan Y Weddw, Llanbedrog, on Saturday, May 22, and Canolfan Ucheldre, Holyhead, on Sunday, May 23. More performances will be announced soon. Tickets can only be booked by emailing admin@midwalesopera.co.uk.

Each weekend’s concerts will feature a different musical programme and combination of professional performers. MWO’s music director Jonathan Lyness said: “These short concerts will feature an eclectic mix of joyful, entertaining and uplifting musical treats, from the world of song, opera and cabaret and much else besides – a chance for us all to remember and celebrate the importance of live classical music and go home feeling all the better for it.”

MWO were on tour with their production of Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro when the first lockdown happened in March 2020 and, like many arts organisations, they have managed to keep going through a mix of digital programming and pop-up concerts when possible, but are determined to get back to presenting live music.

Executive director Lydia Bassett said: “MWO has always been about bringing high quality live opera and classical music to places where it wouldn’t normally be performed.

“We’re delighted to be able to support singers and musicians, many of whom have struggled with little or no work during the pandemic, and bring live music back to audiences across rural Wales by performing outdoors in carefully controlled spaces right across the country. We can’t wait to get back on the road.”