How Pop Star Rosalía is Making Opera the Hottest Trend in Town

Opera is an art form that has been around for centuries, but recently it has started to become more popular with younger people. The Welsh National Opera, or WNO, credits this new interest to pop star Rosalía and the rise of 'opera aesthetics' on social media. Rosalía is a classically trained singer who mixes different styles of music, like pop, hip hop, and classical, in her songs. She has performed with famous artists like Bjork and even worked with a full orchestra and a youth choir. Her music and performances have gone viral on platforms like TikTok, making opera seem cool and exciting to a new generation.

Adele Thomas, one of the co-directors of the WNO, says that opera is more culturally relevant now than it has been in a long time. She believes that people are starting to see opera as a living art form, not just something from history. Thomas says that opera can include many different types of art, design, and music, which makes it interesting and modern. The WNO started in 1946, right after World War II, when a group of amateur singers from all kinds of jobs came together to perform. They made their own costumes and sets, and their first show was held in a theater that is now a popular bar.

In recent years, the WNO has faced some tough challenges. Funding cuts meant they had to reduce their tours and stop hiring new people. There was even talk of making the orchestra part-time. But Thomas and her co-director Sarah Crabtree took over during this difficult time and worked hard to keep the company strong. Crabtree says that the crisis made people realize how important the WNO is to Welsh culture. Now, the company feels more stable, and they are fighting not just for their own future but for the future of opera and the arts in Wales and beyond. Thomas says that the WNO still feels like it belongs to the people, just like when it started 80 years ago. She hopes that with the help of stars like Rosalía and the power of social media, opera will continue to grow and inspire new audiences.