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Millions of pounds worth of cuts to the Welsh National Opera have been branded “cultural vandalism” by Islwyn Senedd Member Rhianon Passmore.

Ms Passmore is the chair of the Welsh Parliament’s cross-party group on music and welcomed hundreds of demonstrators on the steps of the Senedd before tabling a ‘Statement of Opinion’ in the chamber demanding the WNO be protected.

Joining the Labour member was soprano Elizabeth Atherton, who helped organise the ‘People’s Performance’ demonstration.

Carlo Rizzi, former music director of WNO, conducted the gathered crowd in a version of Easter Hymn from Cavalleria Rusticana, the first opera ever mounted by the company in 1946, as well as a resounding version of the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, echoing across Cardiff Bay.

Notable attendees of the demo included Welsh soprano Beverley Humphreys and Welsh broadcaster Roy Noble.

Ms Passmore’s statement called on the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government and other agencies in securing funding to help the WNO maintain a full-time organisation in the short and medium-term, until a long-term funding solution could be put in place.

It was co-signed by 23 fellow Senedd Members from all political parties.

The Welsh National Opera was formed in 1943 by a dedicated group of miners, doctors, and amateur musicians with the aim of providing high quality culture for the people of Wales.

The WNO is Wales’ largest arts employer and is being forced to make its orchestra and chorus part-time. The rest of the company has been offered voluntary redundancy.

Arts Council England cut its funding to WNO by 35% from £6.2 million to £4m, while the Arts Council of Wales reduced its annual funding to the company by £500,000 (11.8%) to £4.1m.

In 2022, the WNO cancelled performances across the border in Liverpool due to Arts Council England cuts.

Speaking after the demonstration at the Senedd on Tuesday May 21, Ms Passmore said: “We can never be bystanders to cultural vandalism, and we in this place cannot be bystanders, an audience, and watch from these chairs as the jewel in the Welsh performance crown dissolves in front of us.

“I ask that the statement articulates the necessary funding needed to keep WNO full-time and outline the progress of a refreshed binational funding agreement.

“We have, in this place, a collective duty of care to protect our national institutions, and, as the world-renowned conductor Carlo Rizzi has just said a moment ago on the Senedd steps, to protect one of the finest opera companies in the world – a company born in Wales, bred in Wales, in the land of song. It is brand Wales.”

Responding, Jane Hutt MS, who is the Welsh Government’s chief whip and Trefnydd, said: “It’s world-renowned, Welsh National Opera, for its excellence, performance and outreach, and I hope that a way forward can be found for the cultural sector.”

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Caerphilly’s Labour MS Hefin David, who joined the protest, was among those who supported Ms Passmore’s Statement of Opinion.

Dr David met with constituent Angharad Morgan, who performs in the WNO. He said: “Angharad and her colleagues are very concerned about budget cuts to the WNO and the impact that these will have both on their livelihoods, as well as the WNO’s ability to provide a first-class performance and experience for opera goers at venues across the country”.

“Following the protest I raised the issue in the Senedd this week, and asked the cabinet secretary to commit to exploring all possible avenues with the Arts Council for Wales to preserve and protect the WNO’s creative output and help ensure job security for its staff.

“I will continue to support them however I can.”