Mid Wales Opera are back on the road with two trips to Gwynedd next month.

It feels like it’s been a long time coming, but Mid Wales Opera’s SmallStages productions return this autumn, bringing professional opera to a mix of community venues and theatres.

And where better to start with the return of live music than with a celebration of one of opera’s most loved composers, and with two of his best loved works?

MWO’s 2021/2022 ‘Puccini in Paris’ season starts with Il tabarro (The cloak) as the centrepiece of the SmallStages autumn tour, followed in Spring 2022 by a fully staged production of La bohème in partnership with Ensemble Cymru.

MWO’s artistic director, Richard Studer, can’t wait to get back on tour: “After 18 months of absence from theatres the chance to perform live, to happily endure the ramshackle life on the road, even the reality of living out of a suitcase again is a prospect that thrills me!”

Il tabarro comes to Neuadd Dyfi, Aberdyfi on Saturday, 9 October and Pontio Arts Centre, Bangor, on Thursday, 14 October.

Looking forward to performing in Gwynedd is Huw Ynyr from Dolgellau.

Huw, who plays Tinca, said: “I’d have to say that Puccini is my favourite opera composer, I think his writing is phenomenal. It’s great to have the opportunity to perform one of his works with Il Tabarro being a work that was previously unfamiliar to me.

“Tinca seems like a very fun role to play and I’m looking forward to seeing the production come together and to the challenge of performing him on stage. It’s also great to perform a supporting role in order to continue my development as an artist and further master my craft.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to returning to Aberdyfi, which will be the local venue for me on the tour. I recently completed the 50 mile Dyfi Ultra Marathon in aid of charity, which started and finished in Aberdyfi! It’ll be nice to swap the running shoes for a costume.”

Robyn Lyn Evans, who lives near Machynlleth, plays Luigi.

Issuing a spoiler alert, he said of the role: “It’s not often that the characters I perform are killed on stage – only two from over 30 roles so far – so it will be nice to finish singing (slightly) earlier for a change!”

He added: “This will be my second operatic production for MWO after Eugene Onegin in 2018, and being mid Wales-based it will be great to be able to go home to my own bed after each show as the venues are all within driving distance, which makes a change from having to book countless hotel rooms all over the country.

“Funnily enough, over the years, I can now say I’ve performed in nearly all the towns/villages we’ll be visiting; except for one, where I shall be making my debut this year and which happens to be the closest one of all to home…Aberdyfi!”

The cast also includes Elin Pritchard, Stephanie Windsor Lewis, Emyr Wyn Jones and Philip Smith.

Full details of the tour are on MWO’s website: www.midwalesopera.co.uk.