The Magic Lantern in Tywyn has welcomed back audiences for their first live events since 7 March, 2020.

Staff there said they were “beyond excited” to be able to advertise “the first live events in what seems like forever”, with live music returning to Tywyn courtesy of Mid Wales Opera.

Magic Lantern hosted three very special performances from the opera company in The Secret Garden at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm on Sunday, 6 June.

Advance booking was essential to control numbers and bubbles at the three short concerts, which featured an eclectic mix of joyful, entertaining and uplifting musical treats from the world of song, opera, cabaret and more.

Mid Wales Opera was on tour with their production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro when the first lockdown happened in March 2020 and, like many organisations, managed to keep going through a mix of digital programming and pop up concerts when possible.

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.”

Due to Covid rules there were no drinks or snacks at the concerts, and The Secret Garden was closed to anyone without a ticket.

Audience capacity was also limited for concert, which toured across Wales, as Lydia explained: “We were allowed 47 people there with a limit of 50, less three singers.

“We did three shows per day because of the low numbers and visited seven venues across Wales altogether with three different teams of performers so we could keep everything as local as we could.

“The garden’s gorgeous and it’s been lovely to be back with live audiences.

“We did two days of pop-up shows just before Christmas 2020 in Machynlleth cattle market but these were our first shows back this year.

“The weather’s not always been kind but if we could perform outdoors then we felt we should get back on the road as soon as we could.”

Annie Grundy from the Magic Lantern said: “The event was a huge success and we sold out all three events.

“We had such great feedback about the quality of the performance and the atmosphere.

“The concert was part of Mid Wales Opera ‘Sounds of the Summer’ which they had support from Arts Council of Wales to produce.

“For the Magic Lantern it was great to stretch the range of our programme and MWO were great to work with, so we hope there will be opportunities to develop that relationship in the future.”