ALT 'We are deeply disappointed and indeed shocked at the news that - after 35 years of staging remarkable opera across the length and breadth of Wales - the Arts Council has decided not to offer us multi-annual funding. Obviously, we will be considering our next steps over the coming weeks. This will, however, be a hammer blow for the young artists who gain invaluable career development opportunities from working with us, as well as to audiences in towns and rural communities who have few, if any opportunities to experience live opera. However, this decision has no direct impact on our exciting plans for the next few months which are fully funded. We look forward to welcoming audiences from Barmouth to Abergavenny and from Milford Haven to Bangor to our performances of Berlioz's 'Beatrice and Benedict' (from 13 October to 10 November) and of Macbeth in February and March 2024'. Gareth Williams Chair, Mid Wales Opera