 In 1953 the company staged its first work by a Welsh composer : <unk> by <unk> Hughes . The composer conducted , and the leads were sung by two professional guest stars , Richard Lewis and <unk> <unk> . The same year marked WNO 's first appearances outside Wales , playing a week at Bournemouth in April , and a week at Manchester in October , when The Manchester Guardian found the soloists first @-@ rate but the chorus disappointing , in both Nabucco and Il <unk> . A reviewer in The Musical Times commented on potential difficulties in assembling the wholly amateur chorus for performances beyond daily travelling range of their day jobs . By the time of the company 's first London season – a week at <unk> 's Wells in 1955 – the chorus was judged to be " lively and exciting " ( The Musical Times ) , " vibrant " and " moving " ( The Times ) and " <unk> " ( The Manchester Guardian ) . 
