Pitch-ure perfect art (From Penarth Times)

Pitch-ure perfect art

A PORTRAIT of Carlo Rizzi, Welsh National Opera"s Music Director, by painter Aneurin Jones, was unveiled at the Washington Gallery last Sunday.

The portrait, which shows Penarth-based Carlo Rizzi in action, will form part of an exhibition called Chiaroscuro which features over 70 new works by Aneurin Jones and his son Meirion Jones.

The exhibition title, Chiaroscuro was suggested by Carlo Rizzi, being the Italian word which gives a sense of the depiction of light and shade by contrasting them boldly.

The 70 year-old artist has won acclaim across Wales for his distinctive scenes of the people and landscape of the country.

He is drawn to silhouettes, shapes that are nearly abstract and which reveal his feelings that Wales is itself a mystic land.

His son Meirion, who has only recently begun to show work on a regular basis, uses water and the coastline from North Pembrokeshire to Cardigan Bay as the beginning of his delicate and haunting images.

Carlo Rizzi, whose international career has taken him to all the major opera houses in the world, returned as Music Director of Welsh National Opera in 2004.

His first tenure with WNO from 1992 to 2001 brought him into the hearts of the Welsh people.

He has lived in Penarth since 1992, and is an accomplished Welsh speaker.

Early in 2005, Carlo Rizzi discussed the possibilities of a portrait commission with Aneurin Jones.

The portrait was completed after a number of studies were undertaken during the rehearsals for WNO"s new production of Verdi"s Don Carlos, which opened in Wales Millennium Centre in September 2005 before touring the UK.

Chiaroscuro will run at the Washington Gallery, Stanwell Road in Penarth until November 30 and entry is free. For information call 029 2071 2100 or visit www.washingtongallery.co.uk