In case this is useful to anyone who may not otherwise have seen it…

See also: cutting arts funding.

A really important piece in The Stage about mental health progress in our industry. Well worth a read - www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/what... #Theatre #MentalHealth #PerformingArts

If you’re a performer, or just curious about the performer’s life, The Steve Faulkner Podcast is well worth a listen. Available wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 stevefaulkner.podbean.com #Podcast #PerformingArts

Lovely surprise bumping into good friend and fellow tenor Aled Hall at the station. Always great to catch up. #Opera #Tenor #BetweenTheNotes

Autumn 2025 🍂 The light changes, quietly. #BetweenTheNotes #AutumnLight

Celebrating #WorldOperaDay with a scene from Die tote Stadt — me as Graf Albert with Alex Sprague as Victorin. #Opera #OperaSinger #ClassicalMusic #Korngold #Tenor

A still morning and a shift in the light. 🍂 #BetweenTheNotes

Just got my copy of Someone Else’s Music, the new book by Alexandra Wilson — looking forward to starting it over the weekend. More info: www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/someone-else... #Opera

The Phantom of the Opera turns 39 today. I had the pleasure of playing Piangi in the London production — wonderful memories from an unforgettable time. #PhantomOfTheOpera #Opera #WestEnd #Theatre #BetweenTheNotes

A little throwback — ten years ago fronting the operatic symphonic metal band Proscenium. Wonderful to have shared the stage with such brilliant musicians. #Opera #ClassicalMusic #Proscenium #BetweenTheNotes

Great to see BBC NOW coming to Swansea’s finest concert hall, the Brangwyn. Season opener this Friday with the powerful music of Shostakovich. www.brangwyn.co.uk/BBCNOWCelebr... @grandambition.bsky.social #Shostakovich #Swansea #BBCNOW #ARTS

Thrilled to see @richardmylan.bsky.social recognised @thestage.co.uk #DebutAwards for his outstanding direction of Mumfighter. Big congratulations, Richard – so well deserved!

Behind the scenes at yesterday’s shoot with @grandambition.bsky.social @richardmylan.bsky.social Steve Balsamo. Excited to be one of the soloists for something special in early 2026 – more soon via @grandambition.bsky.social #GrandAmbition #Arts #Wales

Some positive news about St David’s Hall. “The agreement will safeguard the future of the venue, preserving the National Concert Hall of Wales as a centrepiece of Cardiff’s cultural fabric and securing its legacy as a world-class music venue.” #Arts #StDavidsHall nation.cymru/culture/majo...

Just finished listening to Music Is Art Vol. 1 by Chimpan A — poetic, cinematic, with moving narration and stunning vocals from Steve Balsamo. Something for everyone here. Wonderful album. #MusicIsArt #NewMusic

Charaktertenor: “ A voice type with both power and dramatic nuance. “ www.ipasource.com/help/fach/ar... #Charaktertenor #Opera #OperaSinger #Tenor

Volante Opera talk about their new recording with Paul Corfield Godfrey’s operatic Lord of the Rings! Watch: youtu.be/MSyV7Lcp_DE #LordOfTheRings #Opera

Wow — just watched The Life of Chuck, based on @stephenking.bsky.social book. A brilliant, thought-provoking film that really stays with you. #TheLifeOfChuck #StephenKing #TomHiddleston #Film #Cinema

Summer Concert in Caerphilly — featuring some fantastic artists. Well worth checking out if you’re nearby. #Operasingers #Classicalmusic

Another proud member of the Piangi club 🎭 Bravo to David on his final day in Phantom London — loved his farewell video on YouTube. Worth a watch 👇 youtu.be/9er8ES4w2Lk #ThePhantomOfTheOpera #BetweenTheNotes

A fantastic evening at The Other Palace for Whatwood & Westkeys debut. London theatre at its best! 🎭 #Theatre #LondonArts

Congratulations to one of Wales’ finest actors and theatre directors @richardmylan.bsky.social on his nomination in the @thestage.co.uk #DebutAwards www.thestage.co.uk/the-stage-de...

Last day in the forest today — tomorrow it’s London, the theatre, then back to the music next week… #Theatre #Music #BetweenTheNotes #Forest

Quiet days in the forest — Wagner’s Forest Murmurs comes to mind #Opera #Betweenthenotes

Wind, rain, sea, and the foghorn in Mumbles today — couldn’t help thinking of Peter Grimes. Britten really understood this kind of atmosphere. #PeterGrimes #BenjaminBritten #OperaLife #SeaInterludes #Opera #Mumbles

Back in Swansea for the holidays — where it all began. This part of the world has produced so many wonderful opera singers, singers, actors, musicians, and artists. Grateful to have grown up here. #Swansea #WelshArtist #OperaLife #BetweenTheNotes #Arts

In town for opera coaching and caught The Comedy About Spies. Sharp, fast, brilliantly played — a great night at the theatre. #TheComedyAboutSpies #ComedyAboutSpies #LondonTheatre #StageEnergy

Recently came across this backstage photo from my time as Piangi in the West End Phantom of the Opera. It also brought back memories of voicing the role for the 2004 film adaptation. More on instagram.com/leedavidbowen #ThePhantomOfTheOpera #Piangi #OperaLife #Charaktertenor #POTO

Always good to experience storytelling from another angle — Evita at The London Palladium last night. A reminder of how powerful live theatre can be. Congratulations to all the cast and creatives. #Evita #LondonPalladium #LiveTheatre #PerformerPerspective #WestEnd

Been past here many times and only just noticed this. #Mozart #London #BehindTheNotes

To all professionals (and retirees) in the film, television, theatre, entertainment, and arts world, join the challenge to post a photo of yourself in your job. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood social media with our profession. Copy the text and post a pic on YOUR page.

Wonderful to see the late renowned Welsh tenor Stuart Burrows being celebrated on BBC Four this evening. Such a glorious voice and amazing international artist. #Avoicefortheworld #StuartBurrows #OperaSinger #Tenor #Wales

I’m a big fan of Vaughan Williams - just listening to his Sancta civitas from BBC Proms - such a thought provoking, reflective piece of music. #BBCProms

Happy birthday to one of Swansea’s finest opera singers - Bass Gareth Long. #OperaSinger #BehindTheNotes #Bass #Opera #Swansea

“As representing our local council…” One of those roles — full of character and deceptively lyrical. From a production of #AlbertHerring, where I played the Mayor (Mr Upfold). 📸 Backstage photo by Gerard Demattio #OperaSinger #Tenor #Charaktertenor #BehindTheNotes #Britten

Summer in Wales 2025. #Wales #Summer2025 #BetweenTheNotes #OperaSinger

I worked with Stewart while singing Piangi in Phantom of the Opera — excited for his upcoming memoir! ‘Beginners to the Stage, Please’ follows his journey from tearing tickets to stage managing Phantom in the West End. 🔗 troubador.co.uk/bookshop/mem... #PhantomLondon #TheatreMemoir #BackstageLife

On the way to coaching. Nothing says opera quite like a castle window. #BetweenTheNotes #OperaSinger #QuietMoments #CastleWindow #OperaLife

@mrjamesob.bsky.social Have to mention @ironmaiden.bsky.social for their passion and theatricality all very operatic. There’s a big link between Opera and heavy metal. 88,000 people last weekend at London City Stadium to see Maiden’s 50th anniversary show. Ps Love your show James.

Revisiting Dr Caius — a role I’ve performed before. Fits well with recent promo recordings of Herod, Mime & Aegisth. Different characters, but there’s a clear link between them. 🎧 www.youtube.com/@leedavidbowen #Falstaff #Charaktertenor #Charactertenor #OperaSinger #Tenor #Opera

Had an incredible night with Iron Maiden — music and storytelling on a grand theatrical scale, truly operatic. Grateful to have been part of this unforgettable experience. @ironmaiden.bsky.social #IronMaiden #Runforyourlivesworldtour #OperaSinger

Very sad to hear of the passing of one of Wales’ finest tenors - the great Stuart Burrows. #opera #wales #cymru #stuartburrows #tenor

On my way to London. Swapping arias for Iron Maiden tomorrow — drama in a different key. @ironmaiden.bsky.social #TenorLife #IronMaiden #OperaToMetal

As someone originally from Swansea, this wonderful news from Welsh National Theatre is fantastic to see 👇 Great to see the city’s arts and culture getting the recognition it deserves—thanks to the Grand Ambition team, the Grand Theatre, and the return of Welsh National Opera to #Swansea #Arts

Looking forward to the Vocalia concert on Saturday 28th June, 7:30pm at St Paul’s Church, Clifton, Bristol. #Vocalia #BristolMusic #LiveMusic #OperaLife

A mime bank holiday coaching with the wonderful Michael Pollock. #richardwagner #operasinger #opera

Great to meet up with the team @grandambition.bsky.social @richardmylan.bsky.social and to make plans to bring some Classical music to Swansea Grand Theatre. Watch this space for some exciting news soon… #swansea #grandambition #theatre #wales #arts www.swanseagrand.co.uk/GrandAmbitio...

Happy Easter! Easter Sunday walk.

Tomorrow evening will see the opening of this powerful new plan at Swansea Grand Theatre. For more information and to book tickets see - www.swanseagrand.co.uk/HotChicks @grandambition.bsky.social @richardmylan.bsky.social @michellemcternan.bsky.social #Swansea #arts #wales #abertawe