Fflamau Penyberth, composed by Gareth Glyn and commissioned by OPRA Cymru, tells the story of the 1936 arson attack at RAF Penrhos by three Welsh nationalists.
The opera follows Saunders Lewis, Lewis Valentine and Carmarthenshire-born writer DJ Williams, who set fire to the RAF base in protest against the destruction of Penyberth, a farmhouse of cultural and historical significance.
Mr Glyn, who was born in Machynlleth, said: “Fflamau Penyberth commemorates a hugely significant event in Welsh history and I felt a great responsibility to get it right and I hope my score does justice to this seminal moment.
“The score includes pieces for the three main characters and they sing together unaccompanied at one stage which I believe is a very powerful song.
“I’m pleased that the singers chosen to take part are suitable for the parts they portray.
“Similarly the singers are approximately from the same areas of Wales as the three men so they sing in the same local accent and I think that is very important.”
The protest was sparked by the British government’s decision to build an RAF training camp on the Llŷn Peninsula, which led to the demolition of Penyberth.
The trio, described as “God-fearing” Welsh nationalists, set fire to the buildings and then surrendered to the police.
They were later tried at the Old Bailey and sentenced to nine months in Wormwood Scrubs.
The opera is structured in three acts and opens with one of the men in a prison cell, with the story unfolding through a series of flashbacks.
The cast includes tenor Robyn Lyn Evans, and baritones Emyr Wyn Jones and Robin Gruffudd Hughes.
All three have performed with major opera companies.
The opera will be premiered at Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli on Thursday, November 19, and later visit Rhosllannerchrugog, Bangor, Swansea, Barry, Brecon and Aberystwyth before returning to Pwllheli for the final performance of the tour.
The libretto was written by OPRA Cymru founder, Patrick Young, from Llan Ffestiniog, in conjunction with author and historian Arwel Vittle.
