MADNESS descends upon Welsh National Opera (WNO) for its autumn 2015 season, which launches WNO’s 70th birthday year.

Three new productions – which arrive in Hampshire next week - will explore human turmoil through some of the finest musical expressions of madness and the human condition.

The productions will be performed at Mayflower Theatre from Tuesday, October 13 until Saturday 17 October.

Opening the autumn season in Southampton is a new production of Bellini’s I puritani (October 13), the composer’s final opera and widely regarded as a bel canto masterpiece.

Following the season theme, the heroine Elvira’s descent into madness is one of the most exquisitely refined musical portraits of insanity in opera.

One of Handel’s greatest operas – Orlando (October 14) – comes to WNO in a production that originated at Scottish Opera in 2011.

It provides a fascinating insight into musical virtuosity as a metaphor for insanity as Orlando’s vertiginous descent into madness at the end of Act II is sublimely depicted through Handel’s music, balancing his inner suffering with fevered anguish to immense effect.

Directed by Harry Fehr, Orlando will be set in 1940s London during World War II, providing a fitting backdrop to heighten the emotional impact of the story against the devastation of the Blitz.

The season is completed with Sondheim’s musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd (October 15 -17), which explores not only the madness of the protagonist but of society as a whole.

This production promises a musical with all the emotional impact of opera and will be a rare opportunity to hear Sweeney Todd with the celebrated WNO Chorus and Orchestra.

The production is set in the late 1970s/early 1980s and provides a fresh take on the story with echoes of Thatcher’s Britain.

Tickets for all shows are on sale from Mayflower Theatre box office on 02380 711811 or online at mayflower.org.uk.