Opera North is a national large-scale opera company based in Leeds, touring mainly in the North and Midlands but also nationally and internationally. Our investment supports both its core activities and forthcoming move into a new opera centre within the Leeds Grand Theatre capital development.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk
Opera North is England's national opera company and a leading European arts organisation. The Company is committed to producing work of the highest quality that excites, challenges and entertains. It performs not only throughout the north of England and in London, but also at opera houses on the continent and at major international festivals. An innovative approach to programming and performance style has been widely acknowledged through a number of prestigious awards, including four for its Eight Little Greats season in 2004, and for Peter Grimes, the 2007 South Bank Show Opera Award, Royal Philharmonic Society Opera and Music Theatre Award and TMA Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. Recently, the Company won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera at the 2012 Theatre Awards UK for its production of Norma.
Acclaimed for its imaginative programming and innovative productions on the main stage, the Company also creates smaller scale Projects that bring together music, words and theatre in new and surprising combinations, and programmes its own venue, the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds, with an enormous diversity of activities that make connections between the classical and the contemporary. The Company's core artistic ensembles, the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North, are renowned for the consistent excellence of their work, and the Orchestra, under the inspired leadership of its Music Director Richard Farnes, also leads an energetic life on the concert platform and in the recording studio. Opera North Education takes the Company into the heart of the community and demonstrates, year after year, the power of the arts in general, and opera in particular, to transform lives.
The work of Opera North is made possible by direct support from Arts Council England, local authorities led by a close and sustained relationship with Leeds City Council, sponsorship from the private sector, the Friends of Opera North, the Opera North Fund, The Future Fund, The Patron's Initiative and the box office income from its audiences. The Company is grateful to the many business sponsors, charitable trusts and individuals who together assist Opera North to continue to mount its award-winning programmes.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/albert-herring
Set and costume designer, Leslie Travers discusses designing for a site-specific production, and looks forward to the piece being performed in such an intimate venue.
Director and Set & Lighting Designer, Charles Edwards discusses the resetting of Opera North's new production of Handel's Joshua. He explores the connections between the contemporary middle east and his concept for the production.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/joshua
Director & Set and Lighting Designer, Charles Edwards discusses the "extraordinary, visceral impact" of Handel's mighty oratorio, Joshua.
Cast
Joshua - Daniel Norman
Achsah - Fflur Wyn
Othniel - Jake Arditti
Caleb - Henry Waddington
Creative Team
Conductor - Stephen Layton (ex 3 May)
Conductor - Anthony Kraus (3 May)
Director - Charles Edwards
Set and Lighting Designer - Charles Edwards
Costume Designer - Gabrielle Dalton
http://www.fireworkmaker.co.uk
Audience members react to The Firework-Maker's Daughter following opening night at Hull Truck Theatre.
Cast
Lila/ Goddess/ Young Girl - Mary Bevan
Hamlet/ Pirate/ Ghost/ Firework 1 - James Laing
Chulak/ Pirate/ Ghost/ Firework 2 - Amar Muchhala
Lalchand/ Sprite/ Pirate/ Razvani - Wyn Pencarreg
Rambashi/ Keeper/ Ghost/ King - Andrew Slater
Creative Team
Composer - David Bruce
Librettist - Glyn Maxwell
Director - John Fulljames
Conductor - Geoffrey Paterson
Designer - Dick Bird
Puppetry - Steve Tiplady and Sally Todd of Indefinite Articles
Lighting Designer - Guy Hoare
Orchestra - CHROMA
Co-produced by The Opera Group and Opera North in association with ROH2 and Watford Palace Theatre.
Co-commissioned by The Opera Group and ROH2.
Orchestral partner: CHROMA
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/the-firework-maker-s-daughter
An explosive musical adventure
Based on the story by Philip Pullman
Lila desperately wants to be a firework-maker like her father. But when he refuses to teach her, Lila runs away from home to discover the three gifts of firework-making for herself. With the help of her friends, Chulak and Hamlet, the love-sick elephant, Lila faces pirates, tigers and the terrifying Fire-Fiend on her perilous quest to find out what the three gifts really mean.
This new opera is a vivid re-telling of the award-winning children's novel by author Philip Pullman, with a libretto by Glyn Maxwell. David Bruce's music, bursting with colour and energy, sparkles with humour and musical fireworks of its own and is brought to life by magical puppetry.
Discover this gripping tale of friendship, determination and adventure that will be an explosive theatrical experience for all the family.
Co-produced by The Opera Group and Opera North in association with ROH2 and Watford Palace Theatre.
Co-commissioned by The Opera Group and ROH2.
Orchestral partner: CHROMA
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/la-voix-humaine
We follow Lesley Garrett as she returns to the operatic stage as 'Elle' in Opera North's new production of La voix humaine.
Cast:
Elle - Lesley Garrett
Creative Team:
Conductor - Wyn Davies
Director - Aletta Collins
Set Designer - Giles Cadle
Costume Designer - Gabrielle Dalton
Lighting Designer - Andreas Fuchs
Performed by Martin Green, Becky Unthank, Niklas Roswall and Inge Thomson.
Murdered lovers and kisses that kill; this specially curated evening of ghostly songs will send shivers down your spine. Led by Lau accordionist Martin Green, a collection of handpicked folk luminaries including Becky Unthank, nykelharpist Niklas Roswall and singer Inge Thomson draw together traditional folk songs from northern lands about ghosts, ghouls and unquiet spirits.
Produced by Opera North Projects
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/la-voix-humaine
Lesley Garrett makes her return to the operatic stage in a work of rare originality and stark emotional honesty.
A woman is sprawled alone on her bed. 'It looks like the scene of a murder' said Jean Cocteau, who wrote the play on which Poulenc's opera is based. But the woman isn't dead. She gets up and makes to leave, when the phone rings. It is her ex-lover. During the next 40 minutes we hear one side of an increasingly desperate conversation in which the woman tries anything to win him back. But it's no use -- she can't get through to him. He hangs up, and she's left whispering 'Je t'aime' to nobody.
La voix humaine is short in length, but not on emotional impact. Through the lone voice of the woman, Poulenc expresses all the pain and fear of rejection in the rawest fashion, whilst enveloping her voice in music of caressing warmth and sensuality.
Aletta Collins returns to Opera North to direct this one woman show, which will showcase Lesley Garrett's talent in this heartbreaking portrayal of a relationship's breakdown.
Cast
Elle - Lesley Garrett
Creative Team
Conductor - Wyn Davies
Director - Aletta Collins
Set Designer - Giles Cadle
Costume Designer - Gabrielle Dalton
Lighting Designer - Andreas Fuchs
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/otello
Opera North's new production of Verdi's Otello
Iago, an ensign in the Venetian army, is a man who bears a grudge. When his general, Otello, passes him over for promotion in favour of Cassio, Iago's festering resentment quickly turns to downright malice. He poisons Otello's mind with suspicion, and step by step, leads Otello to believe that his young wife Desdemona is in love with the young and handsome Cassio. And so Iago, a man consumed by envy, makes Otello into a monster of murderous jealousy.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth, this breathtaking new production brings Shakespeare's great tragedy to life through Verdi's most exquisite, passionate and profoundly moving music. A tale of betrayed friendship, suspicion and jealousy, it is widely regarded as the crowning glory of Italian opera.
This new production reunites the production team of Tim Albery and designer Leslie Travers who created Opera North's recent, widely acclaimed Giulio Cesare; Music Director Richard Farnes conducts.
Supported by The Peter Moores Foundation and the Opera North Future Fund
Cast
Otello - Ronald Samm
Desdemona - Elena Kelessidi
Iago - David Kempster
Cassio - Michael Wade Lee
Emilia - Ann Taylor
Roderigo - Christopher Turner
Lodovico - Henry Waddington
Montano - Dean Robinson
Herald - Paul Gibson
Creative Team
Conductor - Richard Farnes
Director - Tim Albery
Set and Costume Designer - Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer - Thomas C Hase
Choreographer - Laila Diallo
Fight Director - Will Tristam
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/otello
Conductor, Richard Farnes explores Verdi's masterpiece, Otello.
Giuseppe Verdi (1887)
New production
Iago, an ensign in the Venetian army, is a man who bears a grudge. When his general, Otello, passes him over for promotion in favour of Cassio, Iago's festering resentment quickly turns to downright malice. He poisons Otello's mind with suspicion, and step by step, leads Otello to believe that his young wife Desdemona is in love with the young and handsome Cassio. And so Iago, a man consumed by envy, makes Otello into a monster of murderous jealousy.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth, this breathtaking new production brings Shakespeare's great tragedy to life through Verdi's most exquisite, passionate and profoundly moving music. A tale of betrayed friendship, suspicion and jealousy, it is widely regarded as the crowning glory of Italian opera.
This new production reunites the production team of Tim Albery and designer Leslie Travers who created Opera North's recent, widely acclaimed Giulio Cesare; Music Director Richard Farnes conducts.
Sung in Italian with English titles
Lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
Supported by The Peter Moores Foundation and the Opera North Future Fund
Cast
Otello - Ronald Samm
Desdemona - Elena Kelessidi
Iago - David Kempster
Cassio - Michael Wade Lee
Emilia - Ann Taylor
Roderigo - Christopher Turner
Lodovico - Henry Waddington
Montano - Dean Robinson
Herald - Paul Gibson
Creative Team
Conductor - Richard Farnes
Director - Tim Albery
Set and Costume Designer - Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer - Thomas C Hase
Choreographer - Laila Diallo
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/filmusic
Following a successful first year, the FILMusic series is back with events exploring the exciting relationship between music and film. This year, there is a focus on new music written for the great films of the silent era.
Opera North's Projects Director, Dominic Gray explores the season.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/otello
David Kempster explores the character of Iago and how the opera differs from Shakespeare's play.
Opera North's new production of Otello, conducted by Richard Farnes and directed by Tim Albery opens at Leeds Grand Theatre on Wednesday 16 January 2013.
Iago, an ensign in the Venetian army, is a man who bears a grudge. When his general, Otello, passes him over for promotion in favour of Cassio, Iago's festering resentment quickly turns to downright malice. He poisons Otello's mind with suspicion, and step by step, leads Otello to believe that his young wife Desdemona is in love with the young and handsome Cassio. And so Iago, a man consumed by envy, makes Otello into a monster of murderous jealousy.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth, this breathtaking new production brings Shakespeare's great tragedy to life through Verdi's most exquisite, passionate and profoundly moving music. A tale of betrayed friendship, suspicion and jealousy, it is widely regarded as the crowning glory of Italian opera.
This new production reunites the production team of Tim Albery and designer Leslie Travers who created Opera North's recent, widely acclaimed Giulio Cesare; Music Director Richard Farnes conducts.
Sung in Italian with English titles
Lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minutes
Supported by The Peter Moores Foundation and the Opera North Future Fund
Cast
Otello - Ronald Samm
Desdemona - Elena Kelessidi
Iago - David Kempster
Cassio - Michael Wade Lee
Emilia - Ann Taylor
Roderigo - Christopher Turner
Lodovico - Henry Waddington
Montano - Dean Robinson
Herald - Paul Gibson
Creative Team
Conductor - Richard Farnes
Director - Tim Albery
Set and Costume Designer - Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer - Thomas C Hase
Choreographer - Laila Diallo
Performed by Martin Green (Lau), Becky Unthank, Niklas Roswall and Inge Thomson.
Murdered lovers and kisses that kill; this specially curated evening of ghostly songs will send shivers down your spine. Led by Lau accordionist Martin Green, a collection of handpicked folk luminaries including Becky Unthank, nykelharpist Niklas Roswall and singer Inge Thomson draw together traditional folk songs from northern lands about ghosts, ghouls and unquiet spirits.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/music-crows-bones
A Folk Ghost Story for Christmas
Performed by Martin Green (Lau), Becky Unthank, Niklas Roswall and Inge Thomson.
Murdered lovers and kisses that kill; this specially curated Yuletide evening of ghostly songs will send shivers down your spine. Led by Lau accordionist Martin Green, a collection of handpicked folk luminaries including Becky Unthank, nykelharpist Niklas Roswall and singer Inge Thomson draw together traditional folk songs from northern lands about ghosts, ghouls and unquiet spirits. The evening begins with a chance to hear Roswall play an entrancing set of traditional Scandinavian tunes and midwinter songs.
Gather around the Howard Assembly Room's winter hearth for an acoustic and intimate candlelit festive concert; an unmissable journey into the dark heart of folk song.
Opera North's General Director, Richard Mantle, explains the company's approach to its new production of Gounod's Faust which employs an entirely projections-led design.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/faust
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/film-pandora-s-box
Silent film with a new live score
Composed and performed by Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur Gudnadóttir.
'at that time a dangerously shocking film. It still remains an intensely sexy one'. The Guardian on Pandora's Box
'Supremely evocative compositions' BBC music on Jóhann Jóhannsson
GW Pabst's 1929 silent film follows the rise and fall of the captivating, amoral young prostitute Lulu and her various ill-fated relationships, brought to life by the inimitable Louise Brooks.
Part of an international renaissance of silent film, this special screening sees award-winning Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Fordlandia), cellist and composer Hildur Gudnadóttir (Múm/Throbbing Gristle), and turntablist Philip Jeck combine forces. The brand new live soundtrack plays with the film's volatile energy, Weimar-era recordings and the iconic figure of Louise Brooks.
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/faust
Audiences react following the opening night of Opera North's new production of Gounod's Faust.
Middle-aged scholar Faust longs for a life full of glory and pleasure that he never had. Méphistophélès is offering a second chance in exchange for his soul. An innocent woman, Marguerite, falls victim to this diabolical pact when Faust seduces her with fatal consequences. But while for Marguerite there is hope for redemption, for Faust there is none.
Performed in more than 50 countries and translated into 25 languages, Gounod's great melodramatic opera has been capturing audiences since its 1859 Paris premiere. Alongside Carmen, it remains one of the most popular French operas of all time. Bursting with moving solos, dramatic ensembles and thrilling choruses, every scene of Gounod's masterpiece is overflowing with memorable melodies including the charming Jewel Song and the powerful Soldier's Chorus.
Renowned tenor Peter Auty takes the title role joined by James Creswell - as the devil Méphistophélès - who is returning to Opera North after his recent roles in Norma and Das Rheingold. Their trio is completed by Juanita Lascarro as Marguerite, bringing a confidently flexible vocal for which she has become famous.
Gounod's Faust is one of several operas inspired by Goethe's great Faust drama- other examples are Berlioz's The Damnation de Faust and the rarely performed Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito. The Metropolitan Opera was opened with a performance was Gounod's version of Faust in New York on 22 October 1883. It remains one of the most in demand operas at the Met, with more than 730 performances given up until 2008. For several decades New York's opera season opened with a performance of the piece.
Sung in French with English titles
Last approximately 3 hours
http://www.operanorth.co.uk/education/young-people
Opus2 & 3 are groups that meet weekly to try out arts activities, develop performance skills and create new work. Opus2 & 3 also receive free tickets for music and arts performances in the city.
Arts Council England is not responsible for the social media content on this organisation's page
Opera North: one of the most vibrant hubs of artistic creativity in the country.
The Lullaby Project: James Yorkston
Albert Herring: Leslie Travers on Britten, bicycles and WW2 in a potting shed
Handel's Joshua: audience reaction
The Lullaby Project: Dharambir Singh
Joshua: Charles Edwards on the production design
The Lullaby Project: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Joshua: interview with director, Charles Edwards
The Firework-Maker's Daughter: audience reaction
The Lullaby Project: Martyn Jacques
The Firework-Maker's Daughter trailer
Lesley Garrett - A Return to Opera
Otello: interview with conductor, Richard Farnes
FILMusic at the Howard Assembly Room
Opera North's Faust, an exciting new way of working
An insight into Opus 2 & 3: an out-of-school arts project with a twist...
