Opera North

"A spa for the brain" "Sharpens your senses" "Original. Beautiful."
With just one month left to book for #AEONS, our sound walk along the Tyne for Great Exhibition of the North 2018, take a look at some of the responses so far...

"One of my favourite costumes without a doubt, because it's so enormous!"
Soprano Amy Freston, who returns to the party-girl role of Valencienne this Autumn, goes for her initial #ONMerryWidow fitting back in 2010 (feat. designer Leslie Travers and our Costume team)... #ThrowbackThursday
www.operanorth.co.uk/the-merry-widow

🐈 Happy #InternationalCatDay!
Claws at dawn... love this illustration of the iconic Giacomo Puccini opera that opens our #ON1819 season: TOSCA. Or should that be Tos-CAT?
www.operanorth.co.uk/tosca

Well, it's one way to do it! #WednesdayWisdom (?!) from us. You're welcome.

Side splitting!
WIN tickets to the joyous #ONMerryWidow at Leeds Grand Theatre, plus dinner at Côte Brasserie, with Leeds-List...

"Uproarious, hilarious, joyous!" — director Emma Lander on #ONYouthChorus new show 'Pirates Revisited', a re-imagining of The Pirates of Penzance.
Premiering at Greenside Venue tomorrow (our Youth Chorus' Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut)...

❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙
Happy #LeedsPride to all attending this weekend, and to all of our LGBT+ staff, artists, supporters & friends, wherever you may be!

Our wonderful Opera North Youth Company make their International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival debut at Harrogate Theatres next Friday with 'Pirates Revisited', an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's much-loved The Pirates of Penzance.
Don't miss it! Tickets:
https://gsfestivals.ticketsolve.com/shows /873585047

📽📽 A peek behind the scenes — see how our new images for #ONTosca and #ONMerryWidow were created (featuring the lovely Giselle Allen and Máire Flavin).
Official Tosca trailer coming soon (it's a weepie...)
www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/

Happy #YorkshireDay! 💪
Proud to have brought the iconic Brassed Off LIVE home to Yorkshire this past weekend with Grimethorpe Colliery Band at Millennium Square. Did you join us?
www.operanorth.co.uk/brassed-off-live

Welcome to the #ONTosca team, who start rehearsing this week! Who's looking forward to this brand new production of Giacomo Puccini's thriller?
Explore more here: www.operanorth.co.uk/tosca

🌖 We dodged the worst of the weather for the night of the century with Dave Beer, #ONOrchestra and some very special guests...
Thanks to all who helped make it a night to remember!
Back on Millennium Square tonight for A Classic Summer's Evening!
... Pics by Zagni Photography
See More

‘Insomnia’ LIVE 🎶🙌🙌🎶
The Symphonic Sounds of Back To Basics with the Orchestra of Opera North, live from Millennium Square.

Leeds! We are ready. Are you? Because tonight we go Back To Basics on Millennium Square and it's going to be EPIC 🙌

New artwork for our 'effortlessly enjoyable' (Financial Times) production of Lehar's The Merry Widow, featuring our own Máire Flavin (and a lot of confetti!)
Who's looking forward to #ONMerryWidow?
Explore: www.operanorth.co.uk/the-merry-widow

Today we launched a shiny new website, courtesy of the lovely people at Substrakt.
Have a look around and let us know what you think!
www.operanorth.co.uk

Not long before rehearsals for #ONTosca begin! Here's our NEW image featuring our very own Giselle Allen...
📸 by @guyfarrow
Explore: www.operanorth.co.uk/tosca

"A story that still matters to a great deal of people."
A special message from actor Stephen Tompkinson ahead of our 'big screen' screening of Brassed Off with LIVE score from Orchestra of Opera North and Grimethorpe Colliery Band at Millennium Square...
www.operanorth.co.uk/productions/brassed- off-live

Great news! Some additional tickets have just been released for Brassed Off Live (Sunday 29 July) at Millennium Square. To snap them up before anyone else does, call Box Office on 0844 848 2720 or book online:

Went to see Mozart Don Giovanni this evening for its first performance this run. Overall, it was a super production and well-sung.



What was good?



Almost everything. The singing was very good, especially the women. Particularly outstanding vocally was Jennifer Davis as Anna, who delivered those big arias with luscious sound and no apparent effort. Never heard 'Or sai chi l'onore' sung so well live. John Savournin's Leporello was also beautiful of tone and excellently acted. Elvira's character was sympathetically developed; no hysteria marred it. The production was thought provoking in the era of #MeToo. (Excellent essay in programme about this called Time's Up which is really worth a read). I think there will be mixed reviews as I heard lots of discontent with the production in the interval bar. However, I think productions which portray the Don as a lovable rogue rather than a rapist and a psychopath belong in the past. I really admired this brave staging. Impressive, uncomfortable (the timelessness of the Don's character proven having so many real current manifestations - Trump, Weinstein etc) and moving.



What could be improved?



The usually impeccable Opera North orchestra had a few rough edges tonight. A minor but surprising issue.

WOW!! Totally blown away!! Saw ‘Kiss me Kate’ Leeds Grand,Everything about this was amazing! The cast were brilliant, the songs, music.. everything! Loved it�

Un Ballo in Maschera - had me on the edge of my seat from the very beggining! Loved every second!!

Saw Salome at The Town Hall on Sunday. What a brilliant and emotional performance. Jennifer Holloway was triumphant as Salome - the opera belonged to her. A stunning performance. The orchestra were also outstanding. So glad I made the effort to go.

Opera North's rendition of Madama Butterfly was stunning to say the least. Anne Sophie Duprels was phenomenal, as was Merunas, Ann and Peter. The arias were performed with heartbreaking pathos, and the duet sang by Ann Taylor and Anne Sophie Duprels as they were scattering the petals waiting for Pinkerton's return.... Just wow. The production was beautiful too. ���

Loved your performances this evening of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagalicci. I didn't know anything of Pagalicci and at first thought it was just a comedy until i was suddenly moved to tears by Canio's Vesti la guibba and couldn't stop crying, so I was glad of the comic respite afterwards. Tonio was just amazing and the ending made my blood run cold I was simply stunned.... Cavalleria Rusticana was amazing from start to finish with the performance by Giselle Allen as Santuzza was just wonderful, so passionate. The orchestra was amazing...I can't congratulate you enough, I would have given a standing ovation if I hadn't been too shy. My head is aching from the intensity of the emotion. Looking forward to seeing you do Don Giovanni in the new year.

Last night's performance of "Madama Butterfly" was my third visit to this production since 2012. Anne Sophie Duprels continues to be heartbreaking in the title-role, and the visual impact and all the action and stillness onstage beautifully interprets the glorious music. A wonderful evening.

I’ve always said I wasn’t fussed about Pucinni, well tonight you converted me Opera North - Madama Butterfly, first time of seeing it, totally spellbinding, particularly once the second Act got underway. It was beautifully staged, simply but very effectively and all of the cast performed with real depth and detail of character as well as fabulous singing. Moved me and will stay with me. Wow. Thank you!

I recently went to watch “kiss me Kate”. An amazing performance that had me laughing throughout. The costume and set made you feel as though you were really there!

I can ride my bicycle into town in 20 minutes and see the finest opera, as good as you can see anywhere in the World, what more could you want? Everyone in the North should go to Opera North, you would be a fool not to.

Go and see Verdi's Masked Ball. What a riveting performance we were treated to on Saturday evening. Music beautiful, excellently played as always by the orchestra. Adrienn Miksch's voice had such a limpid sweet quality at times and yet such power, will never forget her performance. Tereza Gevorgyan as oscar was lovely too, lively and yet full of heartbreak and the two men Rafael Rojas and Philip Rhodes held me spellbound. Great work by the chorus. Loved the staging and the movement, those sofa's(I want one) and the way the ball was dealt with - very clever. Why is this opera not done more often? This is the first time I have seen it and they first time Opera North has staged it. The whole thing is superb and deserves to be seen more. Well done to every last person involved with this, an absolute triumph.

Berlin to Broadway at the City Varieties in Leeds was a really well put together story of one of my favourite songwriters. Terrific performances all around. I especially liked Alabama Song and Lost in the Stars.

Ballo: Stunning. The entire production. The chorus had me in tears at the end. Such a simply powerful and effective production of this epic tragedy.

A perfect evening at The City Varieties hearing From Berlin to Broadway. All performers sang beautifully and were perfectly matched to each song. Moving, funny, sensual, romantic and shocking in a thought provoking way. I also learned a lot in a short space of time. Varied and engaging, I want to see and hear it all again! Thank you for such a delight x

Went to see Madama Butterfly at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.

It was beautifully sung and acted and very moving, Cio-Cio San and Suzuki spreading the petals was pure joy and the disappointment of Pinkerton not arriving was heart breaking.

A difficulty we had was that neither of us who went understood the start or ending where Goro was looking at the photos as it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the production.

I'm afraid neither of us were keen on the set, either. In out opinion, it was too plain, with the offset giant TV screen picture, but too fussy, with the footstool we were worried about the cast slipping off. at the same time.

But it did not change our opinion that we had a wonderful experience being able to see this live performance.

Thoroughly enjoyed Alessandro Talevi's entertaining production of Don Giovanni in Newcastle last night. Batti batti will never be the same for me again! Well sung and acted by all the cast under the sizzling superb guiding hand of conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren

Review below written by Roger Marriott (my father) who I went to see this with:



Cavalier Rusticana opera north 21/10/2017



What a shambles – what a disappointment –Mascagnia’s glorious music all but spoilt by a ridiculous staging and production. Setting the opera in communist Poland could potentially create a more contemporary setting for Giovanni Verga’s story but not embellished with heavy-handed symbolism and political overtones of the poor being exploited by the rich. There was no subtlety to the staging or direction – the singers were to be pitied. The portrayal of Tiriddu as a Christ-like figure with Lucia as the Virgin Mary and Santuzza as Mary Magdalene made one cringe. This did nothing to enhance or enlighten the character of any of the protagonists and was in total contradiction to the portrayal of Tiriddu as a sexual predator in other scenes. The jealousy of Santuzza becomes much more poignant when there is ambiguity in Tiriddu’s character but the staging failed lamentably to achieve this leaving him and the main characters stiff, wooden and awkward. The audience reaction was mute no applause during the opera even following the “high notes” or the Easter Hymn and intermezzo. The saving of the evening was the singing, especially Santuzza and the glorious orchestral playing. Sadly the staging did nothing to enhance the emotion of the music, which fortunately can speak for itself. The stage direction team should take some lessons from their fellow directors of Pagliacci, seen on the same evening. That production provided a vehicle for the opera that illuminated the characters and enhanced the intensity of the music creating an emotional storm that the audience responded to warmly - brilliant. Not so Cav – go and see Pag but forget Cav.

I was so excited to take my daughter to the Opera for the first time, and the opportunity to see Leoncavallo’s short masterpiece Pagliacci was too good to miss.



We took a box and had a wonderful view of the stage and orchestra.



Strangely the prologue was in English but the main opera in Italian.



The orchestra was magnificent and the conductor enthusiastic.



It’s was all going so well till Canio started to sing. Unfortunately Peter Auty , (the boy who brought us the snowman), had the delusion that he should tackle one the strongest spinto roles in Opera.



His lyrical voice was just not ‘man enough’ for this role, and one has to question the directors who so poorly cast this him.

Orty’s name is not big enough to sacrifice hard won acclaim after the company’s magnificent Turandot and the wonderful Chilean tenor.



Nedda was solid, although she pulled some strange faces whilst writhing on the floor.



Both baritones were strong and the chorus refreshingly not too camp.



Overall it was ok, but a poor relation to ROH version a couple of years ago.



Again I refer to your Turandot from last season which was a vocal masterpiece.

Another Bravo performance from Opera North. An excellent programme complemented by outstanding guest performers and compere. The organisation was excellent, the event staff were very helpful and polite. Food and beverages very palatable but child portions and a brief shower did nothing to spoil the night's enjoyment. Millenium Square with its gentle 'rake' is an ideal concert venue and I would certainly seriously consider seeing another performance at this venue.

‘Insomnia’ LIVE 🎶🙌🙌🎶
The Symphonic Sounds of Back To Basics with the Orchestra of Opera North, live from Millennium Square.

Went to see Mozart Don Giovanni this evening for its first performance this run. Overall, it was a super production and well-sung.



What was good?



Almost everything. The singing was very good, especially the women. Particularly outstanding vocally was Jennifer Davis as Anna, who delivered those big arias with luscious sound and no apparent effort. Never heard 'Or sai chi l'onore' sung so well live. John Savournin's Leporello was also beautiful of tone and excellently acted. Elvira's character was sympathetically developed; no hysteria marred it. The production was thought provoking in the era of #MeToo. (Excellent essay in programme about this called Time's Up which is really worth a read). I think there will be mixed reviews as I heard lots of discontent with the production in the interval bar. However, I think productions which portray the Don as a lovable rogue rather than a rapist and a psychopath belong in the past. I really admired this brave staging. Impressive, uncomfortable (the timelessness of the Don's character proven having so many real current manifestations - Trump, Weinstein etc) and moving.



What could be improved?



The usually impeccable Opera North orchestra had a few rough edges tonight. A minor but surprising issue.

WOW!! Totally blown away!! Saw ‘Kiss me Kate’ Leeds Grand,Everything about this was amazing! The cast were brilliant, the songs, music.. everything! Loved it�

Un Ballo in Maschera - had me on the edge of my seat from the very beggining! Loved every second!!

Saw Salome at The Town Hall on Sunday. What a brilliant and emotional performance. Jennifer Holloway was triumphant as Salome - the opera belonged to her. A stunning performance. The orchestra were also outstanding. So glad I made the effort to go.

Opera North's rendition of Madama Butterfly was stunning to say the least. Anne Sophie Duprels was phenomenal, as was Merunas, Ann and Peter. The arias were performed with heartbreaking pathos, and the duet sang by Ann Taylor and Anne Sophie Duprels as they were scattering the petals waiting for Pinkerton's return.... Just wow. The production was beautiful too. ���

Loved your performances this evening of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagalicci. I didn't know anything of Pagalicci and at first thought it was just a comedy until i was suddenly moved to tears by Canio's Vesti la guibba and couldn't stop crying, so I was glad of the comic respite afterwards. Tonio was just amazing and the ending made my blood run cold I was simply stunned.... Cavalleria Rusticana was amazing from start to finish with the performance by Giselle Allen as Santuzza was just wonderful, so passionate. The orchestra was amazing...I can't congratulate you enough, I would have given a standing ovation if I hadn't been too shy. My head is aching from the intensity of the emotion. Looking forward to seeing you do Don Giovanni in the new year.

Last night's performance of "Madama Butterfly" was my third visit to this production since 2012. Anne Sophie Duprels continues to be heartbreaking in the title-role, and the visual impact and all the action and stillness onstage beautifully interprets the glorious music. A wonderful evening.

I’ve always said I wasn’t fussed about Pucinni, well tonight you converted me Opera North - Madama Butterfly, first time of seeing it, totally spellbinding, particularly once the second Act got underway. It was beautifully staged, simply but very effectively and all of the cast performed with real depth and detail of character as well as fabulous singing. Moved me and will stay with me. Wow. Thank you!

I recently went to watch “kiss me Kate”. An amazing performance that had me laughing throughout. The costume and set made you feel as though you were really there!

I can ride my bicycle into town in 20 minutes and see the finest opera, as good as you can see anywhere in the World, what more could you want? Everyone in the North should go to Opera North, you would be a fool not to.

Go and see Verdi's Masked Ball. What a riveting performance we were treated to on Saturday evening. Music beautiful, excellently played as always by the orchestra. Adrienn Miksch's voice had such a limpid sweet quality at times and yet such power, will never forget her performance. Tereza Gevorgyan as oscar was lovely too, lively and yet full of heartbreak and the two men Rafael Rojas and Philip Rhodes held me spellbound. Great work by the chorus. Loved the staging and the movement, those sofa's(I want one) and the way the ball was dealt with - very clever. Why is this opera not done more often? This is the first time I have seen it and they first time Opera North has staged it. The whole thing is superb and deserves to be seen more. Well done to every last person involved with this, an absolute triumph.

Berlin to Broadway at the City Varieties in Leeds was a really well put together story of one of my favourite songwriters. Terrific performances all around. I especially liked Alabama Song and Lost in the Stars.

Ballo: Stunning. The entire production. The chorus had me in tears at the end. Such a simply powerful and effective production of this epic tragedy.

A perfect evening at The City Varieties hearing From Berlin to Broadway. All performers sang beautifully and were perfectly matched to each song. Moving, funny, sensual, romantic and shocking in a thought provoking way. I also learned a lot in a short space of time. Varied and engaging, I want to see and hear it all again! Thank you for such a delight x

Went to see Madama Butterfly at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham.

It was beautifully sung and acted and very moving, Cio-Cio San and Suzuki spreading the petals was pure joy and the disappointment of Pinkerton not arriving was heart breaking.

A difficulty we had was that neither of us who went understood the start or ending where Goro was looking at the photos as it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the production.

I'm afraid neither of us were keen on the set, either. In out opinion, it was too plain, with the offset giant TV screen picture, but too fussy, with the footstool we were worried about the cast slipping off. at the same time.

But it did not change our opinion that we had a wonderful experience being able to see this live performance.

Thoroughly enjoyed Alessandro Talevi's entertaining production of Don Giovanni in Newcastle last night. Batti batti will never be the same for me again! Well sung and acted by all the cast under the sizzling superb guiding hand of conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren

Review below written by Roger Marriott (my father) who I went to see this with:



Cavalier Rusticana opera north 21/10/2017



What a shambles – what a disappointment –Mascagnia’s glorious music all but spoilt by a ridiculous staging and production. Setting the opera in communist Poland could potentially create a more contemporary setting for Giovanni Verga’s story but not embellished with heavy-handed symbolism and political overtones of the poor being exploited by the rich. There was no subtlety to the staging or direction – the singers were to be pitied. The portrayal of Tiriddu as a Christ-like figure with Lucia as the Virgin Mary and Santuzza as Mary Magdalene made one cringe. This did nothing to enhance or enlighten the character of any of the protagonists and was in total contradiction to the portrayal of Tiriddu as a sexual predator in other scenes. The jealousy of Santuzza becomes much more poignant when there is ambiguity in Tiriddu’s character but the staging failed lamentably to achieve this leaving him and the main characters stiff, wooden and awkward. The audience reaction was mute no applause during the opera even following the “high notes” or the Easter Hymn and intermezzo. The saving of the evening was the singing, especially Santuzza and the glorious orchestral playing. Sadly the staging did nothing to enhance the emotion of the music, which fortunately can speak for itself. The stage direction team should take some lessons from their fellow directors of Pagliacci, seen on the same evening. That production provided a vehicle for the opera that illuminated the characters and enhanced the intensity of the music creating an emotional storm that the audience responded to warmly - brilliant. Not so Cav – go and see Pag but forget Cav.

I was so excited to take my daughter to the Opera for the first time, and the opportunity to see Leoncavallo’s short masterpiece Pagliacci was too good to miss.



We took a box and had a wonderful view of the stage and orchestra.



Strangely the prologue was in English but the main opera in Italian.



The orchestra was magnificent and the conductor enthusiastic.



It’s was all going so well till Canio started to sing. Unfortunately Peter Auty , (the boy who brought us the snowman), had the delusion that he should tackle one the strongest spinto roles in Opera.



His lyrical voice was just not ‘man enough’ for this role, and one has to question the directors who so poorly cast this him.

Orty’s name is not big enough to sacrifice hard won acclaim after the company’s magnificent Turandot and the wonderful Chilean tenor.



Nedda was solid, although she pulled some strange faces whilst writhing on the floor.



Both baritones were strong and the chorus refreshingly not too camp.



Overall it was ok, but a poor relation to ROH version a couple of years ago.



Again I refer to your Turandot from last season which was a vocal masterpiece.

Another Bravo performance from Opera North. An excellent programme complemented by outstanding guest performers and compere. The organisation was excellent, the event staff were very helpful and polite. Food and beverages very palatable but child portions and a brief shower did nothing to spoil the night's enjoyment. Millenium Square with its gentle 'rake' is an ideal concert venue and I would certainly seriously consider seeing another performance at this venue.