Opera North Archives - North West End UK

4Feb

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Marriage of Figaro – Leeds Grand

Opera North’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro begins with a quietly touching prologue: during the overture, we’re shown the early romance between the Count and Countess, blooming with promise before gradually cooling. The changing of flowers marks the passing seasons, and alongside this gentle unravelling we see the spark between Figaro and Susanna — their relationship building towards engagement. It’s a deft and atmospheric device, grounding Mozart’s whirlwind comedy in a world shaped by real emotional weather. Louisa Muller’s staging relocates the action to a contemporary country house — not aristocratic in the Downton sense, but a slightly frayed estate populated by tour guides, cleaners, gardeners, and other staff. In this world, hierarchy isn’t defined by powdered wigs but...

14Nov

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

La Bohème – The Lowry

Phyllida Lord’s classic production, designed by Anthony Ward, is one of the longest running at Opera North having been in their repertoire since 1993. James Hurley’s current revival is big on the comedy but sadly fails to hit the high notes that this staple of the operatic calendar deserves. With the action transposed to late 1950’s Paris, we meet four struggling bohemians living in a garret: a poet, Rodolfo (Anthony Ciaramitaro); a painter, Marcello (Yurly Yurchuk); a philosopher, Colline (Han Kim); and a musician, Schaunard (Seán Boylan), who arrives having had some good fortune and they agree to celebrate by dining at Café Momus. They are interrupted by their landlord, Benoît (Jeremy Peaker), but cleverly trick him into revealing he has been playing around which allows them to throw ...

Opera North & Phoenix Dance Theatre: Susanna – Leeds Grand Theatre

6Oct

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North & Phoenix Dance Theatre: Susanna – Leeds Grand Theatre

On a night when Storm Amy lashed Leeds with wind and rain, Opera North’s Susanna offered a different kind of tempest — one of moral reckoning, emotional intensity, and artistic boldness. Handel’s oratorio, reimagined through opera and dance, became a mirror for society’s treatment of women, power, and truth. The audience, braving the elements, were rewarded with a production as courageous in its staging as it was timely in its themes. Susanna belongs to a genre born of necessity and ingenuity. During Lent, staged operas were forbidden in 18th-century England, prompting Handel — ever the commercial opportunist — to pivot to oratorios. Though unstaged, these works were operas in all but name: dramatic, character-driven, and rich in musical storytelling. Susanna (1749) is a prime example, ...

Simon Boccanegra – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

13May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Simon Boccanegra – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Director PJ Harris’ dramatic concert staging of Verdi’s 1881 version of Simon Boccanegra for Opera North is an absolute joy, a true sensory delight for the ear and eye. A Prologue establishes that Boccanegra (Roland Wood), a plebeian, is about to become the first elected Doge of Genoa. But he loves – and has secretly had a child with – Maria, the daughter of his political rival and sworn enemy, Jacopo Fiesco (Vazgen Gazaryan), a patrician. When Maria dies, the baby disappears. Fast forward 25 years and Fiasco is in hiding under the alias Andrea Grimaldi and plotting his revenge against Boccanegra who is still in power. He has become guardian to an orphan girl named Amelia (Sara Cortolezzis) who it later transpires is his missing granddaughter. She wants to marry Gabriele Adorno (Andr...

28Mar

By Jackie FoottitNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

The Magic Flute – Hull New Theatre

As I made my way to the VIP entrance (a welcome reviewers’ perk) at the Hull New Theatre on Thursday evening, I had to navigate my way through throngs of queuing theatregoers. Opera lovers abound in the former City of Culture, and they were certainly out in force when Opera North’s production of The Magic Flute came to town. Mozart composed the music for this fairytale-type opera that premiered on September 30, 1791- just two months before his death. Originally penned by Emanuel Schikaneder, Opera North’s version was written by British theatre director, composer and lyricist, Jeremy Sams. Directed by James Brining and performed in the English language, the opening scene showed a young girl in her bedroom while, next door, drunken grown-ups, in evening wear, partied. The youngst...

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman – Leeds Grand Theatre

2Feb

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman – Leeds Grand Theatre

The Flying Dutchman, often regarded as Wagner’s first true Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), has a somewhat problematic yet refreshingly straightforward narrative – at least compared to most operas. There are no mistaken identities, hidden family ties, or scheming servants – just a simple, if slightly absurd, tale of love, obsession, and redemption. Oh, and death. Mustn’t forget the death. A sea captain, Daland, encounters the cursed Flying Dutchman, doomed to sail forever unless he finds true love. Offered treasure, Daland promises his daughter, Senta, in marriage. (What is she, some sort of chattel?) Senta, previously obsessed with the Dutchman’s legend and oft to be seen worshipping his picture, eagerly accepts. After their union, her former l...

16Nov

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Opera North: The Magic Flute – Lowry

Opera North’s English Version of Mozart’s two-act opera hints at the fantasy but lacks the magic necessary for the classic fairy tale rescue of a princess by a handsome prince. Tamino (Egor Zhuravskii), a young prince, is being pursued by a terrible dragon and in his attempt to escape he passes out and is unknowingly saved by three mysterious Ladies (Charlie Drummond; Katie Sharpe; Hazel Croft). As they depart to alert the Queen of the Night (Naomi Quant) to his presence, Tamino regains consciousness only to meet another strange figure, that of Papageno (Emyr Wyn Jones), the bird catcher, who also works for the Queen, and deceitfully claims to have defeated the monster. He is punished when the three Ladies return by having his tongue sealed with a magic spell. Tamino is presented with a...

15Nov

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Opera North: Ruddigore – Lowry

Jo Davies’ 2010 production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s fast-paced comic opera is dusted down for a well-deserved airing by Revival Director James Hurley, with the action reset in the 1920’s and the era of silent movies proving the perfect setting for moustachioed villains and cloak-swirling, whilst not missing out on some updated lines to have a dig at prime ministers old and new: now, whose name might rhyme with lettuce… Rose Maybud (Amy Freston) is an innocent village girl who lives her life by a book of etiquette which only serves to hinder any burgeoning relationship with tongue-tied suitor Robin Oakapple (Dominic Sedgwick), much to the disappointment of the village’s professional bridesmaids (Chorus of Opera North led by Gillene Butterfield). Robin ropes in his foster brother,...

14Oct

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Leeds Grand

The journey to Leeds across the M62 saw far from midsummer weather – gusting winds, driving rain, whirling leaves – but once inside the Grand Theatre and Opera House a much warmer welcome awaited. Opera North’s revival of Martin Duncan’s production is directed this time by Matthew Eberhardt. Johan Engels’ set is minimalist but very effective – translucent Perspex pillars signify the trees of the forest, whilst the canopy (or are they dream bubbles?) float high above the stage. These pillars then take the colour of Bruno Poet’s subtle lighting design, which contrasts beautifully with the 1960s-flower-power-style outfits of the lovers, Helena and Demitrius, Hermia and Lysander. And setting this production in the swinging sixties, when the work was first performed, with its ...

Opera North’s The Magic Flute – Leeds Grand Theatre

28Sep

By Mark HumphreysNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Opera North’s The Magic Flute – Leeds Grand Theatre

Opera North’s Magic Flute, reviving James Brining’s 2019 production of Mozart’s final opera, comes with literally all of the bells and whistles. (Well, magic bells and the eponymous magic flute, together with an ever-so-slightly-irritatingly out-of-tune set of pipes.) And, being sung in English in Jeremy Sams’s excellent translation, it’s also an ideal introduction to opera for newbies, as well as a season-opening treat for those notsos. A pre-show message from company Music Director Garry Walker proudly reminded us that Opera North delivers learning and engagement to no fewer than 3,000 school children per week, and has a full time chorus, orchestra and technical crew. A not so subtle message for the CEO of Arts Council England, in tonight’s audience, perhaps. The ...