News.
LEEDS STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS OPERA NORTH LAUNCHES ITS AUTUMN SEASON
30th May 2024
Leeds is set to take centre-stage this autumn as Opera North launches its latest season with a series of compelling images to be displayed around its home city and used online. Each of the company’s touring venues will also get a set created especially for them.
The leading UK arts organisation has pictured some of the principal singers from the upcoming season against backdrops featuring instantly recognisable locations across the north of England. These include the Victoria Quarter in Leeds, Old Market Square in Nottingham, the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, City Hall in Hull, and Salford Quays on the outskirts of Salford. By putting these destinations in the limelight, the company hopes to underline to everyone that opera belongs both to them and to their city.
Emily Simpson, Director of Audiences at Opera North, said:
“We are proud to be based in Leeds. We always open our operas here and are delighted that the city so actively supports the art-form, offering it as part of its rich cultural offer. By putting these destinations in the limelight, we’re looking to underline to residents in and around Leeds that opera belongs to them – and, just like the city itself, offers a warm welcome to everyone, regardless of age or background. We invite the people of Leeds to step into opera with us this autumn.”
Other initiatives to make it easier for audiences to come and experience opera wherever they live include a 6pm performance, more matinees, English subtitles at all performances and sign-interpretation, audio description and touch tours on selected dates. New to opera ticket schemes are also available to encourage newcomers to experience opera for the first time, including the Try it ON scheme offering £20 tickets for first-timers, £10 tickets for Under 30s and students, and free tickets for 16- to 20-year-olds.
The company’s latest season, which opens at Leeds Grand Theatre in September, offers magic, mystery and magnificent music in abundance. A revival of The Magic Flute sees James Brining returning to Opera North to direct a production for all ages packed with fantasy, romance and daring. The adventure sees Prince Tamino embarking on a quest to save Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, from the clutches of Sarastro, the Priest of the Sun, with plenty of surprises along the way and Mozart’s breathtaking score underpinning all the action.
The magic continues with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benjamin Britten’s take on Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy, featuring a host of well-known characters including Bottom the weaver and the mischievous Puck. Completing the trio is Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilariously inventive Gothic parody, Ruddigore, with a reluctant villain and modest maiden joined by an assortment of amiable ghosts and scary professional bridesmaids. Directed by Jo Davies, the production was hailed as an instant classic in its first run.
In both Leeds and Huddersfield, families will also be able to enjoy The Big Opera Adventure, an interactive show for children from 5-12 years old who are invited to help save a theatre from closure alongside a host of operatic characters. With music from the Orchestra of Opera North, this is a fun and engaging opportunity for all ages to dive into the world of opera.
Tickets for all performances are available from operanorth.co.uk. After opening in Leeds, the operas tour to Newcastle, Nottingham and Salford.
Opera Production Information
The Magic Flute
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Enter an enchanted world and join Prince Tamino on his quest to rescue Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, held captive by Sarastro, the Priest of the Sun. Tamino is accompanied by Papageno, a bird-catcher, who is also on a quest – to find himself a wife, his Papagena. But their mission soon becomes a journey of discovery, for nothing – not even Day and Night – is quite as it first appears.
The Magic Flute is a delight for audiences of all ages. Mozart’s miraculous music mixes popular songs with stirring choruses, arias of heart-melting beauty with dazzling vocal fireworks. Celebrating the power of music and imagination to reconcile seeming opposites, James Brining’s production is the ideal introduction to opera for everyone.
Language: English with English subtitles
Length: 2 hours 45 minutes
Cast and Creatives:
Pamina Claire Lees
Tamino Egor Zhuravskii
Queen of the Night Anna Dennis
Sarastro Msimelelo Mbali
Papageno Emyr Wyn Jones
Papagena Pasquale Orchard
Monostatos Colin Judson
Speaker Andri Björn Róbertsson
Conductor Christoph Koncz
Director James Brining
Set & Costume Designer Colin Richmond
Lighting Designer Chris Davey
Video Designer Douglas O’Connell
Choreographer Tim Claydon
English Translation Jeremy Sams
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Benjamin Britten
Out in the wood, Oberon and Tytania, the powerful Fairy King and Queen, are locked in a dispute so fierce it’s causing climate catastrophe. In nearby Athens live two young women, best friends, one loved by two men, the other by none. When these four escape the harsh restrictions of the city for the freedom of the wood, it’s their relationships that hurtle towards catastrophe. By contrast, Bottom the Weaver – keenest of amateur actors – is always sure of himself, even when he’s been made an ass of.
Britten found themes close to his heart in Shakespeare’s beloved comedy – night, dreams, the supernatural – inspiring music that is tuneful, witty, and utterly beguiling. Martin Duncan’s production is joyously theatrical, conjuring a heady, intoxicated atmosphere where love is definitely the drug.
Language: English with English subtitles
Length: 3 hours
Cast and Creatives:
Oberon James Laing
Tytania Daisy Brown
Bottom Henry Waddington
Helena Camilla Harris
Lysander Joel Williams
Demetrius James Newby
Theseus Andri Björn Róbertsson
Hippolyta Molly Barker
Conductor Garry Walker
Director Martin Duncan
Set Designer Johan Engels
Costume Designer Ashley Martin-Davis
Lighting Designer Bruno Poet
Choreographer Ben Wright
Ruddigore
Gilbert & Sullivan
Bad baronet Sir Despard Murgatroyd has inherited a centuries-old witch’s curse forcing him to commit a crime a day or die in agony. So it’s a huge relief when timid Robin Oakapple is revealed as his long-lost elder brother and the true inheritor of the curse. Robin’s romance with the faultlessly correct Rose Maybud looks doomed, but his troubles really start when his feeble crimes drag his exasperated ancestors back from the dead to haunt him…
A reluctant villain, a modest maiden, amiable ghosts, and scary professional bridesmaids: Gilbert & Sullivan make merry with Victorian melodrama in this hilariously inventive confection. Jo Davies’ (Carousel, Kiss me, Kate!) production was hailed as an instant classic when it opened and is full of the spirit of G&S’s celebrated topsy-turvy invention.
Language: Sung in English with English subtitles
Length: 2 hours 45 minutes
Cast and Creatives:
Robin Oakapple / Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd Dominic Sedgwick
Richard Dauntless Xavier Hetherington
Sir Despard Murgatroyd John Savournin
Old Adam Goodheart Henry Waddington
Sir Roderic Murgatroyd Steven Page
Rose Maybud Amy Freston
Mad Margaret Helen Évora
Dame Hannah Claire Pascoe
Conductor Anthony Kraus
Director Jo Davies
Revival Director James Hurley
Set Designer Richard Hudson
Costume Designer Gabrielle Dalton
Lighting Designer Anna Watson
Choreographer Kay Shepherd
Performance Diary
All performances start at 7.00pm unless otherwise stated.
AD Audio described performance
BSL Sign interpreted performance for D/deaf and hard of hearing bookers
REL Relaxed performance for bookers who require a more relaxed environment
Fri 27 Sep The Magic Flute
Sat 28 Sep The Magic Flute
Sat 5 Oct 2.30pm The Magic Flute AD and BSL
Fri 11 Oct The Magic Flute
Sat 12 Oct A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sat 19 Oct A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Thu 24 Oct A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Sat 26 Oct Ruddigore
Tue 29 Oct 3.00pm The Big Opera Adventure
Wed 30 Oct 2.00pm Ruddigore REL
Thu 31 Oct 6.00pm A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Fri 1 Nov Ruddigore
Sat 2 Nov 2.30pm Ruddigore AD
Sat 2 Nov 7.30pm Ruddigore