News.

Leeds Playhouse and Opera North reunite for Sondheim’s A Little Night Music

4th May 2022

A Little Night MusicStephen Sondheim’s acerbic musical romance, is set to beguile audiences once more this summer as it makes a welcome return to the Leeds Playhouse stage.

Bringing together opera singers, musical theatre talent and the Chorus of Opera North, the show is heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure. A chance meeting between ex-lovers sparks a game of romantic musical chairs over a weekend in the country, as hopelessly mismatched couples find themselves confronted by their own vanities and deceptions.

Glittering with wit, Sondheim’s much-loved work features a host of musical treats including the poignant classic ‘Send in the Clowns’.

Leeds Playhouse’s Artistic Director James Brining returns to direct, having worked on the show previously as well as directing the Playhouse’s celebrated 2016 celebrated collaboration with Opera North of Sondheim’s Into the Woods:

“I think A Little Night Music is about making the most of our life, making the most of the people we care most about, and making decisions that feel risky but are also the most rewarding. It’s moving, but it’s also really great fun.”

Another veteran of the piece is Dutch baritone Quirijn de Lang, who revisits the role of Fredrik Egerman:

“Relationships are messy, but that’s what makes us human, and Sondheim is a genius at putting that onto the stage.”

Playing Fredrik’s old flame Desiree Armfeldt will be Sandra Piques Eddy:

“A Little Night Music is brilliant because it’s so light-hearted, but then you get socked in the gut, and it’s absolutely glorious.”

An Opera North favourite of even longer standing, Dame Josephine Barstow returns to cast a sardonic eye over proceedings as Madam Armfeldt. Corinne Cowling plays the ingénue bride Anne Egerman, while young tenor Sam Marston makes his Opera North debut as the callow Henrik Egerman. Other roles are taken by members of Opera North’s talented Chorus including Amy J Payne as the maidservant Petra, and Christopher Nairne and Helen Évora as Count and Countess Malcolm.

A specialist in American musical theatre whose Opera North credits include CarouselSweeney Todd, Kiss Me KateInto the Woods and Street Scene, the Company’s former Head of Music James Holmes conducts; and designer Madeleine Boyd (Opera North’s Don GiovanniThe Turn of the Screw and La Traviata) has Sondheim’s country house setting teetering between decadence and decay.

 

LISTINGS INFORMATION

A Leeds Playhouse and Opera North co-production

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by Hugh Wheeler

Director James Brining

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Quarry, Leeds Playhouse

1-16 July

Press night: Wednesday 6 July, 7.30pm

Box office: 0113 213 7700

leedsplayhouse.org.uk