Writer: Based on the books by Julia Donaldson Composer: René Aubry Conductor: Terry Davies Reviewer: Laura Stimpson Animations based on books written by Julia Donaldson are becoming a Christmas tradition, thanks to the BBC having released a new one, aired on Christmas day for the last few years. What a great opportunity presented at Christmas time by The Orchestra of ...
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Writer: Jessica Walker Musical Director: Joseph Atkins Director: Jacqui Honess-Martin Reviewer: Ron Simpson Opera North’s commemoration of the end of the Great War peaks with two premieres in two nights: the world premiere of Not Such Quiet Girls and the UK premiere of Silent Night. For these, the Chorus is divided by gender and in Not Such Quiet Girls, a ...
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Writer: Music by Franz Lehár Book/Lyrics: Victor Léon and Leo Stein Adaptor: Kit Hesketh-Harvey and Giles Havergala Director: Giles Havergal Conductor: Martin Andre Reviewer: Dave Cunningham For their current visit to The Lowry opera North seem to have discovered relevance. A highly contemporary interpretation of Tosca is followed by a sharply up-to-date adaptation of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow by Kit ...
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Musicians: David Greed (violin), Ian Buckle (piano) Reviewer: Ron Simpson The Dewsbury Lunchtime Concert Season is part of Kirklees Council and Opera North’s initiative to bring regular musical events to the area. Faced with continuing financial stringency, both the Huddersfield Concert Season and the Dewsbury lunchtime concerts rely ever more heavily on the host company, but this brings no reduction ...
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Composer: Giacomo Puccini with Librettist Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica Director: Edward Dick Conductor: Antony Hermus Reviewer: Dave Cunningham Opera is an art form that demands grand themes and high passion to be most effective. Well, stories do not come more melodramatic than the doomed love affair between the diva Tosca and the painter Cavaradossi. Tosca (soprano Giselle Allen) lives ...
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Music: Franz Lehár Libretto: Victor Léon and Leo Stein Director: Giles Havergal Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Opera North’s focus for this season is to link the theme of Before War, and After, for the centenary of the end of the First World War. The Merry Widow made its premiere in 1905, at the height of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in Vienna. Opera ...
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Music: Giacomo Puccini Libretto: Giuseppe Giacoso and Luigi Illica Director: Edward Dick Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Tosca marks the start of Opera North’s autumn season, a special time as the company will have been founded exactly 40 years ago this November. Tosca is a popular opera that made its very first performance in Rome back in 1900, while Opera North first ...
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Music and lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Bella and Samuel Spewack Director: Jo Davies Reviewer: Stephen Bates Is it possible that what can no longer be spoken can still be sung? The Taming of the Shrew, once one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, is now rarely seen in our theatres, seemingly swept away on a tide of political correctness. On the ...
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