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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Devised by: Gene Lerner Director: Giles Havergal Musical Director: Martin Pickard Reviewer: Ron Simpson Leeds is not short of quality theatre and it’s good to see the level of co-operation between three of the city’s finest. Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill is a co-production by Opera North and West Yorkshire Playhouse, staged in the City Varieties, a perfect venue ...
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Writer: Bella and Samuel Spewack Music and Lyrics: Cole Porter Directors: Jo Davies/Ed Goggin Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Opera North’s Kiss Me Kate returns to the Leeds Grand Theatre after its successful revival back in 2015. This acclaimed production, in collaboration with Welsh National Opera, makes a short stop in Leeds before transferring to the London Coliseum. Kiss Me Kate premiered ...
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Composer: Hector Berlioz Conductor: Simon Wright Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Opera North is reputed for their variety of operas and other works which are hosted season after season. Their orchestra and choirs, however, are a success in their own right and are regular features in the Leeds International Concert Seasons. On this occasion Orchestra of Opera North plays Hector Berlioz’s The ...
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Reviewer: Ron Simpson Opera North’s programme in the Howard Assembly Room is nothing if not varied. After last week’s venture into American Gothic with the Handsome Family – The Reviews Hub’s review sadly aborted because of the foul weather – the following Saturday focussed on the deliciously melodic world of the French chanson with accordion player Richard Galliano and guitarist ...
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Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: Tim Albery Conductor: Richard Farnes Reviewer: Jo Beggs Having been distracted by the war, Gustavo, King of Sweden, returns home desperate to see the love of his life. Trouble is, the woman in question, Amelia, is his best friend’s wife. So begins the simple but powerful tale of a love triangle that is never going to ...
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