Opera North - Leeds
29 March 2024

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Performance reviews

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Carmen

Opera North


No. of reviews: 10

Opera North’s Carmen has contributed to its eternal status on stage
15 Mar 22 / The Mancunion
Camp, colourful and as crazy as they come
18 Nov 21 / The Mancunion
Carmen by Opera North was a strong reminder of what we've been missing
12 Oct 21 / Sheffield Telegraph
Edward Dick’s production is full of stock clichés indicative of depravity and decadence
10 Oct 21 / The Reviews Hub
Shockingly apposite
7 Oct 21 / The Stage
Both Williams and Caves find their best form in the heart rending denouement
6 Oct 21 / Ilkley Gazette
Crowd-pleasing, yet provocative
6 Oct 21 / Bachtrack
Bizet’s opera goes on a camp bunny-hop with serious ambitions
4 Oct 21 / The Guardian
An update that works
4 Oct 21 / The Opera Critic
Alcina

Opera North


No. of reviews: 12

One could set aside the complexities and get simply get lost in the spellbinding music and sterling singing
29 Mar 22 / The Northern Echo
The show’s themes of love, loss, and power were extremely well conveyed
16 Mar 22 / The Mancunion
The production becomes a display of the technical prowess of the cast
14 Mar 22 / The Reviews Hub
A dull staging overcome by magical singing
26 Feb 22 / OperaWire
Opera North's new Alcina downplays the sorcery but heightens the relationships
13 Feb 22 / The Opera Critic
Opera North miss a trick on Handel’s fantasy island
13 Feb 22 / The Observer
Irish soprano Maire Flavin’s surprisingly vulnerable Alcina leads a fine cast
9 Feb 22 / Ilkley Gazette
Maire Flavin was a fascinating Alcina in 1960s film star glam mode
9 Feb 22 / Opera Today
Opera North clear clutter but there’s not enough magic on this enchanted isle
8 Feb 22 / The Guardian
Tim Albery's new Alcina for Opera North lacks magic
8 Feb 22 / Bachtrack
An authentically Handelian performance
7 Feb 22 / The Reviews Hub
Opera North’s production low on magic but high on sustainability
7 Feb 22 / Music OMH
Rigoletto

Opera North


No. of reviews: 9

The combination of this dark scenery and mischievous melody expresses the whole emotional complexity of the opera
16 Mar 22 / The Mancunion
A stunning modern-day production
11 Mar 22 / The Reviews Hub
Femi Elufowoju jr’s new production takes a dramatic and remarkably compelling approach
9 Feb 22 / Opera Today
Femi Elufowoju jr’s imaginative reinvention of Verdi's Rigoletto features some strong, compelling performances
7 Feb 22 / Planet Hugill
Elufowoju’s direction is bold and decisive
30 Jan 22 / The Reviews Hub
Opera North once again leads the way with a striking new production
25 Jan 22 / Music OMH
Femi Elufowoju's contemporary take on Rigoletto for Opera North
25 Jan 22 / Bachtrack
Powerful update, led by stellar duo, is a revelation
24 Jan 22 / The Guardian
A stand out production with great singing
24 Jan 22 / The Opera Critic
Trouble in Tahiti

Opera North


No. of reviews: 5

A highly imaginative use of a classic score and a chilly reminder of the limits of the American dream
21 Nov 21 / The Reviews Hub
A compelling double bill
21 Oct 21 / Ilkley Gazette
Fractured relationships in song and dance
19 Oct 21 / The Arts Desk
Bernstein is at the forefront of this interesting double bill
19 Oct 21 / The Opera Critic
A Bernstein double-bill
18 Oct 21 / The Reviews Hub
Fidelio

Opera North


No. of reviews: 3

Soprano Rachel Nicholls shone as Leonore
18 Jun 21 / The Reviews Hub
Rachel Nicholls brings a heroic Wagnerian quality to the title role of Leonore
16 Jun 21 / Ilkley Gazette
On a remarkable evening in Leeds Town Hall, we all came stumbling into the sunlight like the prisoners in Don Pizarro’s jail
13 Jun 21 / The Reviews Hub
Opera North announces live performances of ‘Fidelio’
The company will present Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” which will be the first large-scale production for over a year as the company builds back towards a fuller program of public events.
Fidelio

Opera North


No. of reviews: 10

Opera North’s gripping Beethoven led a week of inventive filmed opera
20 Dec 20 / The Observer
Despite social distancing and minimal movement, the result is remarkably dramatic
20 Dec 20 / The Reviews Hub
A wonderful concert staging in the most trying of times
16 Dec 20 / Music OMH
Opera North triumphs with electrifying take on Beethoven's radical opera
15 Dec 20 / The Guardian
Mark Wigglesworth reveals his innate grasp of pacing and every member of his cast shines
15 Dec 20 / Wharfedale Observer
Adaptation leaves Beethoven's music in all its glory
15 Dec 20 / The Arts Desk
Opera North’s stripped-down Fidelio commemorates Beethoven’s 250th
15 Dec 20 / Seen and Heard
Beethoven's Fidelio as fervent prayer in Leeds
15 Dec 20 / Bachtrack
Imprisonment in the time of COVID-19
14 Dec 20 / The Opera Critic
A company achievement, fielding its largest stage ensemble for quite some time
14 Dec 20 / Planet Hugill
Die sieben Todsunden

Opera North


No. of reviews: 6

A powerful 35 minutes, but fun as well
29 Nov 20 / The Reviews Hub
It maybe a Weill but give Opera North’s The Seven Deadly Sins a chance if you can
25 Nov 20 / Seen and Heard
Opera North's Seven Deadly Sins is interpreted with enormous verve
25 Nov 20 / Bachtrack
Viscerally thrilling
24 Nov 20 / The Arts Desk
Hollywood highs and Depression lows with uncanny resonances
24 Nov 20 / The Guardian
Gary Clarke’s production emphasised the darkness of the work
23 Nov 20 / Opera Today
Street Scene

Opera North


No. of reviews: 11

A testament to working-class struggle and the struggle of women
4 Apr 20 / The Mancunion
A finely-wrought staging
5 Mar 20 / The Northern Echo
A superbly conducted, well sung and impeccably designed production of Kurt Weill’s ‘Broadway opera'
22 Feb 20 / Music OMH
Opera North's Street Scene is full of vim and verve
18 Feb 20 / The Opera Critic
Love thy neighbour
28 Jan 20 / The Critics' Circle
Opera North revels in a night on the town with Kurt Weill
27 Jan 20 / The Observer
Street Scene will be a delight to lovers of Weill’s Americana
26 Jan 20 / The Reviews Hub
Intricate staging of Kurt Weill’s opera
21 Jan 20 / The Stage
Opera North's thrilling Street Scene brings Golden Age Broadway to Leeds
21 Jan 20 / Bachtrack
Full justice for murder in Manhattan
20 Jan 20 / The Guardian
An unfussy and sympathetic production – shame Kurt Weill’s opera is a snooze
20 Jan 20 / Telegraph
The Turn of the Screw

Opera North


No. of reviews: 4

Alessandro Talevi resonates with even more disturbing undertones
1 Mar 20 / Ilkley Gazette
Opera North, under the direction of Alessandro Talevi, puts on a well done production of The Turning of the Screw
23 Feb 20 / The Reviews Hub
Opera North deliver a chilling Turn of the Screw
20 Feb 20 / Opera Today
Madeleine Boyd’s set and costumes create a sense of stifling seclusion
17 Feb 20 / Music OMH
Le nozze di Figaro

Opera North


No. of reviews: 7

The warm response from a full house was richly deserved
1 Mar 20 / Ilkley Gazette
The warm response from a full house was richly deserved
19 Feb 20 / Ilkley Gazette
Progresses at a rapid lick
5 Feb 20 / On: Yorkshire Magazine
Joyous and witty
4 Feb 20 / The Stage
Exuberant revival of Opera North's Marriage of Figaro
4 Feb 20 / Bachtrack
It is entertaining from beginning to end
4 Feb 20 / The Reviews Hub
A genuinely funny, true ‘company’ version of Mozart’s great work
3 Feb 20 / Music OMH
Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Opera North


No. of reviews: 3

One hell of a concert
13 Dec 19 / The Spectator
Opera North’s concert performance gets right to the heart of Bartók’s opera
9 Dec 19 / The Observer
A perfectly balanced programme
1 Dec 19 / The Reviews Hub
La bohème

Opera North


No. of reviews: 6

An impressive and deeply engaging production of Puccini’s La bohème
7 Dec 19 / The Mancunion
Renato Balsadonna conducts Opera North’s La bohème empathetically, but time this production was retired
15 Nov 19 / Seen and Heard
The production has returned reinvigorated with two new international casts
31 Oct 19 / The Northern Echo
the orchestra was the star of the show in this welcome return of Phyllida Lloyd’s straightforward, mostly unsentimental production
24 Oct 19 / Music OMH
Opera North again put on an excellent performance
15 Oct 19 / The Reviews Hub
Another sparkling revival of La bohème by Opera North
15 Oct 19 / Bachtrack
Giulio Cesare in Egitto

Opera North


No. of reviews: 7

Rare, abbreviated, yet superbly staged performance of Handel’s Giulio Cesare from Opera North
18 Nov 19 / Seen and Heard
The vocal performances are what matter here
17 Nov 19 / The Reviews Hub
A Giulio Cesare well worth seeing
2 Oct 19 / The Opera Critic
Opera North's inventive Giulio Cesare a stirring tribute to Handel
1 Oct 19 / Bachtrack
Albery’s production is austere yet rich in association, singer-focused and a true company endeavour
30 Sep 19 / Music OMH
Vicious scheming and visual splendour, but seduction too: Opera North's revival of Handel's Giulio Cesare
30 Sep 19 / Planet Hugill
The Baroque style is superbly captured by an accomplished international cast
30 Sep 19 / Wharfedale Observer
The Greek Passion

Opera North


No. of reviews: 11

The Greek Passion is a triumph for the Opera North Chorus and designer Charles Edwards
18 Nov 19 / The Reviews Hub
A terrific company achievement
30 Sep 19 / Planet Hugill
A powerful Martinů rarity
29 Sep 19 / The Observer
Opera North redonne sa chance (avec succès !) à The Greek Passion de Bohuslav Martinu
27 Sep 19 / Opera Online (French)
The Greek Passion resonates just as much today than it did over 60 years ago
22 Sep 19 / The Reviews Hub
Martinů's gripping Greek Passion from Opera North
19 Sep 19 / Opera Today
Opera North brings Martinu's opera powerfully to life
18 Sep 19 / The Opera Critic
Accessible and affecting
18 Sep 19 / The Stage
Martinů’s fierce opera brings home refugee crisis
17 Sep 19 / The Guardian
Pertinence and power
16 Sep 19 / The Arts Desk
An opera for our times
16 Sep 19 / Bachtrack
Aida

Opera North


No. of reviews: 10

This is a production that really does prove that less staging really is more
16 Jun 19 / The Reviews Hub
Annabel Arden’s concept makes Verdi’s opera seem strikingly relevant
30 May 19 / Wharfedale Observer
The evening proved that the right kind of opera works equally well, sometimes better, away from the opera house
23 May 19 / The York Press
An unforgettable Aida where less is more
23 May 19 / The Opera Critic
Une Aïda jouissive à l'Opera North de Leeds
14 May 19 / Opera Online (French)
Alexandra Zabala (Aida) and Alessandra Volpe (Amneris) make memorable Opera North debuts
12 May 19 / The Reviews Hub
Innovative and daring, Opera North delights with its production of Aida
7 May 19 / The Scarborough News
Opera North rethinks Verdi's epic with formidable results
3 May 19 / The Guardian
A triumph of music-making from a powerhouse company
3 May 19 / Telegraph
A radical approach to an operatic warhorse by Opera North
3 May 19 / Bachtrack
Die Zauberflöte

Opera North


No. of reviews: 12

Opera North stuns audiences with magical Mozart production
14 Mar 19 / The Clitheroe Advertiser and Times
Opera North’s uneven new production of Magic Flute lacks clarity in Salford
11 Mar 19 / Seen and Heard
Opera North bring an entirely accessible production to a wide-ranging audience
7 Mar 19 / The Reviews Hub
Destination unknown
3 Feb 19 / The Critics' Circle
Was it all a dream in Opera North’s new Magic Flute?
28 Jan 19 / The Observer
James Brining needs to learn that, in opera, less is more
26 Jan 19 / The York Press
An ambitious production
22 Jan 19 / The Stage
A fetching, inventive Magic Flute – with a dark side
22 Jan 19 / Bachtrack
A good-looking production which lacks the necessary magic
21 Jan 19 / Telegraph
Dark, eclectic and disquieting
21 Jan 19 / The Guardian
This conventional staging enlivened by whizzy video effects is sandbagged by a lack of energy
21 Jan 19 / The Times
The company of Opera North put on an outstanding performance
21 Jan 19 / The Reviews Hub
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Performance schedule
Mozart
2 Feb to 6 Apr 2024
Loewe
31 May to 29 Jun 2024
Mozart
27 Sep 2024 to 29 Mar 2025
Britten
12 Oct to 20 Nov 2024
Gilbert & Sullivan
26 Oct to 21 Nov 2024
Weill
16 to 18 Jan 2025
Wagner
1 Feb to 28 Mar 2025
Mozart
20 Feb to 20 Mar 2025
Verdi
24 Apr to 24 May 2025

News & Articles

Opera North mourns death of Company Manager
The company took to social media to announce, "It is with huge sadness that Opera North learned this week of the death of our much-loved Company Manager, Jane Bonner."
7 Oct 2023 / OperaWire
Knighthood for Opera North director Richard Mantle
The long-serving director of Opera North has been awarded a knighthood in the King's Birthday Honours.
17 Jun 2023 / BBC News
Opera North General Director to retire in 2023
Opera North has announced that Richard Mantle will retire as General Director in 2023 after almost 30 years of leading the Company.
13 Sep 2022 / OperaWire
Opera North announces 2022-23 season
The season begins in September 2022 with a revival of Alessandro Talevi’s well received Belle Époque production of La traviata.
10 Mar 2022 / Broadway World
Opera North launches new female conductor traineeship
Female conductors based in the UK are being called on to apply for an intensive new ten-week training scheme aimed at addressing the gender balance in conducting and classical music.
16 Jul 2021 / Classical-music.com