FIRST NIGHT

Opera review: Pagliacci/ L’enfant et les sortilèges at the Grand, Leeds

Dramatic intensity and full-on furniture-chewing distinguish this production of Leoncavallo’s greasepaint-and-adultery thriller
Katie Bray, John Savournin and Wallis Giunta in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges at Opera North
Katie Bray, John Savournin and Wallis Giunta in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges at Opera North
TRISTRAM KENTON

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Life is short and most operas long. Here’s something, however, for those who can’t face a three-hour angst fest. Opera North has embarked on an autumn season of Little Greats, six punchy one-act pieces that are being matched differently each night.

Not only that, but you book each show separately. Two slightly awkward side-effects to that: the auditorium has to be cleared and tickets rechecked during the intervals, and there’s always the chance that punters will pay only for the operas they already know.

I certainly found myself sitting next to different people after the interval on Saturday. That was a shame because both pieces in this opening double bill are equally recommendable, although very different.

For Leoncavallo’s greasepaint-and-adultery thriller Pagliacci, conducted with