We are coming to the time of year when Opera North gets into full swing with its major productions. Once again they will be at Leeds Grand Theatre so ambiance will not be found wanting.
There is a theme this year with, not only a ‘reimagined’ version of Monteverdi’s Orpheus, but also a performance of Orfeo Ed Euridice by Gluck and even, at The Leeds Playhouse, Testament bringing his amazing show, Orpheus In The Record Shop, to the party. The season is completed by La traviata and Tosca – how did they sneak past the bouncers with the velvet rope?
The first work is Verdi’s Tosca which begins on Thursday, 29th September. According to the synopsis it is a ‘riveting tale of scandal, forbidden relationships and damaged reputations’. I didn’t know that riveters had so much fun. It does have some of the best known arias in opera including a drinking song, so I must remember to obtain something in a plastic container to get me in the mood.
14th October sees the opening of Orpheus – Monteverdi Reimagined. The story is that Orpheus marries Eurydice but she suddenly dies so he sets off to the Underworld to rescue her. This version is told using Indian and Western music with the appropriate instruments. I reviewed a take on the story at Howard Assembly Room in June which was great, and I am pleased that the two soloists, Ashnaa Sasikaran and Nicholas Watts, are in this version as well. https://tyke-it-to-the-limit.com/2022/06/22/a-tale-of-orpheus-eurydice-at-howard-assembly-room/ The Music Directors are Laurence Cummings and Jasdeep Singh Degun.
Orfeo ed Euridice is a ‘dramatic concert performance’ of the same story but this time it is the Gluck version and is a little more conventional, except that the role of Orfeo is sung by a woman. It opens at Leeds Grand Theatre on Wednesday, 26th October.
The final work of the season is Tosca by Puccini which starts its run on Saturday, 21st January, 2023 – is it that time already! It is a tale of love, lust, corruption and revenge, just another day in Westminster then. I have seen a production of this before and it is well worth checking out.
For all details and booking please go to https://www.operanorth.co.uk/
All images supplied by Opera North
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