Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
I went to see this production in sombre mood after having been out for lunch the previous day to what was my local pub when I lived at Candle House in Granary Wharf. It was 1.45pm on a Friday so I had booked a table but when I arrived I entered to the sound of…
Read More
The rapper and playwright Testament gave a performance with members of the Orchestra of Opera North and the result was stunning. Could it be the world’s first Hip Hopera? I have to say that even at the tender age of 71 I am quite the fan of rap now that it has evolved into a…
Read More
I fear that I am writing this in order to let you know what you have missed rather than to encourage you to go see the piece. The format of Connecting Voices is that there are three works which run throughout the three weeks of the season and three further ones which are ‘Reflections’ on…
Read More
The first piece in this series of co-presentations between Leeds Playhouse and Opera North was certainly one to snap us out of our lockdown torpor. It is a one person opera, lasting 40 minutes with not a second wasted. The work was written by Francis Poulenc and is based on a short play by Jean…
Read More
Wednesday, 30th September sees the launch of Opera North’s Switch ON Season (ON – Opera North – geddit?) and what better way to kick it off than with a concert from Leeds Town Hall featuring the highlights of recent productions and exclusive previews of forthcoming events which will be broadcast live on-line. Switch ON: Live…
Read More
After The Orchestra of Opera North’s socially distanced concert at the end of August I was wondering when – or if – the next live theatrical events would take place. Thanks to a collaboration between Opera North and Leeds Playhouse, the answer is October! This time, however, it is not just a one-off event but…
Read More
I can hardly believe that I am writing this, but last Friday I was at Leeds Town Hall to hear a concert performed by members of Opera North in a socially distanced performance to take the first baby-steps out of lockdown. Anyone who reads my reviews will know two things; I love Opera North, and…
Read More
https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/orchestra-of-opera-north-mendelssohn-schubert-mozart/ This is something I have been dreaming about writing for the last five months. The Orchestra of Opera North will be performing at Leeds Town Hall on Friday, 28th August, 2020. This is Leeds Arts Events and Venues’ pilot indoor concert to pave the way back to normal after the lockdown. There will be…
Read More
Never can the expression ‘out of something bad always comes something good’ been more appropriate. I was fortunate enough to be asked along to the inaugural Chow Down at the Piece Hall, Halifax in 2018 and to say I was impressed would be an enormous understatement. A new food and drink festival in a freshly…
Read More
Tragedy – no, not a documentary about the BeeGees in their disco phase, but one about the less glamorous aspects of an Opera North production. I have to say that I have been a little disappointed by some of the streamed theatre and opera productions during lockdown. A couple of them which I have loved…
Read More