OPERA NORTH’S FATAL PASSIONS SEASON
M A D A M A B U T T E R F L Y
GIACOMO PUCCINI
19 JAN – 28 FEB
One of the best-loved operas of all time, this isthe tragic tale of innocent love crushed by betrayal.Cio-Cio-San is a young Japanese woman whosacrifices everything to marry Pinkerton, the dashingAmerican naval officer. Cruelly discarded whenhe returns to America, Butterfly is driven toa final and dramatic act of despair.With its exquisite set and costumes, this emotionallydirect and beautiful production by Tim Albery isdevastating in its impact. Madama Butterfly featuressome of Puccini’s most famous music including‘One Fine Day’ and the ‘Humming Chorus’. Frenchsoprano Anne Sophie Duprels has won widespreadpraise in this production in the role of Cio-Cio-San.
‘tremendous’
★★★★The Guardian
‘heart-rending’
★★★★The Times
‘reduced me to jelly’
★★★★The Daily Telegraph
Inside Opera
Howard Assembly Room, Sun 28 Jan, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Explore Opera North’s production of Madama Butterfly in the
company of conductor Martin Pickard and members of the cast
and creative team. Tickets are free, but must be booked in advanceat the Box Office.
CAST
Cio-Cio-San Anne Sophie Duprels
Pinkerton MerunasVitulskis
SharplessPeter Savidge
Suzuki Ann Taylor
GoroJoseph Shovelton
Kate Pinkerton Katie Bird
Bonze Dean Robinson
Prince YamadoriChristopher Nairne
Imperial Commissioner Paul Gibson
Conductor Martin Pickard /Anthony Kraus
Director Tim Albery
Set Designer Hildegard Bechtler
Costume Designer Ana Jebens
Lighting Designer Peter Mumford
Lasts approximately 2 hours 30 mins
Sung in Italian with English titles
Audio described performance:
Wed 31 Jan, 7.30pm, touch tour 6.15pm.
Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.
U N B A L L O I N M A S C H E R A
(A MASKED BALL) – new production
GIUSEPPE VERDI
3 FEB – 2 MAR
A timeless tale of power, passion and political plotting at the heart of which is a tragic love triangle and ultimately, a lethal vendetta. This passionate and intense opera is inspired by the real-life assassination of King Gustavus of Sweden in 1792. Gustavus secretly loves Amelia, the wife of his most loyal ally, Anckarstroem. When Anckarstroem discovers the affair, he joins a plot against Gustavus which culminates in a murderous masked ball.
Verdi displays all of his mastery in this most operatic of operas. Dramatic arias jostle with tense ensembles and rousing choruses, and at the heart of the piece is one of the composer’s most impassioned love duets. An all-star team brings Verdi’s masterpiece to Opera North for the first time: former Music Director Richard Farnes returns to conduct this new production by Tim Albery, and Rafael Rojas, who appeared in the acclaimed Opera North productions Andréa Chenier and Turandot, takes the title role.
Free pre-performance talks
Members of the Opera North team discuss the show with
an audience Q&A. Thu 22, Tue 27 Feb, Fri 2 Mar, 6.00pm-6.30pm.
Please book in advance with Box Office.
CAST
King GustavusRafael Rojas
Count AnckarstroemPhillip Rhodes
Amelia AdriennMiksch
Ulrika ArvidsonPatricia Bardon
Oscar Tereza Gevorgyan
Count Ribbing Dean Robinson
Count Horn John Savournin
Christian Richard Mosley-Evans
ConductorRichard Farnes
Director Tim Albery
Set and Costume Designer Hannah Clark
Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase
Lasts approximately 2 hours 45 mins
Sung in Italian with English titles
Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.
D O N G I O V A N N I
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
17 FEB – 3 MAR
Be tantalised by this magnificent productionas Don Giovanni, opera’s most compelling antihero,goes on a quest for hedonistic thrills. As he seduceshis way across Europe, bedding 1003 womenin Spain alone, the unrepentant Don Giovanniresorts to despicable violence until he meetsa terrifying end at the hands of vengeful victims.A fast-unfolding, urgent plot, mixes broadcomedy with tense drama.
Mozart’s sublimelybeautiful, spine-tingling music stands in starkcontrast with the barbarous cruelty of hisdeeply ambiguous Lothario. Alessandro Talevi’seclectic, time-travelling production brings freshinsights to this, Mozart’s darkest, craziest, opera.
‘Director Alessandro Talevi’s imagination, wit and
audacity meant that Don Giovanni was a huge success...
enthralling throughout...’
★★★★★Bachtrack
‘that’s the way to do it’
★★★★The Guardian
Free pre-performance talks
Members of the Opera North team discuss the show with
an audience Q&A. Wed 21, Fri 23 Feb, Thu 1, Sat 3 Mar,
6.00pm-6.30pm. Please book in advance with Box Office.
Whistle Stop Don Giovanni
Try a bite-sized performance of Mozart’s timeless drama
of seduction and death with our Whistle Stop Don Giovanni.
A cast of lively young singers and an accordionist reveal the
story and the music in a live, interactive experience for £5.
Mon 12 Feb
10.15am Morley Town Hall
2.30pm Batley Central Methodist Church
Tue 13 Feb
10.30am St Barnabus Church, Alwoodley
3.15pm Whistlestop Opera: Don Giovanni OC
Wed 13 Feb
1.00pm Leeds Central Library
CAST
Don Giovanni William Dazeley
Il CommendatoreJames Platt
Donna Anna Jennifer Davis
Don OttavioNicholas Watts
Donna Elvira Elizabeth Atherton
LeporelloAlastair Miles
ZerlinaKathryn Rudge
MasettoRoss Mcinroy
Conductor Christoph Altstaedt /Matthew Kofi Waldren
Director Alessandro Talevi
Set and Costume DesignerMadeleine Boyd
Lighting Designer Matthew Haskins
Choreographer Victoria Newlyn
Lasts approximately 3 hours
Sung in Italian with English titles
Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.
SALOME, Richard Strauss
Leeds Town Hall, Concert performance
19, 22 and 25 April, 2018
Based on Oscar Wilde’s Salomé, this is the savageand bloody tale of King Herod’s step-daughter.When Herod’s prisoner Jokanaan rebuffs her advances,Salome vows she will kiss him – no matter theconsequences.
The latest in Opera North’s acclaimed concertperformances which include the Ring Cycle andTurandot, Salome caused outrage when it wasfirst performed. From the seductive ‘Dance of theSeven Veils’ to the explosive vocal parts, the violent
sensuality of the score illustrates every momentof the story with unflinching vividness. This is operaat its most extreme, concentrated into 100 intenseand exhilarating minutes.
CAST INCLUDES
Salome Jennifer Holloway
Herodias Katarina Karneus
JokanaanRobert Hayward
HerodesArnold Bezuyen
NarrabothOliver Johnston
Page Heather Lowe
Conductor Richard Armstrong
Approximately 1 hours 40 mins
Sung in German with English titles
Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.
KISS ME KATE, Cole Porter
Leeds Grand Theatre
23-26 May, 2018
Set both on and off-stage during the productionof a musical version of Shakespeare’s theatricalfarce The Taming of the Shrew, Cole Porter ’smulti-award winning Broadway classic revolvesaround the tempestuous love lives of actor-producer
Fred Graham and his leading lady turned ex-wife,Lilli Vanessi.
Kiss Me, Kate is simultaneously a charminghomage to the sparkling wit of Shakespeare andan irresistible celebration of the joy and madnessof working in theatre. Opera North’s acclaimedproduction is studded with some of the greatest
classics in American musical theatre including‘So in Love’ and ‘Too Darn Hot’.
CAST TO BE ANNOUNCED
Conductor James Holmes
Director Jo Davies
Choreographer Will Tuckett
Set and Costume DesignerColin Richmond
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell
Lasts approximately 3 hours
Sung in English
Audio described performance:
Thu 24 May, 7pm, touch tour 5.45pm.
Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.
Sign interpreted and Captioned performance:
Sat 26 May, 2.15pm
FATAL PASSIONS EVENTS CALENDAR
LGT – Leeds Grand Theatre
HAR – Howard Assembly Room
Fri 19 Jan
7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT
Sat 20 Jan
11.30am The Kingdom Under the Sea HAR
Fri 26 Jan
7.15pm Christiane Karg HAR
Sun 28 Jan
2.00pm–3.00pm Inside Opera: Madama Butterfly HAR
4.00pm Madama Butterfly LGT
Wed 31 Jan
7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT (audio described performance)
Touch tour – 6.15pm
Fri 2 Feb
7.00pm Film: Fanny and Alexander HAR
Sat 3 Feb
11.30am The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR
12.45am The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR
2.30pm The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR
7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT
Sat 10 Feb
7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT
Thu 15 Feb
7.30pm Film: All About My Mother HAR
Fri 16 Feb
7.30pm Madama Butterfly HAR
Sat 17 Feb
7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT
Tue 20 Feb
7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT
Thu 22 Feb
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT
Wed 21 Feb
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT
Fri 23 Feb
6.00-6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT
Sat 24 Feb
7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT
Tue 27 Feb
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT
Wed 28 Feb
7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT
Thu 1 Mar
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT
Fri 2 Mar
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR
7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT
7.15pm Louis Lortie HAR
Sat 3 Mar
6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk (Don Giovanni) HAR
7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT
7.15pm Film: Ran HAR
Thu 15 Mar
7.15pm Brodsky Quartet HAR
Thu 22 Mar
7.15pm James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook HAR
Thu 29 Mar
7.15pm I Fagiolini HAR