Fidelio, Opera North Live-Stream

(Originally published by Leeds Living: leedsliving.co.uk/art-culture/fidelio-opera-north-live-stream) Despite a somewhat fragmented production, and while lacking the magic of live theatre, the beauty and spirit of Beethoven’s great opera come across clearly in this performance. Opera North live-streamers gathered together (albeit separately) once again on Saturday 12 December for a performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio. This performance, rather than…

Kurt Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins”, Opera North Live-stream, 21 Nov 2020

(Originally published by Leeds Living: leedsliving.co.uk/art-culture/kurt-weills-the-seven-deadly-sins-opera-north-livestream-21-nov-2020) A short and sweet livestream from Opera North. Amongst the seemingly endless damage wrought by corona virus is Opera North’s appealing Autumn season. Some of it has been salvaged, however, as a series of livestreams, of which this is the first. At thirty-five minutes, this is a short opera—or…

Opera North – Live-streamed Concert from Leeds Town Hall, 30 Sept 2020

Certain Opera North associates got together on Wednesday evening for this free, livestreamed concert, which functioned as something like a preview of what Opera North will be up to in the next months, as well as a review of what they’ve been up to during the dark ages of corona virus. This was a fun,…

Looking Back to Look Forward: A Review of my Reviews

*This was written at the start of the corona virus situation in England in lieu of having live theatre to review: leedsliving.co.uk/art-culture/looking-back-to-look-forward* Well, readers, I like you am shut inside with no concerts to go to. It’s not all bad: I get time to read and to work on projects long dormant. I’m not particularly…

The Merry Widow, by Franz Lehár. Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre

***This article was published 30.9.2018, but only now appears here.*** A production which, for its many delights, never makes up its mind whether it wants to be melancholy or jovial, but remains a memorable and special experience nonetheless. With Lehár’s The Merry Widow, Opera North’s 2018/19 season continues to reflect on the Great War in this…