Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1997–98 to 2003–04
Opera North is an opera company based at The Grand Theatre, Leeds. This article covers the period between the departure of Paul Daniel (Music Director 1990–1997) and the arrival of Richard Farnes (Music Director 2004–present).
History
During the seasons 1997-8 and 1998-9, while the company was looking for a successor to Daniel, Elgar Howarth held the title of Music Advisor. The company mounted ten new productions and seven revivals, led by a total of eighteen different conductors, among them Steuart Bedford, Wyn Davies, Oliver von Dohnányi, Paul Goodwin and András Ligeti, as well as Howarth himself, Paul Daniel, Richard Farnes and Steven Sloane, who became Music Director in 1999. When he departed in 2002, Sloane had conducted a further ten new productions and two revivals, while fifteen other conductors, including Stephen Barlow, Harry Bicket and David Parry were also employed by the company.
Another interregnum (2002-4) ensued before the appointment of Sloane's successor, Richard Farnes, with new names on the podium including Martin André, Martyn Brabbins, Frédéric Chaslin, William Lacey, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Grant Llewellyn and Mark Shanahan.
There was one world premiere during this period - Simon Holt's The Nightingale's to Blame - and a number of rarities: Martinů's Julietta, Schumann's Genoveva, Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco, Handel's Radamisto and Shostakovich's operetta Paradise Moscow. The Bartered Bride was successfully updated to the Prague Spring period, Tristan und Isolde was semi-staged at Leeds Town Hall and elsewhere, and musical theatre was represented by George Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing and Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.
The unusual final segment of the 2003-4 season attracted a great deal of interest and a number of awards.[1] Under the title "Eight Little Greats", the company presented eight one-act operas, each by a different composer. Two were performed per night and additionally there were two-opera matinées on Saturdays, all in various combinations. Operas could be booked individually or as double-bills. A company of 21 principals was assembled, and most of them appeared in more than one of the operas. Four operas were directed by David Pountney and four by Christopher Alden; three were conducted by Martin André and four by David Parry; Johan Engels was responsible for all of the sets and three different costume designers were engaged.
Repertoire
Below is a list of main stage[2] operas performed by the company during this period.
| Season | Opera[3] | Composer | Principal cast | Conductor | Director | Designer[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | AidaAida | Verdi Verdi | Barstow Josephine Barstow (Aida), Edmund Barham (Radames), Sally Burgess (Amneris), Jonathan Summers (Amonasro) | Carella Giuliano Carella | ZZZ Revival of 1985-6 production | |
| 1997–98 | CosiCosì fan tutte | Mozart Mozart | Ferrari Elena Ferrari (Fiordiligi), Alice Coote/Claire Evans (Dorabella), Jeffrey Stewart (Ferrando), Garry Magee (Guglielmo), Margaret Preece (Despina), Eric Roberts (Don Alfonso) | Fitzpatrick Martin Fitzpatrick | ZZZ Revival of 1996-7 production | |
| 1997–98 | JuliettaJulietta | Martinu Martinů | Caine Rebecca Caine (Julietta), Paul Nilon (Mischa) | Bedford Steuart Bedford | Pountney David Pountney | Lazaridis Stefanos Lazaridis /Marie-Jeanne Lecca |
| 1997–98 | MagicThe Magic Flute | Mozart Mozart | Macdougall Jamie MacDougall/Jeffrey Stewart (Tamino), Margaret Richardson (Pamina), Eric Roberts (Papageno), Clive Bayley (Sarastro), Cara O’Sullivan/Laure Meloy (Queen of the Night) | Cohen Brad Cohen/ Martin Pickard | Arden Annabel Arden | Gerlitz Roswitha Gerlitz |
| 1997–98 | SweeneySweeney Todd | Sondheim Sondheim | Page Steven Page (Sweeney Todd), Beverley Klein (Mrs Lovett) | Holmes James Holmes | Macvicar David McVicar | Vale Michael Vale/ Kevin Knight |
| 1997–98 | BarberThe Barber of Seville | Rossini Rossini | Williams Roderick Williams (Figaro), Ann Taylor (Rosina), Iain Paton (Almaviva), Eric Roberts (Dr Bartolo) | Beckwith Daniel Beckwith/ Dominic Wheeler | ZZZ Revival of 1986-7 production | |
| 1997–98 | EugeneEugene Onegin | Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky | Mellor Alwyn Mellor (Tatyana), Peter Savidge (Onegin), Paul Nilon (Lensky), Emer McGilloway (Olga) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ Martin Pickard | Ibelhauptaite Dalia Ibelhauptaitė | Cadle Giles Cadle/ Sue Willmington |
| 1997–98 | GiovannaGiovanna d'Arco | Verdi Verdi | Glanville Susannah Glanville (Giovanna), Julian Gavin (Carlo VII), Keith Latham (Giacomo) | Farnes Richard Farnes | Prowse Philip Prowse | Prowse Philip Prowse |
| 1997–98 | Of theeOf Thee I Sing | Gershwin Gershwin | Dazeley William Dazeley (Wintergreen), Margaret Preece (Mary), Kim Criswell (Diana Devereux), Steven Beard (Alexander Throttlebottom) | Davies Wyn Davies | Gawn Caroline Gawn | Edwards Charles Edwards/ Nicky Gillibrand |
| 1998–99 | Re pastoreIl re pastore | Mozart Mozart | Caine Rebecca Caine (Amyntas), Mary Hegarty (Elisa), Peter Bronder (Alexander), Alice Coote (Tamyris), Nicholas Sears (Agenor) | Goodwin Paul Goodwin | ZZZ Revival of 1993-4 production | |
| 1998–99 | BarteredThe Bartered Bride | Smetana Smetana | Mellor Alwin Mellor (Mařenka), Neill Archer (Jeník), Clive Bayley (Kecal), Iain Paton (Vašek) | Dohnanyi Oliver von Dohnányi | Slater Daniel Slater | Hopkins Robert Innes Hopkins |
| 1998–99 | Don CDon Carlos | Verdi Verdi | Gavin Julian Gavin (Carlos), Lori Phillips (Elisabetta), Jeffrey Black (Posa), Alastair Miles (Philip II), Sally Burgess (Eboli) | Abel Yves Abel | ZZZ Revival of 1992-3 production | |
| 1998–99 | NightingaleThe Nightingale's to Blame | Holt Holt | Maxwell Donald Maxwell (Perlimpin), Patricia Rozario (Belisa), Fiona Kimm (Marcolfa), Frances McCafferty (Belisa’s mother) | Farnes Richard Farnes | Duncan Martin Duncan | Irish Neil Irish |
| 1998–99 | CarmenCarmen | Bizet Bizet | Philogene Ruby Philogene (Carmen), Antoni Garfield Henry (Don José), Mark Stone (Escamillo), Susannah Glanville/Majella Cullagh (Micaela) | Ligeti András Ligeti | Lloyd Phyllida Lloyd | Hatley Tim Hatley |
| 1998–99 | GazzaLa gazza ladra | Rossini Rossini | Hegarty Mary Hegarty (Ninetta), Jeffrey Stewart (Giannetto), Christopher Purves (Podestà), Jonathan Best (Fernando), Ann Taylor (Pippo) | Abell David Charles Abell | ZZZ Revival of 1991-2 production | |
| 1998–99 | ArabellaArabella | Strauss R R Strauss | Glanville Susannah Glanville (Arabella), Robert Hayward (Mandryka), Isabel Molnar (Zdenka), Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts (Matteo), Richard Angas (Waldner), Carole Wilson (Adelaide) | Howarth Elgar Howarth | Negrin Francisco Negrin | Steinberg Paul Steinberg/ Jon Morrell |
| 1998–99 | GlorianaGloriana | Britten Britten | Barstow Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth I), Thomas Randle (Essex), Susannah Glanville (Lady Rich), David Ellis (Mountjoy), Emer McGilloway (Lady Essex), Clive Bayley (Raleigh), Eric Roberts (Cecil) | Daniel Paul Daniel | ZZZ Revival of 1993-4 production | |
| 1999–00 | TraviataLa traviata | Verdi Verdi | Kelly Janis Kelly (Violetta), Thomas Randle (Alfredo), Keith Latham (Germont) | Farnes Richard Farnes/ Martin Pickard | Arden Annabel Arden | Gillibrand Nicky Gillibrand |
| 1999–00 | KatyaKáťa Kabanová | Janáček Janáček | Tierney Vivian Tierney (Katya), Alan Oke (Boris), Jamie MacDougall (Kudryash), Ann Taylor (Varvara), Gillian Knight (Kabanicha) | Sloane Steven Sloane | Albery Tim Albery | Bechtler Hildegard Bechtler |
| 1999–00 | Don GDon Giovanni | Mozart Mozart | Magee Garry Magee (Don Giovanni), Majella Cullach (Donna Anna), Claron McFadden/Emma Bell (Donna Elvira), Jonathan Best/Iain Patterson (Leporello), ??? (Don Ottavio) | Wheeler Dominic Wheeler | Macvicar David McVicar | Knight Kevin Knight |
| 1999–00 | MidsummerA Midsummer Night's Dream | Britten Britten | Josey Christopher Josey (Oberon), Claron McFadden (Tytania), Jonathan Best (Bottom), Nicholas Sears (Lysander), Helen Williams (Helena), Ann Taylor (Hermia), Mark Stone (Demetrius) | Sloane Steven Sloane | Leiser Moshe Leiser & Patrice Caurier | Fenouillat Christian Fenouillat /Agostino Cavalca |
| 1999–00 | MadamaMadama Butterfly | Puccini Puccini | Biriucov Lada Biriucov/Rosalind Sutherland (Butterfly), Julian Gavin/David Maxwell Anderson (Pinkerton), Steven Page (Sharpless), Jane Irwin (Suzuki) | Barlow Stephen Barlow | ZZZ Revival of 1996-7 production | |
| 1999–00 | FalstaffFalstaff | Verdi Verdi | Coad Conal Coad (Falstaff), Josephine Barstow (Alice Ford), Brent Ellis (Ford), Wynne Evans (Fenton), Thora Einarsdottir (Nanetta), Frances McCafferty (Mistress Quickly), Yvonne Howard (Meg Page) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ Lionel Friend | ZZZ Revival of 1996-7 production | |
| 1999–00 | GiocondaLa Gioconda | Ponchielli Ponchielli | Rutter Claire Rutter (Gioconda), David Maxwell Anderson (Enzo), Katja Lytting (Laura), Jonathan Summers (Barnaba) | Dohnanyi Oliver von Dohnányi | ZZZ Revival of 1992-3 production | |
| 1999–00 | RadamistoRadamisto | Handel Handel | Walker David Walker (Radamisto), Alice Coote (Zenobia), Helen Williams (Polissena), Emma Bell (Tigrane), Michael John Pearson (Tiridate), Elizabeth McCormack (Fraarte) | Bicket Harry Bicket | Hopkins Tim Hopkins | Edwards Charles Edwards |
| 1999–00 | OrpheusOrpheus in the Underworld | Offenbach Offenbach | Macdougall Jamie MacDougall (Orpheus), Yvonne Barclay (Euridice), Eric Roberts (Jupiter) | Davies Wyn Davies | ZZZ Revival of 1992-3 production | |
| 2000–01 | GenovevaGenoveva | Schumann Schumann | Schuman Patricia Schuman (Genoveva), Christopher Purves (Siegfried), Paul Nilon (Golo), Clive Bayley (Drago), Keith Latham (Hidulfus), Sally Burgess (Margaretha) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ James Holmes | Pountney David Pountney | Koltai Ralph Koltai/ Sue Willmington |
| 2000–01 | MarriageThe Marriage of Figaro | Mozart Mozart | Rutherford James Rutherford/Christopher Purves (Figaro), Colette Delahunt (Susanna), Roderick Williams/Stephan Loges (Count), Majella Cullagh/Simone Sauphanor (Countess), Emer McGilloway (Cherubino) | Bryden Roderick Bryden /Stephen Clarke | ZZZ Revival of 1995-6 production | |
| 2000–01 | RondineLa rondine | Puccini Puccini | Kelly Janis Kelly (Magda), Jorge Antonio Pita (Ruggero), Wynne Evans (Prunier), Mary Hegarty (Lisette), Jonathan Best (Rambaldo) | Bernet Dietfried Bernet | ZZZ Revival of 1993-4 production | |
| 2000–01 | ElisirL'elisir d'amore | Donizetti Donizetti | Hegarty Mary Hegarty (Adina), Paul Nilon (Nemorino), Christopher Purves (Dulcamara), Richard Whitehouse (Belcore) | Parry David Parry | Slater Daniel Slater | Hopkins Robert Innes Hopkins |
| 2000–01 | PelleasPelléas et Mélisande | Debussy Debussy | Rodgers Joan Rodgers (Mélisande), William Dazeley (Pelléas), Robert Hayward (Golaud) | Daniel Paul Daniel/ James Holmes | ZZZ Revival of 1994-5 production | |
| 2000–01 | TristanTristan und Isolde[5] | Wagner Wagner | Lundberg Mark Lundberg (Tristan), Susan Bullock (Isolde), Anne-Marie Owens (Brangäne), John Wegner (Kurwenal), Donald McIntyre (King Marke) | Sloane Steven Sloane | Warner Keith Warner | Warner Keith Warner/ Elaine Robertson |
| 2000–01 | EugeneEugene Onegin | Tchaikovsky Tchaikovsky | Allen Giselle Allen (Tatyana), William Dazeley/Richard Whitehouse (Onegin), Iain Paton (Lensky), Cécile van de Sant (Olga) | Farnes Richard Farnes | ZZZ Revival of 1997-8 production | |
| 2000–01 | MoscowMoscow, Cheryomushki | Shostakovich Shostakovich | Oke Alan Oke (Sergei), Rachel Taylor (Lusya), Janie Dee (Lidochka), Loren Geeting (Boris), Daniel Broad (Sasha), Gillian Kirkpatrick (Masha) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ James Holmes | Pountney David Pountney | Hopkins Robert Innes Hopkins |
| 2001–02 | CunningThe Cunning Little Vixen | Janacek Janáček | Kelly Janis Kelly (Vixen), Christopher Purves (Forester), Giselle Allen (Fox), Nigel Robson (Schoolmaster), Richard Angas/Michael John Pearson (Priest) | Sloane Steven Sloane | Arden Annabel Arden | Hudson Richard Hudson |
| 2001–02 | BohemeLa bohème | Puccini Puccini | Vanderplas Harrie van der Plas/Peter Auty (Rodolfo), Mary Plazas/Barbara Haveman (Mimi), William Dazeley/Mark Stone (Marcello), Christine Buffle/Giselle Allen (Musetta) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ Dietfried Bernet | ZZZ Revival of 1992-3 production | |
| 2001–02 | GlorianaGloriana | Britten Britten | Barstow Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth I), Thomas Randle (Essex), Susannah Glanville (Lady Rich), Karl Daymond (Mountjoy), Ruth Peel (Lady Essex), Mark Beesley (Raleigh), Eric Roberts (Cecil) | Farnes Richard Farnes | ZZZ Revival of 1993-4 production | |
| 2001–02 | AlbertAlbert Herring | Britten Britten | Paton Iain Paton (Albert), Josephine Barstow (Lady Billows), Richard Whitehouse (Sid), Heather Shipp (Nancy), Ethna Robinson (Mrs Herring) | Holmes James Holmes | Lloyd Phyllida Lloyd | Pask Scott Pask |
| 2001–02 | SweeneySweeney Todd | Sondheim Sondheim | Page Steven Page (Sweeney Todd), Beverley Klein (Mrs Lovett) | Holmes James Holmes | ZZZ Revival of 1997-8 production | |
| 2001–02 | EnfantL'enfant et les sortilèges[6] | Ravel Ravel | Wild Claire Wild (The child), | Plasson Emmanuel Plasson | Hosseinpour Amir Hosseinpour/ Nigel Lowery | Lowery Nigel Lowery |
| 2001–02 | OedipusOedipus rex | Stravinsky Stravinsky | Skelton Stuart Skelton (Oedipus), Natascha Petrinsky (Jocasta), Ashley Holland (Creon), Jeremy White (Tiresias) | Sloane Steven Sloane | Edwards Charles Edwards | Edwards Charles Edwards |
| 2002–03 | ToscaTosca | Puccini Puccini | Pavlovski Nina Pavlovski/Susannah Glanville (Tosca), Rafael Rojas/Ian Storey (Cavaradossi), Robert McFarland/Matthew Best (Scarpia) | Sloane Steven Sloane/ Richard Farnes | Alden Christopher Alden | Edwards Charles Edwards/ Jon Morrell |
| 2002–03 | JenufaJenůfa | Janacek Janáček | Allen Giselle Allen (Jenůfa), Josephine Barstow (Kostelnička), Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts (Laca), Kevin Anderson (Števa) | Howarth Elgar Howarth | ZZZ Revival of 1995-6 production | |
| 2002–03 | RosenkavalierDer Rosenkavalier | Strauss R R Strauss | Meek Deanne Meek (Octavian), Janis Kelly (Marschallin), Coad Conal Coad (Baron Ochs), Marie Arnet (Sophie), Christopher Purves (Faninal) | Bernet Dietfried Bernet | Macvicar David McVicar | Macvicar David McVicar & Michael Vale/ Tanya McCallin |
| 2002–03 | MatrimonioIl matrimonio segreto | Cimarosa Cimarosa | Evans Wynne Evans (Paolino), Mary Nelson (Carolina), Henry Waddington (Geronimo), Richard Morrison (Count Robinson), Natasha Jouhl (Elisetta), Louise Mott (Fidalma) | Davies Wyn Davies | ZZZ Revival of 1994-5 production | |
| 2002–03 | IdomeneoIdomeneo | Mozart Mozart | Nilon Paul Nilon (Idomeneo), Paula Hoffman (Idamante), Natasha Marsh (Ilia), Janis Kelly (Elettra) | Parry David Parry | Albery Tim Albery | Lyne Dany Lyne |
| 2002–03 | JuliettaJulietta | Martinu Martinů | Caine Rebecca Caine (Julietta), Paul Nilon (Mischa), | Andre Martin André | ZZZ Revival of 1997-8 production | |
| 2002–03 | MagicThe Magic Flute | Mozart Mozart | Do Philippe Do (Tamino), Thora Einarsdottir (Pamina), Matthew Sharpe (Papageno), Mark Coles (Sarastro), Helen Williams (Queen of the Night) | Lacey William Lacey | Supple Tim Supple | Kalman Jean Kalman/ Tom Pye |
| 2002–03 | DamnationLa damnation de Faust[7] | Berlioz Berlioz | Omara Stephen O’Mara (Faust), Alastair Miles (Mephistophélès), Lilli Paasikivi (Marguérite) | Chaslin Frederic Chaslin | Janser Matthias Janser | ZZZ |
| 2003–04 | TraviataLa traviata | Verdi Verdi | Kelly Janis Kelly/Anne-Sophie Duprels (Violetta), Thomas Randle/Peter Auty (Alfredo), Robert McFarland/Robert Poulton (Germont) | Shanahan Mark Shanahan/ Richard Farnes | ZZZ Revival of 1999-2000 production | |
| 2003–04 | RusalkaRusalka | Dvorak Dvořák | Allen Giselle Allen (Rusalka), Stuart Skelton (Prince), Richard Angas (Water Sprite), Susannah Glanville (Foreign Princess), Susan Bickley (Jezibaba) | Lang-Lessing Sebastian Lang-Lessing | Fuchs Olivia Fuchs | Turner Nicki Turner |
| 2003–04 | ManonManon | Massenet Massenet | Bystrom Malin Byström (Manon), Julian Gavin (Des Grieux), William Dazeley (Lescaut) | Llewellyn Grant Llewellyn | Slater Daniel Slater | Oconnor Francis O’Connor |
| 2003–04 | BarberThe Barber of Seville | Rossini Rossini | Magee Garry Magee (Figaro), Deanne Meek (Rosina), Nick Sales (Almaviva), Eric Roberts (Dr Bartolo) | Davies Wyn Davies | ZZZ Revival of 1986-7 production | |
| 2003–04 | BarteredThe Bartered Bride | Smetana Smetana | Allen Giselle Allen (Mařenka), Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts (Jeník), Jeremy White (Kecal), Iain Paton (Vašek) | Brabbins Martyn Brabbins | ZZZ Revival of 1998-9 production | |
| 2003–04 | ZwergDer Zwerg | Zemlinsky Zemlinsky | Nilon Paul Nilon (The Dwarf), Stefanie Krahnenfeld (Donna Clara), Majella Cullagh (Gita), Graeme Broadbent (Don Estoban) | Parry David Parry | Pountney David Pountney | Engels Johan Engels/ Marie-Jeanne Lecca |
| 2003–04 | VidaLa vida breve | Falla Falla | Plazas Mary Plazas (Salud), Leonardo Capalbo (Paco), Susan Gorton (Grandmother) | Andre Martin André | Alden Christopher Alden | Engels Johan Engels/ Sue Willmington |
| 2003–04 | TabarroIl tabarro | Puccini Puccini | Pavlovski Nina Pavlovski (Giorgetta), Jonathan Summers (Michele), Leonardo Capalbo (Luigi), Anne-Marie Owens (La Frugola) | Andre Martin André | Pountney David Pountney | Engels Johan Engels/ Sue Willmington |
| 2003–04 | OccasioneL'occasione fa il ladro | Rossini Rossini | Stone Mark Stone (Don Parmenione), Iain Paton (Count Alberto), Majella Cullagh (Berenice), Kim-Marie Woodhouse (Ernestina), Adrian Clarke (Martino), Nicholas Sharratt (Don Eusebio) | Parry David Parry | Alden Christopher Alden | Engels Johan Engels/ Tom Pye |
| 2003–04 | FrancescaFrancesca da Rimini | Rachmaninoff Rachmaninoff | Pavlovski Nina Pavlovski (Francesca), Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts (Dante/Paolo), Jonathan Summers (Ghost of Virgil/Malatesta) | Andre Martin André | Pountney David Pountney | Engels Johan Engels/ Sue Willmington |
| 2003–04 | PagliacciPagliacci | Leoncavallo Leoncavallo | Dodd Geraint Dodd (Canio), Majella Cullagh (Nedda), Jonathan Summers (Tonio), Iain Paton (Beppe), Mark Stone (Silvio) | Parry David Parry | Alden Christopher Alden | Engels Johan Engels/ Sue Willmington |
| 2003–04 | DjamilehDjamileh | Bizet Bizet | Bardon Patricia Bardon (Djamileh), Paul Nilon (Haroun), Mark Stone (Splendiano) | Parry David Parry | Alden Christopher Alden | Engels Johan Engels/ Sue Willmington |
| 2003–04 | SevenThe Seven Deadly Sins | Weill Weill | Vollack Beate Vollack (Anna I), Iain Paton (Tenor I), Nicholas Sharratt (Tenor II), Adrian Clarke (Father), Graeme Broadbent (Mother) | Holmes James Holmes | Pountney David Pountney | Engels Johan Engels/ Marie-Jeanne Lecca |
Sources
- Leeks, Stuart (ed) (2003). Opera North @ 25. Leeds: Opera North.
- Opera North annual review 2004-2005
References
- ↑ 2004-5 Annual Report, p.12
- ↑ "Main stage" means operas performed at Leeds Grand Theatre and a number of touring venues; small-scale productions are not included. Semi-staged concert performances at Leeds Town Hall and other similar venues are included, but concert performances without any staging are not.
- ↑ Titles in Bold are new productions. Opera titles are those used in Wikipedia and not necessarily those used by Opera North.
- ↑ Where two designers are credited, the first-named designed the set and the second designed the costumes
- ↑ Semi-staged concert performances.
- ↑ Performed as a double-bill with Petrushka
- ↑ Semi-staged concert performances
See also
- Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1978–79 to 1980–81
- Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1981–82 to 1989–90
- Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1990–91 to 1996–97
- Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 2004–
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