OPERA NORTH’S FATAL PASSIONS SEASON

M A D A M A B U T T E R F L YGIACOMO PUCCINI19 JAN – 28 FEB

One of the best-loved operas of all time, this is the tragic tale of innocent love crushed by betrayal. Cio-Cio-San is a young Japanese woman who sacrifices everything to marry Pinkerton, the dashing American naval officer. Cruelly discarded when he returns to America, Butterfly is driven to a final and dramatic act of despair. With its exquisite set and costumes, this emotionally direct and beautiful production by Tim Albery is devastating in its impact. Madama Butterfly features some of Puccini’s most famous music including ‘One Fine Day’ and the ‘Humming Chorus’. French soprano Anne Sophie Duprels has won widespread praise 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 OperaHoward Assembly Room, Sun 28 Jan, 2.00pm – 3.00pmExplore Opera North’s production of Madama Butterfly in thecompany of conductor Martin Pickard and members of the castand creative team. Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance at the Box Office.

CASTCio-Cio-San Anne Sophie DuprelsPinkerton Merunas VitulskisSharpless Peter SavidgeSuzuki Ann TaylorGoro Joseph ShoveltonKate Pinkerton Katie BirdBonze Dean RobinsonPrince Yamadori Christopher NairneImperial Commissioner Paul GibsonConductor Martin Pickard / Anthony KrausDirector Tim AlberySet Designer Hildegard BechtlerCostume Designer Ana JebensLighting Designer Peter Mumford

Lasts approximately 2 hours 30 minsSung 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 productionGIUSEPPE VERDI3 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 talksMembers of the Opera North team discuss the show withan audience Q&A. Thu 22, Tue 27 Feb, Fri 2 Mar, 6.00pm-6.30pm.Please book in advance with Box Office.

CAST

King Gustavus Rafael RojasCount Anckarstroem Phillip RhodesAmelia Adrienn MikschUlrika Arvidson Patricia BardonOscar Tereza GevorgyanCount Ribbing Dean RobinsonCount Horn John SavourninChristian Richard Mosley-EvansConductor Richard FarnesDirector Tim AlberySet and Costume Designer Hannah ClarkLighting Designer Thomas C. Hase

Lasts approximately 2 hours 45 minsSung 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 IWOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART17 FEB – 3 MAR

Be tantalised by this magnificent production as Don Giovanni, opera’s most compelling antihero, goes on a quest for hedonistic thrills. As he seduces his way across Europe, bedding 1003 women in Spain alone, the unrepentant Don Giovanni resorts to despicable violence until he meets a terrifying end at the hands of vengeful victims. A fast-unfolding, urgent plot, mixes broad comedy with tense drama.

Mozart’s sublimely beautiful, spine-tingling music stands in stark contrast with the barbarous cruelty of his deeply ambiguous Lothario. Alessandro Talevi’s eclectic, time-travelling production brings fresh insights to this, Mozart’s darkest, craziest, opera.

‘Director Alessandro Talevi’s imagination, wit andaudacity meant that Don Giovanni was a huge success...enthralling throughout...’★★★★★ Bachtrack

‘that’s the way to do it’★★★★ The Guardian

Free pre-performance talksMembers of the Opera North team discuss the show withan 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 GiovanniTry a bite-sized performance of Mozart’s timeless dramaof seduction and death with our Whistle Stop Don Giovanni.A cast of lively young singers and an accordionist reveal thestory and the music in a live, interactive experience for £5.Mon 12 Feb10.15am Morley Town Hall2.30pm Batley Central Methodist ChurchTue 13 Feb10.30am St Barnabus Church, Alwoodley3.15pm Whistlestop Opera: Don Giovanni OCWed 13 Feb1.00pm Leeds Central Library

CAST

Don Giovanni William DazeleyIl Commendatore James PlattDonna Anna Jennifer DavisDon Ottavio Nicholas WattsDonna Elvira Elizabeth AthertonLeporello Alastair MilesZerlina Kathryn RudgeMasetto Ross Mcinroy

Conductor Christoph Altstaedt / Matthew Kofi Waldren

Director Alessandro TaleviSet and Costume Designer Madeleine BoydLighting Designer Matthew HaskinsChoreographer Victoria Newlyn

Lasts approximately 3 hoursSung in Italian with English titles

Audio notes available from the Access page on the website from a week before the opening night.

SALOME, Richard StraussLeeds Town Hall, Concert performance19, 22 and 25 April, 2018

Based on Oscar Wilde’s Salomé, this is the savage and bloody tale of King Herod’s step-daughter. When Herod’s prisoner Jokanaan rebuffs her advances, Salome vows she will kiss him – no matter the consequences.

The latest in Opera North’s acclaimed concert performances which include the Ring Cycle and Turandot, Salome caused outrage when it was first performed. From the seductive ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’ to the explosive vocal parts, the violentsensuality of the score illustrates every moment of the story with unflinching vividness. This is opera at its most extreme, concentrated into 100 intense and exhilarating minutes.

CAST INCLUDES

Salome Jennifer HollowayHerodias Katarina KarneusJokanaan Robert HaywardHerodes Arnold BezuyenNarraboth Oliver JohnstonPage Heather LoweConductor Richard Armstrong

Approximately 1 hours 40 minsSung 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 PorterLeeds Grand Theatre23-26 May, 2018

Set both on and off-stage during the production of a musical version of Shakespeare’s theatrical farce The Taming of the Shrew, Cole Porter ’s multi-award winning Broadway classic revolves around the tempestuous love lives of actor-producerFred Graham and his leading lady turned ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi.Kiss Me, Kate is simultaneously a charming homage to the sparkling wit of Shakespeare and an irresistible celebration of the joy and madness of working in theatre. Opera North’s acclaimed production is studded with some of the greatestclassics in American musical theatre including ‘So in Love’ and ‘Too Darn Hot’.

CAST TO BE ANNOUNCED

Conductor James HolmesDirector Jo DaviesChoreographer Will TuckettSet and Costume Designer Colin RichmondLighting Designer Ben Cracknell

Lasts approximately 3 hoursSung 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 TheatreHAR – Howard Assembly Room

Fri 19 Jan7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT

Sat 20 Jan11.30am The Kingdom Under the Sea HAR

Fri 26 Jan7.15pm Christiane Karg HAR

Sun 28 Jan2.00pm–3.00pm Inside Opera: Madama Butterfly HAR4.00pm Madama Butterfly LGT

Wed 31 Jan7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT (audio described performance)Touch tour – 6.15pm

Fri 2 Feb7.00pm Film: Fanny and Alexander HAR

Sat 3 Feb11.30am The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR12.45am The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR2.30pm The Kingdom Under The Sea HAR7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT

Sat 10 Feb7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT

Thu 15 Feb7.30pm Film: All About My Mother HAR

Fri 16 Feb7.30pm Madama Butterfly HAR

Sat 17 Feb7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT

Tue 20 Feb7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT

Thu 22 Feb6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT

Wed 21 Feb6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT

Fri 23 Feb6.00-6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT

Sat 24 Feb7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT

Tue 27 Feb6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT

Wed 28 Feb7.30pm Madama Butterfly LGT

Thu 1 Mar6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT

Fri 2 Mar6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk HAR7.00pm Un ballo in maschera LGT7.15pm Louis Lortie HAR

Sat 3 Mar6.00–6.30pm Pre-show talk (Don Giovanni) HAR7.00pm Don Giovanni LGT7.15pm Film: Ran HAR

Thu 15 Mar7.15pm Brodsky Quartet HAR

Thu 22 Mar7.15pm James Gilchrist and Anna Tilbrook HAR

Thu 29 Mar7.15pm I Fagiolini HAR