United Kingdom Opera North Announces Plans for 2012 Winter Season 2012 (RJ)
Opera North’s Winter Season will commence at Leeds Grand Theatreon Saturday January 14th with the premiere of the new production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Pamela Helen Stephen in the title role, Sarah Tynan as Cleopatra and Anne Taylor as Cornelia. The conductor is Robert Howell and the production is directed by Tim Albery.
The season continues with the premiere of the second new production, Bellini’s Norma, on Saturday January 28th. Norma will be sung by the American soprano Takesha Meshé Kizart who was Tosca with Opera North in 2008. The director of this production (a co-production with Theater Chemnitz) is Christopher Alden and its conductor Olivier von Dohnányi.
The first of the five Madama Butterfly performances will be on Sunday 5th February with Anne Sophie Duprels playing Cio-Cio-San. Pinkerton will be Rafael Rojas for most performances with Anne Taylor as Suzuki. The conductor for the winter season is Mikhael Tetarikov.
The Leeds season will include four performances of Giulio Cesare and five of Norma before closing on Saturday February 18th after which the Company Tour will commence. It will comprise two performances of Madam Butterfly and Normaand one of Giulio Cesare in the following venues from the dates shown. Performances of Madam Butterfly will commence at 7.30pm and at 7.00pm for the two new productions.
Theatre Royal Nottingham: Tuesday 21st February until Saturday 25th.
The Lowry, Salford Quays: Tuesday 28th February until Saturday March 3rd.
Theatre Royal Newcastle: Tuesday 6th March until Saturday 10th.
Spring Season 2012
There are further details to be finalised and when they are I will present a preview on this site. What is clear is that the main stage performances will be a new production of Carousel conducted by James Holmes and directed by Jo Davies. There will be further performances of Ruddigore and concert performances of the second opera of Wagner’s Ring Cycle,Die Walküre, to follow on from the widely acclaimed Das Rheingold performed earlier this year. Die Walküre will be conducted by Richard Farnes and boasts a strong cast including Jeffery Lloyd Roberts (Siegmund), Alwyn Mellor (Sieglinde), Clive Bayley (Hunding), Bela Perencz (Wotan) and Annalena Persson (Brünnhilde).
The venues are as follows:
Leeds Grand Theatre: Wednesday May 2 to Saturday 19 with evening performances and matinee performances ofC arousel.
The Lowry, Salford Quays: Wednesday 23 May to Saturday 26 with evening performances and matinee performances of Carousel.
The Lyceum, Sheffield: Thursday May 31 to Saturday June 2 with evening performances and one matinee performances ofCarousel.
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh: From Thursday June 7 to Saturday June 9 with evening performances and one matinee performances of Carousel.
Grand Opera House, Belfast: From Wednesday June 13 to Saturday June 16 with evening performances and one matinee performances of Ruddigore.
Leeds Town Hall: Saturday 16 June and Wednesday 20.. Concert performances of Die Walküre at 4.30pm.
Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin: From Wednesday June 20 to Saturday June 23 with evening performances and one matinee performances of Ruddigore.
The Sage, Gateshead: Saturday June 23. Die Walküre at 4.30pm
Leeds Town Hall: Wednesday June 27. Die Walküre 5.00pm
Symphony Hall, Birmingham: Saturday June 30. Die Walküre 4.30pm
The Lowry, Salford Quays: Saturday July 14. Die Walküre 4.30pm
The Barbican, London: From Wednesday August 15 to Saturday September 15 with evening performances and one matinee performances of Carousel.
Roger Jones