Swanhunter
Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton
World Premiere
(2009)

Commissioned and created specifically for families and children, Opera North broadens the reach and appeal of opera with mythical creatures, a talking swan and a menacing hat.

Talented duo, composer Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton, who brought the hugely popular The Adventures of Pinocchio to Opera North in 2007, now bring this short, small-scale opera, Swanhunter, an energetically enticing tale based on Finnish mythology.

Against his mother’s wishes, the determined hero Lemminkäinen travels North to find a bride. Along the way he is met by challenges and quests that will delight and enthral audiences and show that a mother’s love conquers all, even death.

Swanhunter will premiere in the Howard Assembly Room, Leeds, before touring to smaller venues across the North of England in conjunction with a committed education programme with local schools, run by Opera North’s highly acclaimed education department.

Sung in English
Lasts approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Age 7+

"…although targeted at children, it also has enough musical and dramatic sophistication to keep adults out of mischief for an hour or so." Richard Morrison, The Times

"All this is staged with wit and resourcefulness (on almost no resources) by Clare Whistler and tautly conducted by Stuart Stafford. Everything – atmospheric music, big-gesture acting, excellent enunciation and unpretentious programme notes – seems aimed at giving kids the friendliest introduction to opera." Richard Morrison, The Times

"Swanhunter is succinct and catchy, with a cantering motif for accordion (Murray Grainger) and a witty libretto adapted from The Kalevala by Alasdair Middleton." Anna Picard, The Independent

"Designed by Dody Nash, Clare Whistler's athletic touring production has some ingenious touches. The hooves and antlers of Death's Elk are garden spades and shears, Lemminkäinen's home a fairytale turret, the ice-floes smoothly-curved abstract shapes, the costumes cosy padded parkas." Anna Picard, The Independent

"Dove's musical language is unfussy and efficient: the splintered ice of the extreme North is conveyed in sparkling tuned percussion, a horn neighs violently at the appearance of The Devil's Horse, and the Swan glides to Cragg's stratospheric vocalise. Excellent ensemble-work aside, the vocal honours go to Howard, whose anxious refrain is expanded into a grand lament as she journeys to the north to reclaim her "cold, torn" son's corpse." Anna Picard, The Independent

"...As a chamber opera it is an impressive experience. Andrew Rees is a commanding Lemminkainen and there is a startling performance of the swan by Elizabeth Cragg, who is one of the quartet that form the vigorous ensemble, along with expressive hand gestures." Patric Standford, Yorkshire Post

Characters

Based on a Finnish myth, this opera tells the story of Lemminkäinen who, against his mother’s wishes, travels North to find a bride facing trials along the way that culminate in his death. His mother sets out to find him and the opera finishes as she brings him back to life with her song, suggesting the magical and healing power of human song.

Howard Assembly Room (tickets on sale now)
7.00pm, Friday 13th November 2009
6.00pm, Saturday 14th & 21st November 2009
3.00pm, Sunday 22nd November 2009
6.30pm, Sunday 22nd November 2009

Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (tickets on sale later this month)
7.00pm, Thursday 26th November 2009
4.00pm, Saturday 28th November 2009

Thoresby Riding Hall, Ollerton (tickets on sale now)
7.00pm, Tuesday 1st December 2009

The Spa, Bridlington (tickets on sale later this month)
6.30pm, Sunday 6th December 2009

The Maltings, Berwick-Upon-Tweed (tickets on sale later this month)
7.00pm, Friday 11th December 2009

The Lowry, Salford Quays (tickets on sale now)
6.00pm, Sunday 13th December 2009