Carousel

Voted best musical of the 20th century by Time Magazine, Rodgers and Hammerstein'sCarousel features some of the most powerful music ever written for the stage, including the immortal 'You'll Never Walk Alone', 'If I Loved You' and the joyful 'June is bustin' out all over'. A story of true love and the tragedy of feelings left unspoken, this classic American musical is deeply touching and will capture your heart.

In this major new production, the outstanding cast will be under the expert batons of James Holmes and Jonathan Gill. Faithful to Rogers & Hammerstein's original vision, this will be a remarkably fresh Carousel for the 21st century. 

Directed by Jo Davies (Ruddigore), with designs by Anthony Ward (Oliver, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Peter Grimes and Gloriana for Opera North) and choreography by the renowned Kim Brandstrup (ballet) and Kay Shepherd.

Find out more at www.carouseltheshow.com

A production created by Opera North, Leeds – General Director Richard Mantle, on May 2nd 2012, in co-production with the Châtelet Theatre, Paris – General Director, Jean-Luc Choplin

Music by Richard Rodgers
Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Original Dances by Agnes de Mille
Based on the Play 'Liliom' by Ferenc Molnar as adapted by Benjamin F.Glaser

Performed by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of R & H Theatricals of New York

Film: A Taste of Cherry

Dir. Abbas Kiarostami, Iran
1998, 99 mins. Cert PG.
In Farsi with English subtitles.

Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami’s A Taste of Cherry is a meditation on the emotional complexities of life and death.

Middle-aged Mr. Badii (Homayoun Ershadi) drives through the hilly outskirts of Tehran, searching for someone to rescue or bury him. He asks both a Kurdish soldier and an Afghan seminarist but both refuse.

The deceptively simple, meditative style of the film encompasses a tender humanism and formal genius, imperceptibly building to become an enquiry into how and why we live. A remarkably rich celebration of human dignity.

An event designed to contextualise the opera Babur in London.

‘My favourite filmmaker of the decade is Abbas Kiarostami. He achieves a simplicity that’s so difficult to attain. Michael Haneke (Dir. Cachet, The White Ribbon)

Music: Cropper Welsh Roscoe Trio

Beethoven Trio in B flat Op.97 Archduke
Haydn Trio in C HobXV/27
Shostakovich Trio No 2 in E minor Op.67

Beethoven’s Archduke is one of the pinnacles of trio writing. Obsessive in its exploration of the possible combinations of the instruments – solos, duets, piano left hand, piano right hand, and of course the entire ensemble together, it is a breathtaking tour de force.

The Cropper Welsh Roscoe Trio comprises three of Britain’s finest chamber musicians: violinist Peter Cropper (ex-leader of The Lindsays), Moray Welsh (former Principal Cellist of the London Symphony Orchestra) and Martin Roscoe (pianist).

This programme shows the trio’s versatility, technical brilliance and passion for music, that have made them one of the most sought after piano trios in the country.

‘...playing with a torrential passion that was an immediate reminder of the virtues of

seasoned musicianship. Three more experienced and insightful players it would be hard to find....’ The Sunday Times

Ruddigore

Sir Despard Murgatroyd is a man under pressure. He has inherited a witch’s curse forcing him to commit a crime a day or die in agony. So it’s a huge relief when shy Robin Oakapple is revealed as his long-lost elder brother – true inheritor of the curse. 

Words: Simon Critchley: Is this what democracy looks like?

Simon Critchley examines the world we live in post 9/11.

How have our ideas about terror and violence changed? What have been the consequences for our understanding of democracy, both at home and all over the world? And what do the events of the Arab Spring and the OCCUPY movement tell us about the future world political environment?

Simon Critchley is Hans Jonas Professor at the New School for Social Research in New York. His many books include Infinitely Demanding, The Book of Dead Philosophers and The Faith of the Faithless.

‘A thoughtful, illuminating exploration… erudite and measured. Publisher’s Weekly on The Faith of the Faithless.'

The talk will be chaired by Dr Brad Evans, a Lecturer in Political Violence at the University of Leeds. He also directs the multi-media forum Histories of Violence.

This talk forms part of the DARE lectures 2012.

Performance: Babur in London

A new opera by Edward Rushton and Jeet Thayil

Following the success of the award-winning production Into the Little Hill, internationally renowned company, The Opera Group, return to the Howard Assembly Room with their new opera, Babur in London.

Babur in London tells a haunting story of four young people in today’s society grappling with their beliefs, the consequences of their actions, and their feelings for each other.

In a London suburb four young men and women are preparing a terrorist act. As their mission draws closer, they are disturbed by the ghost of Babur, first Mughal Emperor - poet and warrior, who died 500 years ago. Challenging their convictions he calls them ‘children playing at battle, in love with death’, but what are his motives for interfering?

The piece combines the contemporary poetry of Jeet Thayil with original music by esteemed composer Edward Rushton, described by The Guardian as "a brilliant young composer." Directed by John Fulljames.

There will be a post performance talk on Thursday 14 June.

The Opera Group Production, Co-Produced with Anvil Arts, Basingstoke and Opera North. The Opera Group previously won The Evening Standard Award for Best Musical for Street Scene in 2008.

Suggested age suitability 14+

‘Corrosively lyrical, jaggedly theatrical’ The Times on composer Edward Rushton

This production is supported by the Opera North Future Fund