Pre-show talk: Siegfried

Opera North's Editor, Stuart Leeks explores the third part of Wagner's epic Ring cycle.

Opera North Children’s Chorus: Summer Showcase

Join Opera North’s very own Children’s Chorus as they celebrate another exciting year of music making with this end of year Summer Showcase.  Celebrating some of the city’s finest young talent, this informal concert will feature a light and lively programme of music, including works by Benjamin Britten, Cesar Franck and Henry Purcell, as well as exciting new commissions especially written for young voices. 

Featuring special guest soprano Bibi Heal.

Siegfried

Richard Wagner (1876)

Of all the operas in Wagner’s monumental music drama ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’, the third, Siegfried, tells a story that most resembles a fairy tale. Bold and fearless, the young hero Siegfried seeks ever increasing challenges and adventures. Forging an unbreakable sword from the shards of the weapon that belonged to his father, he slays the dragon Fafner and seizes from the dragon’s hoard the ring that gives its bearer power over the world. But when he awakens the sleeping Brünnhilde after penetrating the magic fire surrounding her, he encounters his greatest challenge – to win over her love.

Wagner’s unparalleled orchestral scene-painting reaches new heights in this work, and the closing love duet for Siegfried and Brünnhilde, completed after Wagner had composed Tristan und Isolde, has a blazing erotic intensity in common with that work.

Siegfried is conducted by Richard Farnes, who, following the first two instalments of Opera North’s Ring, has been praised as the country’s eminent Wagnerian. The unrivalled power and vividness of Wagner’s music will again be translated into evocative and atmospheric lighting and film projections by Peter Mumford.

An international cast is headed by the Estonian tenor Mati Turi and the Swedish soprano Annalena Persson; and Michael Druiett returns to sing the role of The Wanderer following his acclaimed performances of Wotan in Das Rheingold in 2011. 

Bringing alive the full scale and splendour of Wagner’s magnificent conception, this is the perfect occasion to celebrate Wagner’s bicentenary. 

The performance will finish at approximately 10.20pm
Please note: performance time includes two intervals, one of 30 minutes, and one of 1 hour 15 minutes.

Approximate timings (these times are subject to change slightly at each performance venue):

Act 1: 16.30 - 17.50
interval: 17.50 - 18.20
Act 2: 18.20 - 19.40
interval: 19.35 - 20.50
Act 3: 20.50 - 22.15

Sung in German with English titles.

A collaboration with The Sage Gateshead and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

Financially supported by the Opera North Future Fund and The Ring Fellowship.

The Orchestra of Opera North: Ripon International Festival

Exuberant Dvorak, sublime Mozart, and Tchaikovsky at his most innovative and passionate: an evening of music to dazzle the senses and grip the emotions. The Fourth Symphony - its brass fanfare, representing Fate, a memorable, terrifying opening - is a work of blazing emotional intensity, relieved by soaring melodies and the delicate, dance-like pizzicato movement. Janusz Piotrowicz  is renowned for his electrifying performances: “he took the  Orchestra of Opera North to the edge of their combined virtuosity ... adding that final tingle factor”  Yorkshire Post

Presented by Ripon International Festival

Conductor: Janusz Piotrowicz  
Horn: Robert Ashworth  

Dvorak Carnival Overture, Slavonic Dances
Mozart Horn Concerto no 3 in E  
Tchaikovsky Symphony no 4   

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Benjamin Britten

Revival of 2008 production

‘Britten’s opera sounds as good as it looks’ The Independent

Oberon, the fairy king and Tytania, his queen are locked in a conflict which spills over into the human world. Shakespeare’s witty words and the composer’s mesmerising music come together in this colourful and vibrant production where costumes and music are equally sparkling.

4 stars: The Independent / The Times

General on sale dates:

• The Lowry, Salford Quays: 7 March
• Theatre Royal, Nottingham: 18 March
• Theatre Royal, Newcastle: 22 March
• Leeds Grand Theatre: 17 July

Download our complete opera performance diary for 2013-14 here.

Music: Tamikrest

'Tinariwen's angry little brothers are on the rise' Mojo on Tamikrest

Far from being your average band, Tamikrest are a collective of Tuareg musicians from Mali who started playing together in 2006. Inspired by Tinariwen and a new wave of violent civil unrest, their music is blazing the way for the second generation of African blues bands. 

Their songs combine a sense of ancient rhythm with qualities of hypnotic dub, psychedelic funk and an almost supernatural kind of desert garage. They sing in Tamashek and as each song unfolds, the groove deepens and Tamaschek chants merge with seemingly effortless but increasingly intense guitar riffs.  This tour marks the release of their third album Chatma in September 2013.

Tamikrest play at the Howard Assembly Room as part of a focus on West African music and politics in 2013. Other events include Etran Finatawa and a talk by ex-Tinariwen manager and Guardian journalist Andy Morgan.

Save 20% at the Howard Assembly Room: Buy tickets for two or more shows displaying the 'Save' symbol (only available when you book in person or by phone, not available on-line).