The Orchestra of Opera North: Sibelius, Glass & Kodály

Programme:

Sibelius Finlandia
Glass Violin Concerto
Kodály Háry János
Sibelius Symphony No.5 in E=

Conductor Richard Farnes

Violin Jack Liebeck

Pre-concert talk 6.45pm in the Albert Room
David Fligg discusses the evening’s works.
Entry is free to ticket-holders for the concert but space is limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. 

Music: Lesley Garrett

Forsaken Women
Music by Purcell, Beethoven and Verdi

‘Garrett is…a natural communicator and just about the best ambassador for opera’ The Times

One of the UK’s best loved artists, Lesley Garrett performs ahead of her forthcoming return to Opera North in 2013 to sing the role of Elle in Poulenc’s La voix humaine.

In this intimate concert she explores the rich history of opera’s forsaken women, bringing to life great moments of lost love by Purcell, Beethoven and Verdi amongst others. In a tapestry that weaves together arias from the baroque period through the Romantics and into the modern day, Garrett has chosen to embody women of character, sensitivity and emotional depth. Early booking is highly recommended.

Words: Hilary Mantel

This event has been cancelled

We are sorry to let you know that Hilary Mantel is no longer able to appear next Thursday 22 November due to health problems. Unfortunately we are not able to reschedule the event and so we are offering a full refund for bookers. To arrange this please contact the Leeds Grand Theatre Box Office on 0844 848 2720, and a member of staff will be able to help.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and we hope we can welcome you to another event soon.

Shaking hands with Satan. 

‘Mantel knows what to select, how to make her scenes vivid, how to kindle her characters. She seems almost incapable of abstraction or fraudulence; she instinctively grabs for the reachably real’ The New Yorker

Man Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies) says that whilst growing up, the devil was a vital presence in her life, therefore it was only natural that he should feature in her dynamic and vivid novels. Having explored his many guises in her fiction, in this special talk she seeks his traces in the 21st century. The journey leads us from the rumours that Anne Boleyn sold her soul to be Queen, to the nature of the modern pact with the devil, and how we can recognise him when he visits us. This event includes live music.

Find out more about the author Hilary Mantel here.  

Watch an interview with Hilary Mantel here, where she discusses her new novel, Bring up the Bodies, the sequel to her 2009 Booker Prize-winning novel, Wolf Hall: 

Music: Jack DeJohnette Group with Don Byron

‘DeJohnette is setting himself ever more fascinating rhythmic puzzles without compromising his awesome powers to push and swing’
The Guardian

One of the finest jazz drummers of all time, Jack DeJohnette marks his 70th birthday in style with a terrific quintet that includes brilliant reedsman Don Byron. 

In a career spanning over half a century, DeJohnette has been the drummer of choice for a who’s who of jazz giants - Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny and Herbie Hancock - and sits firmly alongside them, having won a coveted Jazz Masters Award earlier this year. As a composer and band leader he is hugely respected, creating acoustic and electric musical languages that always sound as fresh as tomorrow.

Find out more about Jack DeJohnette here: www.jackdejohnette.com

Northumberland Music Festival: An Evening With Opera North

The Gala Opening to the second Northumberland Music Festival.

Programme

Beethoven Fidelio 
Jetzt, Schätzchen jetzt sind wir allein 

Mozart La Clemenza di Tito 
Torna di Tito
Ah, perdona il primo affetto

Gounod Faust 
Salut, demeure chaste et pure
Faites-lui mez aveux
Oh Dieu! Que de bijoux

Donizetti Anna Bolena
È sgrombro il loco

Puccini La Bohème
Che gelida manina
Si, mi chiamano Mimi
Oh soave fanciulla

Smetana The Bartered Wife
If you would only let me speak

Massenet Werther 
Il faut nous séparer

Mozart Le nozze di Figaro
Deh vieni
Voi che sapete
Sull’aria...che soave zeffiretto

Bizet Carmen 
La fleur que tu m’avais jetée

Offenbach The Tales of Hoffmann
Barcarolle

J Strauss The Gypsy Baron
Treasure Trio

Soprano Stephanie Corley
Tenor Adrian Dwyer
Mezzo Soprano Rebecca Afonwy-Jones
Baritone Jonathan Sells

Piano John Querns

Film: Pandora's Box

Dir. Georg Wilhelm Pabst, Germany 1929, 133 mins. Cert PG

Silent film with a new live score

Composed and performed by Jóhann Jóhannsson and Hildur Gudnadóttir..

‘at that time a dangerously shocking film. It still remains an intensely sexy one’.  The Guardian on Pandora’s Box

‘Supremely evocative compositions’ BBC music on Jóhann Jóhannsson

GW Pabst’s 1929 silent film follows the rise and fall of the captivating, amoral young prostitute Lulu and her various ill-fated relationships, brought to life by the inimitable Louise Brooks. 

Part of an international renaissance of silent film, this special screening sees award-winning Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson (Fordlandia), cellist and composer Hildur Gudnadóttir (Múm/Throbbing Gristle), and turntablist Philip Jeck combine forces. The brand new live soundtrack plays with the film’s volatile energy, Weimar-era recordings and the iconic figure of Louise Brooks.