Announcing our 2026-27 season

Get ready for seven operas this year which explore what it is to be human through the power of compelling storytelling and some of the most beautiful music ever written.

Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North, says:

“This year, we’re taking our audiences on a journey across the world. Different cultures come together and inform each other, from Femi Elufowoju Jr’s Rigoletto where Verdi’s jester is reimagined as a marginalised Black man othered by the society around him, to Orpheus, Jasdeep Singh Degun’s sensitive reworking of Monteverdi’s Orfeo into a mesmerising blend of Indian classical music and western baroque.

“Fate has a large role to play in many operas and never more so than in the ones we have coming up this year. From Eugene Onegin to Orpheus, we will meet fascinating characters either trying desperately to avoid their fate or, as in the case of Tristan and Isolde and Joseph De Rocher, only finding true release when they accept it. Convicted killer De Rocher is the protagonist in Jake Heggie’s contemporary opera, Dead Man Walking. For the first time, audiences across the north of England can look forward to Annilese Miskimmon‘s extraordinary production as our touring programme continues to ensure communities throughout the region can access the best opera and performance on their doorstep.

“Joining our talented Chorus over the coming months will be some of the finest singers on the international stage today. We are thrilled to have Blake Denson taking on the role of Rigoletto and to welcome Christine Rice, who will be reprising the role of Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking after her acclaimed performances at ENO. We are also delighted to be bringing some conductors who are new to Opera North to the podium, including Ben Glassberg who will conduct Dead Man Walking, and Ryan Wigglesworth who will join us as part of the Kirklees Concert Season.

“The concerts in Huddersfield and Dewsbury will provide their customary symphonic showcase for our full-time Orchestra, which has earned an enviable reputation for its flexibility and prowess both in the theatre pit and concert hall. This year, there is also an opportunity to hear our musicians play the Home Alone score live in Leeds and Bradford alongside a screening of the film.

“Whether that proves to be someone’s first experience of live orchestral music or whether they prefer to join us at a classic opera, we can promise everyone memorable stories, engaging characters and music that tingles the spine. We believe in making opera vital for everyone, whether they are seasoned opera-goers or joining us for the first time.”