This week, we opened Beethoven’s Fidelio in concert – our first large-scale production of an opera for a live audience in 451 days.
Here is some of what members of that audience had to say on social media. Tickets are still available in Leeds (12 June, limited availability), at The Lowry (15 June) and in Nottingham (19 June).
Astonishing #ONFidelio. Really must sleep, but still fizzing from it. Singers. Players. Ensemble. Opera! Electric performance. Especially 2nd Act. Beethoven sounding generations ahead. And people/space so reassuringly looked after in venue. Thank you @Opera_North @LeedsTownHall https://t.co/eN29ERkEM1
— Martin Thomas (@m4d1ng) June 10, 2021
Komm, hoffnung! I know next to nothing about opera, I can only say that when the chorus of prisoners and orchestra came together in @Opera_North‘s Fidelio, under the beautiful lighting of @LeedsTownHall, I got full-body tingles. Those strings? Thrilling. #ONFidelio #BizGoesNorth
— John Bizzell (@John_Bizzell) June 9, 2021
Magnificent singing and playing. Great that the men of the chorus waited till the second half to come on and the women had to wait till almost the end. Also Fernando only sang right at the end. They were all worth waiting for. Beetheaven
— 💙 Pat Brown 🇳🇵 (@PatAlexTea) June 9, 2021
@Opera_North are back! We left Leeds Town Hall 2 hours ago, and I’m still on a high. Wonderful music from soloists, orchestra, chorus, conductor. Oh yes… and Herr Beethoven.
— Andrew Martlew (@AndrewMartlew) June 9, 2021
From the moving introduction – is really 451 days since the last Opera we could see live? – to the stupendous finale, tonight’s performance was everything we’d hoped it would be. Welcome back!
— Richard Selfridge (@Databusting) June 9, 2021
It was joyous to see incredibly talented people doing what they love 🎶 @LeedsTownHall last night. https://t.co/JdKi6JIp4j
— Eve Roodhouse (@eveyroo) June 10, 2021
Breaking new ground with the explosive energy of Beethoven’s Fidelio tonight. The first music played in front of a live audience for 451 days. A very great privilege to be part of this moment. https://t.co/kJ9Ioeqr6l
— Paul Daniel (@pauldaniel321) June 9, 2021
Wonderful evening at Leeds Town Hall to see Opera North perform in front of a live audience for the first time in 15 months. A spectacular performance. Thank you @Opera_North @LeedsTownHall pic.twitter.com/J8il2d11Kb
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) June 12, 2021
Well @Opera_North you did not disappoint! Absolutely superb and thank you all very much! https://t.co/iipwqTMUpE pic.twitter.com/snOLZMKdCl
— ᴅʀ ᴊᴏɴᴀᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛᴜᴍᴍᴏɴꜱ (@JonathanTummons) June 12, 2021
.@Opera_North‘s #Fidelio was a wonderful introduction to German #opera. It’s lovely to hear the language sung so beautifully (Usually I listen to Rammstein 😅)
Great job too from @The_Lowry, who ran everything like a military operation to make audiences feel safe 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/z0JBdg2wow— Nicola Brierley (@_PlaystheThing) June 15, 2021
last seen live a week before lockdown so tonight’s @Opera_North Fidelio @The_Lowry was wonderful. Perfection of sound & diction in all the main player’s voices, powerful choruses, clear orchestra. We completely forgot the lack of staging. An emotional, lovely performance Thankyou
— Prof. Stephen Whittle OBE, PhD, DLaws, FAcSS, MA (@stephenwhittle) June 15, 2021
Thank you @Opera_North and @The_Lowry for a wonderful evening enjoying Beethoven’s only #opera Fidelio, inspired by a true story from the French Revolution (complete with badass female lead, Leonore)✨Such a joy to listen to an orchestra and singing live! If you can, do visit. pic.twitter.com/uRYveLoqjO
— Christine | The Fabulous Times (@The_Fab_Times) June 15, 2021
@raenicholls I cannot express how wonderful it felt to hear you and @Opera_North sing and play Fidelio tonight. I saw you outside and couldn’t speak from the tears of joy at hearing live music again. What a story of injustice and freedom and humanity – and at this time! Thank you
— Tom (@TomParnellMcr) June 15, 2021
Wow thank u @Opera_North 4 fantastic lockdown version of Fidelio @The_Lowry. Not like full fat version – missed the costumes and acting (performers could quite resist it at times 😀). Liked seeing the orchestra- who knew there were so many violins? A little step back to real life
— Hilary Salt (@RedActuary) June 15, 2021
Bravo @Opera_North @raenicholls @tobyspence @fflurwyn @OliverJohnston3 @brinsherratt @pauldaniel321, a tear or two dampened my mask last night at @RoyalNottingham. My first live music for 16 months, what a wonderful feeling of liberation. Thank you #ONFidelio! pic.twitter.com/H99LhWBEvy
— The Symphonist (@deeplyclassical) June 20, 2021
Oh @Opera_North that was so very emotional and joyous! So inspiring to see your skill conveying the drama even with pared-down production. Florestan’s “Got!” sitting up in his chair was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever seen in opera. A thousand thank yous. #ONFidelio
— Shuna Neave 🧬 (@ShunaNeave) June 19, 2021
My lockdown dream came true this eve when I finally got to sit in @RoyalNottingham to hear a LIVE orchestra. Whee-hee! Thank you @Opera_North and an outstanding cast; Toby Spence & @brinsherratt right here in Nottingham!! And some v overdue Beethoven. Bravo all.
— Geraldine McElearney (@gingersop) June 19, 2021
Loved every second of Fidelio tonight…our first live opera in 15 months. Glorious voices and the orchestra on superb form; thank you!
— Clare Wenham (@wenham_clare) June 19, 2021
First live entertainment for over a year. How I needed that. @Opera_North fantastic performance – so pure. @RoyalNottingham staff as usual so welcoming and helpful even when I was a few minutes late. I cried with joy during Fidelio. Thank you.
— Yvonne marceau (@YvonneMarceau) June 19, 2021
Really loved last night’s @Opera_North performance of Fidelio, such a powerful, joyful evening. @raenicholls and @fflurwyn were superb as was the always reliable @tobyspence and a very strong cast.
Looking forward to Rigoletto & Alcina next seasoon!— Steve Powell (@SteveBookz) June 20, 2021
