Highlights
All Performances
Little Singers
Opera North Early Years Programme
Suitable for 0 - 4 years
Sing songs, explore instruments, play games and have fun with music in our weekly sessions. Sessions aim to support the development and well-being of children under the age of 4 and their families through high-quality musical experiences and activities.
Led by a professional musician, all workshops introduce live singing and music-making in a fun and creative environment.
I love bringing my child; the space is beautiful and has a lovely atmosphere. It is brilliant that we have the chance to sing with a professional vocal artist. Coming to the sessions have given me more confidence to sing with my child at home.
— Little Singers parent
Book the Bring-Along-A-Baby Choir and get 1/3 off weekly workshops
Get 1/3 off one child ticket at any Little Singers (including Tinies Special) sessions from June 12 – July 17. To take advantage of this offer, please contact Box Office.
Follow our Little Singers playlist:
Bring-Along-A-Baby Choir
Suitable for adults with babies under 1 (or pre-walking).
This is a brand new opportunity for parents and babies under one to come along and enjoy all the fun of singing in a group. No singing experience is necessary, just a desire to join in and have a go. Come along and try it on Monday 12 June before signing up for the first block of four sessions.
Book the Bring-Along-A-Baby Choir and get 1/3 off weekly workshops
Get 1/3 off one child ticket at any Little Singers (including Tinies Special) sessions from 12 June – 17 July. To take advantage of this offer, please contact Box Office.
Little Singers: Tinies Special
Suitable for 0-1s. Based on Little Singers, these sessions are specially designed for parents and carers with babies under 1 (or pre-walking).
In them, you’ll sing lots of songs and play musical games with the babies, but the atmosphere will be calm and focussed on the sensory experience.
Book the Bring-Along-A-Baby Choir and get 1/3 off weekly workshops
Get 1/3 off one child ticket at any Little Singers (including Tinies Special) sessions from June 12 – July 17. To take advantage of this offer, please contact Box Office.
ONCC: Sea Shanties
Opera North Children’s Chorus perform as part of Aldeburgh's Bandstand on the Beach season
They will be singing songs on the theme of Sea Shanties, inspired by Benjamin Britten’s opera Billy Budd. This project is in collaboration with Snape Maltings.
The performance is free and open to all.
Little Big Sing
Suitable for 0-5s
A multi-sensory journey around the world, singing and dancing to music from different countries, alongside some of our favourite Little Singers songs.
With live instrumental music, lights and projections and a whole heap of fun included!
Orchestra of Opera North: Dreams and Visions
Part of Ryedale Festival 2017
Jamie Phillips (conductor)
Pavel Kolesnikov (piano)
Yorkshire’s very own symphony orchestra, the Orchestra of Opera North, prepare to delight with spellbinding music by Engelbert Humperdinck, Rachmaninov and conclude with what is arguably Berlioz’s most famous composition, his Symphonie Fantastique.
The concert begins with Engelbert Humperdinck’s most loved fairy tale creation: Hansel and Gretel. This playful overture will capture the hearts and imaginations of young and old alike and weaves the beautiful melodies prevalent throughout this enchanting opera.
The quick-fingered skills of award-winning pianist Pavel Kolesnikov will be put to good use as the Orchestra perform Rachmaninov’s iconic Variations on a theme of Paganini. Instantly recognisable from the very first note, to its sumptuous Rhapsody, revel in the beautiful twists, turns and clever decorations of the phrasing. One minute this piece sends shivers down your spine and then explodes into heart-bursting, full-bodied ecstasy – it’s what the hairs on the back of your neck were made for.
We conclude the evening with Berlioz’s ‘revolutionary masterpiece’: Symphonie Fantastique. Depicting the story of a gifted artist plunged into the depths of despair by the perils of unrequited love, the music’s scene-painting ability is stunning. Flowing between racing melodies, melancholic moments and hurtling towards a dramatic finish fit to raise the dead - it proves the course of true love never did run smooth.
Programme
| Humperdinck | Hansel and Gretel overture |
| Rachmaninov | Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini |
| Berlioz | Symphonie Fantastique |
Sounds of Palestine: Nai Barghouti | Mohamed Najem & Friends
27 Jul 2017
Leeds
Howard Assembly Room
Sounds of Palestine: Nai Barghouti | Mohamed Najem & Friends
Moving seamlessly between Arabic music and jazz, two of the most exciting musicians to emerge from the cultural renaissance in Palestine take to the stage.
Nai Barghouti recently toured with the Palestine Youth Orchestra, selling out concert halls from Glasgow to London. She returns with her band of musicians from Palestine, Korea, Tunisia and Nigeria.
She’s followed by favourites of the Paris jazz scene, Mohamed Najem & Friends. Featuring traditional Arabic instruments alongside standard jazz line-ups, both groups move effortlessly between the music of the Middle East and Jazz, to find a new musical language.
All artists are donating part of their fee to the UNICEF efforts in Syria. For more information, please contact NiNi Productions: info@niniproductions.co.uk
The Symphonic Sounds of Back to Basics: with the Orchestra of Opera North
28 Jul 2017
Leeds
Millennium Square
The Symphonic Sounds of Back to Basics: with the Orchestra of Opera North
Part of Millennium Square Summer Series
Back to Basics celebrates an incredible 25 years at the forefront of UK club culture with a spectacular outdoor celebration in the heart of Leeds at Millennium Square.
Together with Leeds' own symphony orchestra, Back To Basics founder Dave Beer, in partnership with Leeds City Council, is preparing to stage the greatest party yet. Huge dancefloor anthems are reworked and performed live by a 50-piece orchestra, together with live vocalists and some very special guests to be announced.
Since its inception in the early 90s, Back to Basics has blazed a trail for the Leeds club scene and for this concert in collaboration with Leeds City Council they’ll be pulling out all the stops. The Symphonic Sounds of Back To Basics marks the first collaboration between the promoter and the Orchestra of Opera North, as two contrasting Leeds-based music institutions come together to celebrate the full range of the city’s sensational musical offering.
| DJ sets | 7.15pm |
| Event starts | 8.30pm |
| DJ set (interval) | 9.15-9.45pm |
| Event ends | 10.30pm |
Additional information
Approximately 3 hour 15 minutes (includes concert and two 30 minute DJ sets). Suitable for ages 14+. Standing tickets only.
Weekend Passes
Weekend Passes are available from the box office: (0113) 376 0318
A Night at the Opera: with the Orchestra of Opera North
29 Jul 2017
Leeds
Millennium Square
A Night at the Opera: with the Orchestra of Opera North
Part of Millennium Square Summer Series
Opera North dazzles with music from opera and the stage in an open-air summer celebration in the heart of Leeds at Millennium Square.
Performing some of the finest operatic arias and show-stopping songs from the musicals – and including exclusive previews from Opera North’s upcoming season at Leeds Grand Theatre - the Orchestra of Opera North will serve up a feast of classic masterpieces, lesser-known delights and toe-tapping numbers.
Joining the orchestra are Opera North luminaries Quirijn de Lang (Cinderella, Kiss, Me Kate, The Marriage of Figaro) and Jeni Bern (Kiss, Me Kate, The Ring, La Bohème, The Marriage of Figaro), who will be on hand to enchant with instantly-recognisable arias from Puccini’s heart-breaking Madama Butterfly and Mozart’s towering Don Giovanni, among other greats from the operatic canon.
The Golden Age of Musicals is represented by sparkling selections from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s much-loved Carousel, Cole Porter’s sizzling comedy Kiss Me, Kate and more. With street food, craft beer and wines from the very best local suppliers this summer evening is guaranteed to leave you feeling positively ‘WUNDERBAR’!
The playing of the Opera North orchestra is so darn hot it’s practically a fire-risk.
— The Guardian on Kiss Me, Kate
de Lang has a magnetic presence and the mahogany-toned voice is focused and used to compelling effect.
— Opera Britannia
You’d search long and hard to find a stronger vocal duo than Quirijn de Lang’s sardonic matinee idol of a Fred Graham sparring with Jeni Bern’s glamorously volatile Lilli Vanessi.
— The Stage
Additional Information
Gates open at 6pm
Weekend Passes
Weekend Passes are available from the box office: (0113) 376 0318
£40 VIP Seats
VIP Package includes: Prime seat location / Complimentary prosecco and programme on arrival / Exclusive access to the bar in Civic Hall / Complimentary tea and coffee served in Civic Hall / Exclusive use of the washroom facilities at Civic Hall / VIP Lanyard
Back to the Future: In Concert with the Orchestra of Opera North
30 Jul 2017
Leeds
Millennium Square
Back to the Future: In Concert with the Orchestra of Opera North
Part of Millennium Square Summer Series
Power up your DeLorean… recharge your flux capacitor… and get ready to celebrate this unforgettable movie classic as you’ve never seen and heard it before!
Back to the Future, staring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover, is the 1.21-gigawatt blockbuster that topped the 1985 box office chart, spawned two wildly successful sequels and stamped an enduring imprint on pop culture.
In this time-traveling coming-of-age story, Marty McFly (Fox) suddenly finds himself transported back to 1955… where he struggles to change the destiny of his parents (Thompson, Glover), rescue an eccentric friend (Lloyd) from terrorists, and solve an alternative-plutonium crisis… all while trying to ensure he has a future to get back to!
Now, fans old and new will experience the thrill of Back to the Future like never before – on a big hi-def screen with a full symphony orchestra performing Alan Silvestri’s dazzling musical score live in synch with the movie.
Audiences will also be in for an exclusive treat: approximately twenty minutes of brand new music added by award-winning composer Silvestri to the film's score especially for these unique live orchestra presentations.
Additional Information
Gates open at 4pm
Weekend Passes
Weekend Passes are available from the box office: (0113) 376 0318
£30 VIP Seats
VIP Package includes: Prime seat location / Exclusive access to the bar in Civic Hall / Complimentary tea and coffee served in Civic Hall / Exclusive use of the washroom facilities at Civic Hall / VIP Lanyard
Back to the Future is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios and U-Drive Joint Venture. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
The joyous and uplifting musical voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, referred to by Nelson Mandela as ‘South Africa’s cultural ambassadors’, marry the intricate rhythms and harmonies of Zulu traditions to the sounds and sentiments of gospel music.
The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience ever since Paul Simon first worked with them in his 1986 Graceland album. The group combine powerful choruses and softer, almost whispering chants where voices blend harmoniously, with tightly-choreographed dance moves.
Early booking strongly recommended.
Though they sing entirely a cappella, their songs have a rhythmic spring, and their dance moves are light-footed and elegant
Daily Telegraph
Little Listeners
Players from Opera North's renowned symphony orchestra create a specially designed concert for parents, carers and children.
Relaxed and full of energy, this interactive concert will give you and your child the chance to hear wonderful music close up, move around with the music and even join in with songs.
Suitable for 0-5 years