Three green operas, hanging by a thread
OperaOpera North, part of a sector under attack from Arts Council England, has announced its next season:
Opera North today announces seven productions for Autumn 2023 and Winter 2024, including the company’s first full sustainable season of three operas designed to minimise environmental impact:
Falstaff: a new production opens the Green Season. Directed by Jo Davies, conducted by Garry Walker and with Henry Waddington in the title role.
Masque of Might: the world premiere of a new piece created by Sir David Pountney who has adapted Henry Purcell’s music to create a contemporary satire, billed as an ‘eco-entertainment’. Harry Bicket conducts a cast including Andri Björn Róbertsson and Anna Dennis.
La rondine: a new production completes the Green Season. Directed by James Hurley, conducted by Kerem Hasan and with a cast including Galina Averina, Claire Lees, Sébastien Guèze and Elgan Llŷr Thomas.
Albert Herring: a revival of Giles Havergal’s production of Britten’s comedy opens Winter 2024. Performed in the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds with Dame Josephine Barstow as Lady Billows, it will also be filmed and streamed online for free in partnership with OperaVision.
Così fan tutte: Tim Albery’s production returns with Alexandra Lowe as Fiordiligi and Heather Lowe as Dorabella, alongside Anthony Gregory. Conductors Chloe Rooke and Clemens Schuldt make their Opera North debuts.
Cavalleria rusticana/ Aleko: a double-bill pairing a revival of Mascagni’s short opera with a new production of Rachmaninov’s rarely performed piece. Karolina Sofulak directs both works, which will be conducted by Principal Guest Conductor Antony Hermus.
Perhaps Opera North could consider the most effective way to “minimize environmental impact”: forego doing the productions altogether.
The Opera North season doesn’t sound very inspiring. Sadly, the recent Tosca was sold out, so I missed it – they need to do longer runs of the popular stuff. Also, please stop modern dress performances – audiences hate it!