As lockdown continues to impact live performance, Opera North has announced a range productions to entertain viewers at home.
Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck)
The camera goes behind-the-scenes during the recording of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice for BBC Radio 3's Opera on 3. The performance took place behind closed doors at Leeds Town Hall due to the pandemic, with Laurence Cummings conducting the Orchestra of Opera North and a cast including Paula Murrihy, Fflur Wyn and Daisy Brown.
Fidelio (Beethoven)
Available until 8 April 2022, this concert staging of Beethoven's only opera was originally live-streamed in December from Leeds Town Hall. Conducted by Mark Wigglesworth with a 33-piece orchestra and 24-strong chorus, the cast includes Rachel Nicholls, Toby Spence, Robert Hayward and Brindley Sherratt.
The Whitehall Road Sessions
These chamber concerts feature soloists and small ensembles and are live-streamed on a Thursday on YouTube and ONDemand from Opera North's rehearsal studio at Whitehall Road in Leeds. The first two included repertoire from Schubert and Debussy, as well as a guest appearance by South Asian multi-instrumentalist Vijay Venkat playing the venu (a Hindustani classical flute).
Orpheus in the Record Shop
Inspired by the ancient Greek myth, rapper and playwright Testament fuses spoken word and beatboxing with a score performed by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North. Originally performed during Connecting Voices at Leeds Playhouse, it has been reworked for film by Alex Ramseyer-Bache and James Brining as part of the BBC Lights Up season.
Kirklees Concert Season: Bach and Mozart Concertos
The Orchestra of Opera North is joined by pianist Ian Buckle in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14 and violinist Jack Liebeck in Bach’s Double Violin Concerto.