Opera North returns to Leeds Grand Theatre
With Opera North returning to Leeds Grand Theatre in less than a month, several members of the company’s Chorus are preparing to take on named roles in this season’s productions. They told us more about the characters they are playing and the three operas currently in rehearsal.
Written by Elizabeth Simmonds
Mozart’s final opera
Opening the season is The Magic Flute, Mozart’s stunning final opera before his untimely death at the age of 35. It tells the tale of Prince Tamino who sets out to rescue Princess Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, from the clutches of her father, the Priest of the Sun. Joining Tamino for his quest is the Queen of the Night’s bird-catcher Papageno. Soprano Pasquale Orchard is playing Papagena, the girl who wins Papageno’s heart: “Once Papageno has endured multiple gruelling trials to prove he is worthy of his one true love, Papagena is revealed. They both fall instantly in love with each other and immediately start planning a big, BIG family!”
Pasquale has a personal reason for loving the opera so much: “The Magic Flute was the first opera I ever saw, so the piece has always held an incredibly special place in my heart. I am extremely excited to be part of the show that sparked my operatic journey.”
Laura Kelly-McInroy as Suzy Kathryn Sharpe as Bianca and Pasquale Orchard as Yvette with other cast members in Opera North's La Rondine. Photo credit Tristram.
Britten’s Shakespeare
Molly Barker as Countess Ceprano in Opera Norths production of Verdis Rigoletto. Photo credit Clive Barda.
Her excitement is shared by Molly Barker who will be appearing as Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, in Benjamin Britten’s retelling of Shakespeare’s much-loved A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She makes her grand entrance in Act 3 when the scene is set for her wedding to Theseus: “As a huge fan of Greek Mythology, I am so looking forward to playing the role of legendary warrior queen Hippolyta who is mostly there to roll her eyes and poke fun at the shambles of a play being performed for the wedding entertainment. I think it will be a lot of fun and very empowering.”
Molly has been a big fan of dressing up since childhood, so she is delighted by the Costume Designer’s “absolutely stunning costume, which is 99% sparkles!”.
A gothic classic
For Amy Freston, it is a case of revisiting a much-loved character, as she reprises a role she last sang 13 years ago in Gilbert & Sullivan’s gothic romp Ruddigore, the story of the hapless inheritor of an age-old curse and his ghostly ancestors. Amy says: “I’m playing Rose Maybud, the main female role in the opera and one of the main protagonists for the various romantic stories that develop and come unstuck, with seemingly endless outcomes! I am so excited to be doing Ruddigore again.”
Like Molly, Amy is also struck by what the designers have achieved: “It is one of the most beautiful and classy productions I have ever been in – like an old sepia photograph from the 1920s.”
Amy Freston as Rose Maybud and Grant Doyle as Robin Oakapple. Photo credit Robert Workman.
How do you pick?
For anyone unsure which opera to choose, Pasquale is keen to point out the power and beauty of Mozart’s music which, for her, makes The Magic Flute a surefire winner: “The music in The Magic Flute is phenomenal in this nuanced and heartwarming fairytale-like story. Truly a great opera for the whole family to enjoy!”.
Molly argues for A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “One of Shakespeare’s best and most beloved comedies combined with Benjamin Britten’s mastery of storytelling and bewitching musicality creates an unmissable masterpiece. If that doesn’t do it for you, then it also offers fairies, folklore, the supernatural, love, magic, mythology, and a man with the head of a donkey. Surely, that’s something for everyone!”.
That leaves Ruddigore which Amy champions by telling us: “This opera is full of brilliantly dynamic and eccentric characters, and wonderfully clever theatrical devices, the combination of which make for a truly magical night at the theatre. It is full of joy and laughter, and silliness: the perfect escape from the rigours of everyday life. I really think it is one of the best productions I’ve ever been in, and I would urge anyone to come and see it. It’s an exceptional production, and, above all, fun!”
Whatever your choice, if this is your first time at the opera, you can take advantage of two superb Try It ON seats in the stalls for just £20 each. Under 30s and full-time students can grab a ticket for £10, while 16 to 20-year-olds come for free.
The season opens on Friday 27 September with The Magic Flute and closes with Ruddigore on Saturday 2 November. Remember to keep an eye out for Pascale, Molly and Amy when you’re there!
Production image from The Magic Flue. Credit: Alastair Muir.
A production image from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Credit: Tristram Kenton.
Opera that’s right up your street
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