Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Joanna Parker

Annabel Arden’s production provides joyous comedy, with vocal and orchestral performances of the very finest.

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman, directed by Annabel Arden, conjures up frightening storms and links the production to the plight of asylum seekers. 

Directed by Matthew Eberhardt and conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, this semi-staging of Bizet's opera is well worth experiencing, despite its weak plot. 

Michael Chance takes the audience around The Grange in a thoughtful show combining opera excerpts, dance, acrobats, vocal and instrumental music.

Cast changes and a revival director who sharpens up the action make all the difference to this revival of Rossini's *Barber of Seville* in Glyndebourne's opening weekend. 

Opera North's Aida, directed by Annabel Arden and conducted by Sir Richard Armstrong in Leeds Town Hall, is a welcome radical interpretation in the spirit of the times. 

Sex and violence bubbles beneath the surface in this near-faultless staging of Carmen. 

Annabel Arden's new production, although decently sung and visually striking, is seriously under-directed, allowing forced acting to blunt the humour.

Opera North's Andrea Chénier at Leeds Grand Theatre directed by Annabel Arden is full of modern relevance and a fine start to the new season

Si le dispositif semi-scénique d'Annabel Arden convainc à moitié, la direction musicale et la distribution (avec Sunyoung Seo dans le rôle-titre) valent le détour.