A radical approach to an operatic warhorse by Opera North

By Richard Wilcocks, 02 May 2019

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“hands caked in drying clay, a military epaulette, a mouth opening in pain”

Reviewed at Leeds Town Hall, Leeds on 1 May 2019

Verdi, Aida (Concert Staging)

Opera North

Sir Richard Armstrong, Conductor

Annabel Arden, Director

Joanna Parker, Set Designer, Costume Designer, Video

Alexandra Zabala, Aida

Rafael Rojas, Radamès

Eric Greene, Amonasro

Alessandra Volpe, Amneris

Petri Lindroos, Ramfis

Michael Druiett, King of Egypt

Lorna James, Priestess

Warren Gillespie, A messenger

Orchestra of Opera North

Chorus of Opera North

John Findon triumphs in the return of Opera North’s Peter Grimes

Richard Wilcocks, 13th February

Benjamin Britten’s dark masterpiece Peter Grimes returns triumphantly to Opera North, conducted by Gary Walker and revived by Karolina Sofulak and Tim Claydon.

*****

Opera North’s Susanna: how a woman stood up to her abusers

Richard Wilcocks, 4th October

Handel's oratorio is staged by Olivia Fuchs and conducted by Johanna Soller in Opera North's latest successful collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre.

****1

To be or not to be: Hamlet returns to the Buxton Festival

Mark Pullinger, 16th July

After 45 years, Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet returns to Buxton in a gripping, psychological staging by Jack Furness.

****1

Opera North’s “fleeing” Dutchman links to plight of asylum seekers

Richard Wilcocks, 1st February

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

****1

Opera North’s gleeful Magic Flute revived

Richard Wilcocks, 27th September

Conducted by Christoph Konz and directed by James Brining, Opera North’s revival of The Magic Flute remains an inventive reinterpretation of Mozart’s classic opera.

****1

Richard Wilcocks, 15th February

Opera North's revives its Cavalleria rusticana production by Karolina Sofulak, pairing it this time with Rachmaninov's early opera Aleko.

****1

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Richard Wilcocks

Richard Wilcocks has worked as a journalist, as a teacher and for the British Council. He sings bass with Leeds Festival Chorus.

Aida in Leeds: a radical approach to an operatic warhorse by Opera North