Crowd-pleasing, yet provocative: Opera North's new Carmen

By Richard Wilcocks, 03 October 2021

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“Phillip Rhodes ruled the stage as Escamillo, more of a rodeo star than a toreador”

Reviewed at Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds on 2 October 2021

Bizet, Carmen

Opera North

Garry Walker, Conductor

Edward Dick, Director

Colin Richmond, Set Designer

Laura Hopkins, Costume Designer

Rick Fisher, Lighting Designer

Chrystal E Williams, Carmen

Erin Caves, Don José

Camila Titinger, Micaëla

Phillip Rhodes, Escamillo

Amy Freston, Frasquita

Helen Évora, Mercédès

Stuart Laing, Le Remendado

Dean Robinson, Le Dancaïre

Christopher Nairne, Moralès

Matthew Stiff, Zuniga

Nando Messias, Lillas Pastia

Orchestra of Opera North

Lea Anderson, Choreography

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.