La rondine: a feast of lyricism and nostalgic sentimentality

Galina Averina (Magda) and Claire Lees (Lisette)

Galina Averina (Magda) and ensemble

Sébastien Guèze (Ruggero) and Galina Averina (Magda)

Claire Lees (Lisette) and Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Prunier)

By Richard Wilcocks, 22 October 2023

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“soprano Galina Averina, making her Opera North debut, was terrific as Magda”

Reviewed at Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds on 20 October 2023

Puccini, La rondine

Opera North

Kerem Hasan, Conductor

James Hurley, Director

Leslie Travers, Set Designer

Gabrielle Dalton, Costume Designer

Paule Constable, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of Opera North

Chorus of Opera North

Galina Averina, Magda

Claire Lees, Lisette

Sébastien Guèze, Ruggero

Elgan Llŷr Thomas, Prunier

Philip Smith, Rambaldo

Pasquale Orchard, Yvette

Kathryn Sharpe, Bianca

Laura Kelly-McInroy, Suzy

Ross McInroy, Périchaud

Satriya Krisna, Gobin

Paul Gibson, Crébillon

Gillene Butterfield, A voice

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.

La rondine: a feast of lyricism and nostalgic sentimentality from Opera North