- Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1978–79 to 1980–81
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Opera North is an opera company based at The Grand Theatre, Leeds. This article covers its establishment and early years.
Contents
History
On March 10th, 1976, at a reception at Harewood House, a plan to make the Grand Theatre a northern home for English National Opera (ENO) was unveiled. The Arts Council of Great Britain was prepared to back the scheme, provided that the local authorities in the area would also contribute funding. With Leeds City Council in the lead, sufficient funds were forthcoming, although there was some slippage in the proposed timetable. English National Opera North (ENON) was established in late 1977, with Lord Harewood as Managing Director and Graham Marchant as General Administrator. Its first performance (of Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila) was given on 15 November 1978. The opera was conducted by the founding Music Director of the company, David Lloyd-Jones.[1]
In the inaugural 1978-9 season, 11 operas were performed. Six were new productions, four of them directed by Patrick Libby, ENON's Director of Productions. The remaining five productions comprised one from Scottish Opera (Colin Graham's Peter Grimes) and four from ENO. Before the end of the season, the company toured The Marriage of Figaro to Barnsley, Scarborough and Darlington.
1979-80 saw two more Libby productions (one of them the rarely-performed A Village Romeo and Juliet by Frederick Delius who was born in Bradford), six, including Richard Rodney Bennett's The Mines of Sulphur, borrowed from ENO, one revival from 1978-9, Wendy Toye's new The Merry Widow and Steven Pimlott's spectacular new Nabucco. Libby's Rigoletto was played in a tent in Sheffield as well as at the company's regular venues in Newcastle, Salford and Nottingham.
Most productions during this period were conducted by Lloyd-Jones. Clive Timms, Opera North's Head of Music, and John Pryce-Jones, Chorus Master, also conducted, with Elgar Howarth, Gabriele Bellini and David Parry as guest conductors. A stalwart of ENO, Robert Ferguson, sang many of the leading tenor roles, frequently with John Rawnsley and/or Stuart Harling (baritones) and John Tranter (bass). Guest singers included Josephine Veasey, Ann Murray, Elizabeth Harwood, Della Jones, Elizabeth Vaughan, Joan Carden, Felicity Palmer, Graham Clark, David Hillman, Peter Glossop, Forbes Robinson, Derek Hammond-Stroud and Norman Bailey. Another special guest, in the non-singing role of Frosch in Die Fledermaus, was Clive Dunn of Dad's Army fame.
As well as performing during this period at its regular venues, the company also visited Dortmund (with Peter Grimes), Glasgow (with Nabucco and Carmen) and Buxton.
At the end of the 1981 season, English National Opera North changed its name to Opera North and became an independent entity.
Repertoire
Below is a list of main stage[2] operas performed by the company during the period when it was known as English National Opera North.
Season Opera[3] Composer Principal cast Conductor Director Designer[4] 1978–79 Samson et Dalila Saint-Saëns Gilbert Py (Samson), Katherine Pring (Dalila), John Rawnsley (High Priest) David Lloyd-Jones Patrick Libby John Stoddart 1978–79 Les mamelles de
Tirésias[5]Poulenc Joy Roberts (Thérèse), Stuart Harling (The Husband) Clive Timms John Copley Robin Don 1978–79 Dido and Aeneas[6] Purcell Ann Murray (Dido), Sandra Dugdale (Belinda), Ian Caddy (Aeneas) Clive Timms Ian Watt‑Smith Alexander McPherson 1978–79 La bohème Puccini Robert Ferguson (Rodolfo), Eilene Hannan (Mimi), John Rawnsley (Marcello), Margaret Haggart (Musetta) David Lloyd‑Jones/
Clive TimmsPatrick Libby Margaret Harris 1978–79 Orpheus in the
UnderworldOffenbach Peter Jeffes (Orpheus), Sandra Dugdale (Euridice), Eric Shilling/Thomas Lawlor (Jupiter), Bonaventura Bottone (John Styx) Clive Timms Wendy Toye Malcolm Pride 1978–79 The Magic Flute Mozart Robert Ferguson (Tamino), Eiddwen Harrhy (Pamina), Stuart Harling (Papageno), Don Garrard/John Tranter (Sarastro), Margaret Haggart/Iris Saunders (Queen of the Night) David Lloyd-Jones Anthony Besch John Stoddart 1978–79 Hänsel und Gretel Humperdinck Claire Powell (Hansel), Elizabeth Gale (Gretel), Ann Howard (Witch) David Lloyd-Jones Patrick Libby Adam Pollock 1978–79 Die Fledermaus J Strauss Nigel Douglas (Eisenstein), Sheila Armstrong (Rosalinda), Joy Roberts (Adele), Ramon Remedios (Alfredo) David Parry Patrick Libby Jane Kingshill 1978–79 Peter Grimes Britten Robert Ferguson (Grimes), Ava June (Ellen Orford), Geoffrey Chard (Balstrode) David Lloyd-Jones Colin Graham Alix Stone 1978–79 The Marriage of Figaro Mozart Marie McLaughlin (Cherubino) Paul Hudson (Figaro), Joy Roberts (Susanna), Stuart Harling (Count), Eiddwen Harrhy (Countess), David Lloyd-Jones/
John Pryce-JonesPatrick Libby Robin Don 1978–79 La traviata Verdi Christian du Plessis (Germont) Lois McDonall (Violetta), Ryland Davies (Alfredo),Clive Timms John Copley David Walker 1979–80 Rigoletto Verdi John Rawnsley/Michael Lewis (Rigoletto), Michael Renier/Robert Ferguson (Duke), Joy Roberts/Margaret Neville (Gilda) John Pryce-Jones/
Clive TimmsPatrick Libby Maria Björnson 1979–80 Tosca Puccini Elizabeth Vaughan (Tosca), Kenneth Collins (Cavaradossi), Geoffrey Chard (Scarpia) David Lloyd-Jones Steven Pimlott Margaret Harris 1979–80 The Flying Dutchman Wagner Peter Glossop (The Dutchman), Arlene Saunders (Senta), Paul Hudson (Daland), Robert Ferguson (Erik) David Lloyd-Jones Basil Coleman Robin Don 1979–80 The Merry Widow Lehár Elizabeth Harwood (Hanna Glawari), David Hillman (Danilo), Bente Marcussen (Valencienne), Adrian Martin (Camille), Thomas Lawlor (Baron Zeta) David Lloyd-Jones/
John Pryce-JonesWendy Toye Bob Ringwood 1979–80 Hänsel und Gretel Humperdinck Fiona Kimm (Hansel), Kate Flowers (Gretel), Ann Howard (Witch) David Parry Revival of 1978–9 production 1979–80 Carmen Bizet Gillian Knight/Ann Howard (Carmen), Robert Ferguson (Don José), Michael Lewis (Escamillo), Joy Roberts (Micaela) Clive Timms John Copley Stefanos Lazaridis 1979–80 Der Rosenkavalier R Strauss Lois McDonall (The Marschallin), Eiddwen Harrhy (Octavian), Laureen Livingstone (Sophie), Dennis Wicks (Baron Ochs) David Lloyd-Jones John Copley David Walker 1979–80 The Mines of Sulphur Bennett Fiona Kimm (Rosalind), Robert Ferguson (Bocconnion, Eric Garrett (Sherrin), Sally Burgess (Jenny), John Fryatt (Trim) Clive Timms Colin Graham Alix Stone 1979–80 Nabucco Verdi Ludmilla Andrew (Abigaille), Camillo Meghor (Nabucco), John Tranter (Zaccaria) Elgar Howarth Steven Pimlott Stefanos Lazaridis 1979–80 A Village Romeo
and JulietDelius Adrian Martin (Sali), Laureen Livingstone (Vrenchen), Stuart Harling (The Dark Fiddler) David Lloyd-Jones Patrick Libby John Fraser 1979–80 Le Comte Ory Rossini Della Jones (Isolier), Russell Smythe (Raimbaud), Paul Hudson (Ory's Tutor) Graham Clark (Count Ory), Eiddwen Harrhy (Countess Adèle),David Lloyd-Jones Anthony Besch Peter Rice 1980–81 Jenůfa Janáček Lorna Haywood (Jenůfa), Margaret Kingsley (Kostelnička), Robert Ferguson (Laca), Philip Mills (Števa) David Lloyd-Jones David Pountney Maria Björnson 1980–81 L'elisir d'amore Donizetti Forbes Robinson (Dulcamara), Richard Jackson (Belcore) Lillian Watson (Adina), Ryland Davies (Nemorino),Clive Timms Michael Geliot Michael Beaven 1980–81 La traviata Verdi Elizabeth Vaughan (Violetta), Franco Bonanome (Alfredo), Michael Lewis (Germont) Gabrielle Bellini Revival of 1978–9 production 1980–81 The Merry Widow Lehár Elizabeth Robson (Hanna Glawari), Christopher Booth-Jones (Danilo), Eirian James (Valencienne), Arthur Davies (Camille), Thomas Lawlor (Baron Zeta) David Lloyd-Jones Revival of 1979–80 production 1980–81 The Tales of Hoffmann Offenbach Norman Bailey (Lindorf, Coppelius, Dr Miracle, Dapertutto) David Hillman (Hoffmann), Joan Carden (Olympia, Antonia, Giulietta, Stella),David Lloyd-Jones Anthony Besch John Stoddart 1980–81 La bohème Puccini Robert Ferguson (Rodolfo), Sally Burgess (Mimi), Terence Sharpe (Marcello), Bente Marcussen (Musetta) Clive Timms Revival of 1978–9 production 1980–81 Oedipus rex[7] Stravinsky Josephine Veasey (Jocasta), Hugh-Nigel Sheehan (Creon), John Tranter (Tiresias) Robert Ferguson (Oedipus),David Lloyd-Jones Patrick Libby Stefanos Lazaridis 1980–81 Les mamelles de
Tirésias[8]Poulenc Kate Flowers (Thérèse), Stuart Harling (The Husband) Clive Timms Revival of 1978–9 production 1980–81 Tosca Puccini Elizabeth Vaughan (Tosca), Kenneth Collins (Cavaradossi), Geoffrey Chard (Scarpia) David Lloyd-Jones Revival of 1979–80 production 1980–81 The Magic Flute Mozart Adrian Martin (Tamino), Helen Walker (Pamina), Michael Lewis (Papageno), John Tranter (Sarastro), Margaret Haggart (Queen of the Night) David Lloyd-Jones Revival of 1978–9 production 1980–81 Don Giovanni Mozart Felicity Palmer (Donna Elvira), Michael Rippon (Leporello), Robin Leggate (Don Ottavio) Tom McDonnell (Don Giovanni), Elizabeth Robson (Donna Anna),David Lloyd-Jones David Pountney Maria Björnson 1980–81 The Barber of Seville Rossini Derek Hammond-Stroud (Dr Bartolo) Michael Lewis (Figaro), Della Jones (Rosina), John Brecknock (Almaviva),John Pryce-Jones Patrick Libby Frances Tempest/
Steve Addison1980–81 Der Freischütz Weber Robert Ferguson (Max), Sally Burgess/Bente Marcussen (Agathe), Malcolm Rivers (Caspar), Sandra Dugdale (Aennchen) Clive Timms Steven Pimlott John Fraser Source
- Leeks, Stuart (ed) (2003). Opera North @ 25. Leeds: Opera North.
References
- ^ Leeds Classical Music: English National Opera North
- ^ "Main stage" means operas performed at Leeds Grand Theatre and a number of touring venues; small-scale productions are not included. Semi-staged concert performances at Leeds Town Hall and other similar venues are included, but concert performances without any staging are not.
- ^ Titles in Bold are new productions. Unbolded titles that are not revivals of Opera North productions are productions that originated at English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Opera titles are the titles used in Wikipedia articles and not necessarily those used by Opera North.
- ^ Where two designers are credited, the first-named designed the set and the second designed the costumes
- ^ Performed as a double-bill with Dido and Aeneas
- ^ Performed as a double-bill with Les mamelles de Tirésias
- ^ Performed as a double-bill with Les mamelles de Tirésias
- ^ Performed as a double-bill with Oedipus rex
See also
Categories:- Opera North
- Opera-related lists
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