Opera North’s repertoire for the year ahead which sees the Company bringing seven operatic titles to the stage, is a clear indicator of its financial and artistic strength.
Audiences can look forward to a compelling selection of powerful operas exploring the human condition and igniting conversation through amazing stories and some of the most thrilling music ever written.
Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North:
“This year, we’re taking our audiences on a journey across the world with operas from Russia, Italy, Austria, the UK, America, Germany and India. Different cultures come together and inform each other, from Femi Elufowoju Jr’s Rigoletto where Verdi’s jester is reimagined as a marginalised Black man othered by the society around him, to Orpheus, Jasdeep Singh Degun’s sensitive reworking of Monteverdi’s Orfeo into a mesmerising blend of Indian classical music and western baroque.
Fate has a large role to play in many operas and never more so than in the ones we have coming up this year. From Eugene Onegin to Orpheus, we will meet fascinating characters either trying desperately to avoid their fate or, as in the case of Tristan and Isolde and Joseph De Rocher, only finding true release when they accept it. Convicted killer De Rocher is, of course, the protagonist in Jake Heggie’s contemporary opera, Dead Man Walking. Annilese Miskimmon’s Olivier-nominated production of this crucially important work opens in Leeds this year. For the first time, audiences across the region can look forward to its thought-provoking narrative as our touring programme continues to ensure communities throughout the north of England and further afield can access the best opera and performance on their doorstep.
Joining our talented Chorus over the coming months will be some of the finest artists on the international stage today, most of whom will be making their Opera North debuts. We are thrilled to have Blake Denson taking on the role of Rigoletto and to welcome Christine Rice, who will be reprising the role of Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking after her acclaimed performances at ENO. We are also delighted to be bringing some conductors who are new to Opera North to the podium, including Ben Glassberg, who will conduct Dead Man Walking, and Ryan Wigglesworth, who will join us as part of the Kirklees Concert Season.
The concerts in Huddersfield and Dewsbury will provide their customary symphonic showcase for our full-time Orchestra which has earned an enviable reputation for its flexibility and prowess, both in the theatre pit and in the concert hall. This year, there is an opportunity to hear our musicians play the Home Alone score live in Leeds and Bradford alongside a screening of the film. Whether that proves to be someone’s first experience of live orchestral music or whether they prefer to join us at a classic opera, we can promise everyone memorable stories, engaging characters and music that tingles the spine. We believe in making opera vital for everyone, whether they are seasoned opera-goers or joining us for the first time.”
Package booking for the Opera North 2026-27 season opens on Tuesday 31 March, with booking for individual shows opening on Thursday 14 May. Over 300 tickets are available for £30 or less at every performance, including £10 tickets for Under 30s and a New to Opera discount offering first-timers two seats in the stalls for just £20 each. Following on from the success of the first ‘Pay what you can’ performance for newcomers to opera last year – an event which saw every seat taken in the Leeds Grand Theatre auditorium – the initiative will be repeated at Rigoletto, thanks to the generous support of the Laidlaw Opera Trust. Access remains key, with English subtitles at every opera performance; sign-interpreted, audio-described and relaxed options; and a range of start times to suit different lifestyles.
MEET THE RESILIENT WOMAN:
Eugene Onegin – Tchaikovsky NEW, A co-production with Irish National Opera and Opera Queensland
Creative team: Conductor Garry Walker; Director Patrick Nolan; Set Designer Leslie Travers; Costume Designer Elizabeth Gadsby; Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth; Choreographer Maxine Braham
Pushkin’s classic novel of love, regret and missed chances becomes even more heartbreaking when paired with Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable melodies. This new production of Eugene Onegin –Opera North’s first in over 20 years – will be sung in its original Russian with English titles. American baritone John Brancy takes on the role of the dashing, cynical Onegin, who casually rejects Tatyana (Verity Wingate), only to regret his actions many years later when she has married well and become the toast of fashionable society. This new production will be conducted by Opera North’s Music Director Garry Walker and directed by Opera Queensland’s Artistic Director Patrick Nolan. Completing a sextet of exciting Opera North debuts are Caspar Singh and Jingwen Cai as Lensky and Olga, Joshua Bloom as Prince Gremin and Florian Panzieri as Monsieur Triquet.
MEET THE JESTER:
Rigoletto – Verdi REVIVAL
Creative team: Conductor Patrick Lange; Director Femi Elufowoju Jr; Set and Costume Designer Rae Smith; Lighting Designer Howard Hudson; Choreographer Laïla Diallo
‘Packed theatre, unbelievably talented cast, stunning set, mind blowing orchestra. Moved to tears. Loved it, thanks so much!’ – First-time audience member at ‘Pay what you can’ La bohème
Having scooped the 2022 Southbank Sky Arts Opera Award, leading UK theatre director Femi Elufowoju Jr returns to Opera North to revive his gripping production of Rigoletto. While exploring the jester’s experience of being marginalised by the privileged few, Elufowoju Jr also remains true to the happiness Rigoletto finds in life with his daughter Gilda before a combination of bitterness and bravura get the better of him – with fatal consequences. Blake Denson makes his Opera North and role debut as Rigoletto, while Jasmine Habersham reprises her role as Gilda. Leonardo Sánchez sings the Duke of Mantua and Sir Willard White returns as Count Monterone, alongside Callum Thorpe as Sparafucile, Themba Mvula as Marullo and Thomas Elwin as Matteo Borsa.
Building on the success of the ‘Pay what you can’ performance of La bohème which saw 89 percent of tickets booked by people who had never been to an opera before, tickets for an additional Rigoletto performance will be offered on a ‘Pay what you can’ basis with support from the Laidlaw Opera Trust. A relaxed matinee for anyone who prefers a more informal theatre environment is also planned in Leeds on Wednesday 21 October.
MEET THE MISER:
A Christmas Carol – Will Todd NEW
Creative team: Conductor Garry Walker; Director PJ Harris; Set and Costume Designer Khadija Raza
Nothing says Christmas quite like Charles Dickens’ classic tale of mean-spirited businessman, Ebenezer Scrooge, and the ghostly visitations that come to haunt him one Christmas Eve, urging him to change his miserly ways while there is still time. This magical musical retelling by Will Todd and acclaimed playwright David Simpatico, takes Dickens’ original words and adds some extra festive sparkle by including variations on traditional Victorian carols. PJ Harris (Simon Boccanegra, 2025) directs Opera North’s new production, which is being designed specifically for the intimate surroundings of the Howard Assembly Room and will feature members of the Chorus of Opera North accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble.
MEET THE LIBERTINE:
Don Giovanni – Mozart REVIVAL
Creative team: Conductor Chloe Rooke; Director Alessandro Talevi; Set and Costume Designer Madeleine Boyd; Lighting Designer Matthew Haskins; Choreographer Victoria Newlyn
Charismatic and charming he may be, but Don Giovanni is also a ruthless womaniser, seducing over 1,000 women in Spain alone, as he travels across Europe. Alessandro Talevi’s eclectic production follows Don Giovanni through time and space, bringing fresh insights to Mozart’s darkest, craziest opera. Sparkling music, vivid characters and dramatic bite combine to create a work that is both endlessly entertaining and profoundly unsettling. Mark Stone returns to Opera North to take on the title role, with Sara Cortolezzis as Donna Anna, Alexandra Lowe as Donna Elvira, David Ireland as Leporello, Anthony Gregory as Don Ottavio, Thomas Chenhall as Masetto and Claire Lees as Zerlina. Following his Opera North debut earlier this year in Peter Grimes, Blaise Malaba sings Commendatore.
MEET THE COMPASSIONATE NUN:
Dead Man Walking – Jake Heggie NEW
A co-production with English National Opera and Finnish National Opera
Creative team: Conductor Ben Glassberg; Director Annilese Miskimmon; Set Designer Alex Eales; Costume Designer Evie Gurney; Lighting Designer D. M. Wood; Choreographer Imogen Knight
“It’s a real honour to be bringing Jake Heggie’s haunting contemporary masterpiece to life with our co-producer Opera North, following its premiere at English National Opera this past November. I am delighted that Christine Rice is reprising her stand-out role from the London performances, alongside new cast members Johannes Moore and Kate Royal. I am looking forward immensely to working with the wonderful technical and production team of the Company and with the renowned Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North, conducted by the very talented Ben Glassberg. It is a privilege to stage a work that speaks so urgently to our world today, and I hope audiences will find themselves challenged and moved by Sister Helen’s journey in all its complexity and humanity” – Annilese Miskimmon, ENO’s Artistic Director
This hard-hitting contemporary opera is based on the astonishing memoir by Sister Helen Prejean, documenting the impact of a decision she makes to bring spiritual succour to a death row prisoner at Louisiana State Penitentiary. Christine Rice makes her Opera North debut as Sister Helen alongside Johannes Moore who takes on the challenging role of indicted double murderer Joseph De Rocher, following his Opera North debut as Ned Keene in Peter Grimes. Making a welcome return to the Company is Kate Royal, who sings Mrs Patrick De Rocher, the distraught mother fondly reminiscing about her condemned son’s childhood. Both the libretto by acclaimed playwright Terrence McNally and Jake Heggie’s deeply affecting score ensure this powerful work continues to challenge and move all who see it.
MEET THE MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNER:
Orpheus – Monteverdi and Jasdeep Singh Degun NEW
In collaboration with SAA-uk
Creative team: Musical Directors Jasdeep Singh Degun and Ashok Gupta
Back for Spring 2027 is Jasdeep Singh Degun’s reimagining of Monteverdi’s Orfeo. Loved by audiences and critics alike when it was first performed by Opera North in 2022, the work won multiple awards, including Outstanding Achievement in Opera at the UK Theatre Awards and Best Stage Production at the Asian Media Awards. This new production places the South Asian and western baroque singers and musicians centre stage, focusing on the incredible musicality of the piece.
MEET THE LOVERS:
Tristan und Isolde – Wagner NEW
Creative team: Conductor Antony Hermus; Director Peter Mumford; Set, Lighting and Projection Designer Peter Mumford
Following on from the full Ring cycle (2016) and Parsifal (2022), the latest in Opera North’s stagings of Wagner’s major operas is Tristan und Isolde. One of the most significant works in western art, this is a piece which changed the face of music. It is a hymn to a love that transcends death, set to some of the most sheerly sensuous music ever composed which, centuries later, still has the power to shock. John Matthew Myers and Wendy Bryn Harmer make their Opera North debuts as the title characters, while Karl Huml (Susanna, 2025) takes on the role of King Marke. Directed by Peter Mumford, who also directed the Ring cycle, it will be conducted by Opera North Principal Guest Conductor, Antony Hermus.
MEET OUR PARTNER:
Don Pasquale – Donizetti NEW
Creative team: Conductor Michael Papadopoulos; Director James Hurley; Set and Costume Designer Elliott Squire; Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
“We’re thrilled to be returning to the stunning Leicestershire countryside this year to deepen our partnership with Nevill Holt. While many of us have a soft spot for the glorious melodies and tongue-in-cheek charm of Don Pasquale, Opera North hasn’t performed it for over 35 years. We can’t wait to bring this new production to this beautiful theatre.” – Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North
Marking the second year of Opera North’s five-year partnership with the Nevill Holt Festival in Leicestershire is a new production of Don Pasquale, Donizetti’s classic opera buffa. Director James Hurley sets the comedy in an independent film studio in Rome in the mid-1960s, a period generally regarded as the Golden Age of Italian cinema. Brimming with sharp wit, romantic intrigue and sparkling music, the opera features Grant Doyle in the title role, Harriet Eyley as Norina, Aaron Godfrey-Mayes as Ernesto and Henry Neill as Malatesta. The production for 2027 will be announced following this year’s festival.
MEET OUR ORCHESTRA:
The Orchestra of Opera North holds a unique position as the only British orchestra to perform a year-round programme comprising symphonic and chamber concerts alongside opera. The full 2026-27 Kirklees Concert Season will be announced in June, but highlights include Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony and Mahler’s Ninth conducted by Opera North Music Director Garry Walker. Opera North Principal Guest Conductor Antony Hermus will conduct Debussy, Ravel and Richard Strauss, while international guest conductors include Ryan Wigglesworth and Erina Yashima. ‘Distilled’, the company’s popular series of intimate lunchtime chamber concerts, continues at Dewsbury Town Hall and the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds, featuring repertoire chosen and played by members of the Orchestra. Anyone looking to get into the festive spirit is invited to head to Leeds Grand Theatre on Sunday 13 December or to Bradford Live a few days later for a screening of the classic film Home Alone accompanied by the Orchestra of Opera North playing the score live.
MEET ALL AGES:
Creating access to music and live performance for all ages lies at the heart of Opera North’s work. The widely admired In Harmony programme reaches over 3,200 pupils each week in 13 schools, while structured vocal and instrumental learning pathways are offered through the Company’s Talent Development Programme. The coming year brings Opera North’s first matinees for primary schoolchildren featuring the popular operatic whodunnit The Big Opera Mystery, and a Creative Industries Insight Day for secondary schools, which will include workshops and a performance of Don Giovanni adapted for schools at Leeds Grand Theatre.
Building on the success of the monthly Melodic Memories sessions for people with dementia and their carers, Opera North will be launching a new monthly Dementia Café to be held in the company’s HAR bar on New Briggate in Leeds. The adult online singing workshops From Couch to Chorus return with an opportunity to sing with the Chorus of Opera North either remotely or in person as part of a final performance on Wednesday 11 November 2026. The popular Sing ON series is back with Sing ON: Christmas Special on Monday 7 December 2026; Come and Sing with the Orchestra of Opera North in Leeds Grand Theatre on Thursday 25 February 2027; and Sing ON: Opera Chorus during March 2027.
Performance Diary
October – December 2026
AD Audio described performance
BSL Signed by a British sign language interpreter
REL Relaxed performance featuring the cover cast
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
Fri 9 Oct 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Fri 16 Oct 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Sun 18 Oct 2.00pm Rigoletto
Wed 21 Oct 1.30pm Rigoletto REL
Thu 22 Oct 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Fri 23 Oct 7.00pm Rigoletto AD
Sat 24 Oct 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Sun 25 Oct 5.00pm Rigoletto
Thu 29 Oct 6.30pm Eugene Onegin
Fri 30 Oct 7.00pm Rigoletto
Sat 31 Oct 2.00pm Rigoletto
THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE
Wed 4 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto
Thu 5 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto
Fri 6 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto AD
Sat 7 Nov 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
LOWRY, SALFORD
Thu 12 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto
Fri 13 Nov 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Sat 14 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto AD
THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM
Wed 18 Nov 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
Thu 19 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto
Fri 20 Nov 7.00pm Rigoletto AD
Sat 21 Nov 7.00pm Eugene Onegin
HOWARD ASSEMBLY ROOM, LEEDS
Fri 18 Dec 7.00pm A Christmas Carol
Sat 19 Dec 2.00pm A Christmas Carol
Sat19 Dec 7.00pm A Christmas Carol
Sun 20 Dec 2.00pm A Christmas Carol
Sun 20 Dec 6.00pm A Christmas Carol
Tue 22 Dec 2.00pm A Christmas Carol
Tue 22 Dec 7.00pm A Christmas Carol
Wed 23 Dec 1.00pm A Christmas Carol
Wed 23 Dec 6.00pm A Christmas Carol
Thu 24 Dec 2.00pm A Christmas Carol
February – May 2027
LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
Mon 1 Feb 1.15pm The Big Opera Mystery
Fri 5 Feb 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Sun 7 Feb 2.00pm Don Giovanni AD/ BSL
Sat 13 Feb 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Fri 19 Feb 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
Sun 21 Feb 2.00pm Don Giovanni
Wed 24 Feb 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
Fri 26 Feb 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Sat 27 Feb 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
LOWRY, SALFORD
Wed 3 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Thu 4 Mar 1.15pm The Big Opera Mystery
Fri 5 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni AD/ BSL
Sat 6 Mar 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE
Wed 10 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Thu 11 Mar 1.15pm The Big Opera Mystery
Fri 12 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni AD/ BSL
Sat 13 Mar 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
THEATRE ROYAL, NOTTINGHAM
Wed 17 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Thu 18 Mar 1.15pm The Big Opera Mystery
Fri 19 Mar 7.00pm Don Giovanni AD/ BSL
Sat 20 Mar 7.00pm Dead Man Walking
HULL NEW THEATRE
Thu 1 Apr 7.00pm Don Giovanni
Fri 2 Apr 2.00pm The Big Opera Mystery
Sat 3 Apr 2.00pm Don Giovanni AD/ BSL
ST GEORGE’S HALL, BRADFORD
Fri 9 Apr 7.00pm Orpheus
Sat 10 Apr 7.00pm Orpheus
LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC HALL
Tue 13 Apr 7.00pm Orpheus
DE MONTFORT HALL, LEICESTER
Sun 18 Apr 7.00pm Orpheus
BARBICAN, LONDON – tickets on general on sale from 24 April 2026
Thu 22 Apr Orpheus
LEEDS PLAYHOUSE
Sat 24 Apr 7.00pm Orpheus
Sun 25 Apr 3.00pm Orpheus
BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER
Sun 9 May 4.00pm Tristan und Isolde
ROYAL CONCERT HALL, NOTTINGHAM
Thu 13 May 5.00pm Tristan und Isolde
SYMPHONY HALL, BIRMINGHAM
Sat 15 May 4.00pm Tristan und Isolde
LEEDS TOWN HALL
Dates tbc Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde will be one of the first productions in Leeds Town Hall following its refurbishment; dates to be announced.
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