The Company is taking music of all kinds across the North, and its new central Leeds restaurant, Kino, is celebrating its first Christmas.
5 December – The University of Huddersfield Brass Band at Huddersfield Town Hall at lunchtime.
7 December – The University of Huddersfield Brass Band at Dewsbury Town Hall at lunchtime.
10 December – The Orchestra’s extensive education and early years work steps up for Christmas, as 13 players perform a selection of festive treats centering on The Nutcracker in the Howard Assembly Room, with beautiful projections from animator Tom Scott. A relaxed atmosphere and a chance to meet and chat with the players at the end of the performance.
13 December – The Orchestra of Opera North with a live score for The Snowman at Huddersfield Town Hall.
15 December – The ensemble and the Chorus of Opera North for the Christmas Gala at Dewsbury Town Hall. . Music Director of the Salzburg Landestheater Leslie Suganandarajah takes the podium for his Opera North debut including selections from Mendelssohn, more Nutcracker, Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, plus audience carols.
15 December – Huddersfield Youth Choirs with David Pipe at the organ for Christmas carols at Huddersfield Town Hall.
16 December – A sold-out date for the Tallis Scholars on 16 December, performing music in praise of the Virgin Mary by composers from Josquin to Stravinsky at Howard Assembly Room.
17 December – The Orchestra’s harpist Céline Saout joins Opera North’s Children’s Chorus, Young Voices and Youth Chorus to perform a selection of music and dramatic extracts by Benjamin Britten, Howard Blake and more in the Opera North Youth Company Winter Performance at Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall, University of Leeds.
17 December – Lau accordionist and Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Martin Green gathers together a band of friends for a new Opera North commission, Lighting the Dark. Collecting some of the older Yuletide music and stories and a carol or two, he is joined by Ultan O’Brien of Irish-Nordic folk heroes Slow Moving Clouds (fiddle); composer and improviser Laura Jurd (trumpet); Danielle Price (tuba) and the brilliant young Glaswegian trombonist Anoushka Nanguy. On 22 December the show moves to Gateshead as part of the Sage’s Christmas programme.
18 December – The Orchestra The Nutcracker at St George’s Hall, Bradford
18 December – More folk luminaries dig deep into the traditions and lore of winter in Awake Arise at the Howard Assembly Room on 18 December. Award-winning trio Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans and Hazel Askew) are joined by Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith to reflect on the hope and joy music can bring to us in the darkest season.
20 and 21 December – Huddersfield Choral Society is joined by the Orchestra of Opera North for Handel’s Messiah. Conductor Ellie Slorach and guest singers Katie Bray and Dingle Yandell at Huddersfield Town Hall.
21 December – Young musicians of Opera North’s Winter Orchestra Academy will show the public what they’ve learned from three intensive days of rehearsals guided by members of the Orchestra. Special guest soprano Katie Bird, will be with them outside Leeds’ John Lewis store.
21 December – Opera North and South Asian Arts-uk get together again for Winter Solstice at Howard Assembly Room. Master dilruba player Kirpal Singh Panesar from the Orpheus ensemble comes together with talented rabab player Saphwat Sinab and Greek composer, sound designer and lyra player Dimitris Menexopoulos for an inspired, immersive concert. With visuals and a soundscape evoking the cold clear nights in the mountains of the Mediterranean and the foothills of the Himalayas, it promises another meeting of musical cultures in celebration of the ancient spirit of this time of year.
30 December – Guest soprano Jennifer France and conductor Christoph Altstaedt, for Viennese Whirl. A celebration of the coming New Year with waltzes, polkas and gallops at Huddersfield Town Hall. (Moving on to Hull on 31st).
Opera North’s New Briggate restaurant, Kino, has a new menu from residents MorMor. Seared scallops, maple roasted cauliflower and slow-cooked rabbit are among the new dishes. On New Year’s Eve, there’ll be live music from jazz singer Susie Chambers, and a complimentary glass of fizz for all diners. Opening hours have been extended to include Tuesdays in December from 5pm – 10pm, and a Christmas party menu for tables of 6 or more is available until 30 December.
For more information on any events at Opera North and the Howard Assembly Room, and to book tickets, visit operanorth.co.uk
