Opera North’s first ever staging of Handel’s opera Alcina, which opens on Saturday 5 February 2022 at Leeds Grand Theatre, will be available for viewers around the globe to watch online in partnership with the European streaming platform OperaVision.
The performance on Thursday 17 February at 7pm will be streamed live at operavision.eu, and will be available to watch on demand for 6 months.
Alcina is directed by Tim Albery in a production which will move beyond the conventions of women playing male roles in early opera to a deeper exploration of gender fluidity and identity. A tale of deception, seduction, love and loss, the opera tells the story of an enchantress who uses her magical powers to bewitch the young knight Ruggiero and keep him captive in her island paradise.
Baroque specialist Laurence Cummings conducts a cast which includes Irish soprano Máire Flavin in the role of Alcina. Ruggiero is sung by American countertenor Patrick Terry, who will be making his Opera North debut alongside Norwegian mezzo-soprano Mari Askvik as Bradamante and British soprano Fflur Wyn as Morgana.
Alcina is notable for being Opera North’s first sustainable mainstage production, following successful trials in utilising reused and recycled sets. Designer Hannah Clark has created the set and costumes using elements from previous productions, as well as sourcing vintage or second-hand costumes and props. Nothing that appears on stage will be newly purchased, and the environmental impact of making and transporting the scenic elements and the wider impacts of the supply chain have all been considered.
Richard Mantle, General Director, Opera North said, “Our first mainstage sustainable production, Alcina, is an important milestone for Opera North’s sustainability journey, as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and to be a leader for the wider industry in this area. We are delighted to be able to livestream this production in partnership with OperaVision, enabling us to share this performance of Handel’s wondrous music with a wider national and international audience, in addition to showcasing the production values that can be achieved within a more sustainable framework.”
Alcina is part of Opera North’s Winter 2022 season, alongside a new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto directed by Femi Elufowoju jr, and Edward Dick’s production of Bizet’s Carmen. Full details can be found at operanorth.co.uk
ALCINA
New production, opens Saturday 5 February 2022
January – April 2022
All performances start at 7.00pm
Leeds Grand Theatre
Sat 22 Jan Rigoletto
Sat 29 Jan Rigoletto
Fri 4 Feb Rigoletto
Sat 5 Feb Alcina
Tue 8 Feb Alcina
Fri 11 Feb Rigoletto Audio-described performance
Sat 12 Feb Carmen
Tue 15 Feb Alcina
Wed 16 Feb Carmen Signed performance
Thu 17 Feb Alcina Livestreamed at operavision.eu
Fri 18 Feb Carmen
Sat 19 Feb Rigoletto
The Lowry, Salford Quays
Wed 9 Mar Rigoletto
Thu 10 Mar Carmen Signed performance
Fri 11 Mar Alcina
Sat 12 Mar Rigoletto Audio-described performance
Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Wed 16 Mar Rigoletto
Thu 17 Mar Alcina
Fri 18 Mar Carmen Signed performance
Sat 19 Mar Rigoletto Audio-described performance
Theatre Royal, Newcastle
Wed 23 Mar Rigoletto
Thu 24 Mar Alcina
Fri 25 Mar Carmen
Sat 26 Mar Rigoletto Audio-described performance
Hull New Theatre
Thu 31 Mar Carmen Signed performance
Fri 1 Apr Rigoletto
Sat 2 Apr Carmen
Image: Fflur Wyn and Máire Flavin
