Opera North Alcina to be available worldwide

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

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