Livestream musical magic with a seasonal sprinkling
Livestream opera is set to light up the Christmas season along with a magical film to provide an alternative to pantomime. Opera North’s livestream production of Fidelio will show during December along with film of Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella released online to delight families and schools.
Despite the latest setback in the form of a second lockdown, Opera North is determined to keep making and sharing music for and with people of all ages.
Under current restrictions in England, live performances with audiences are not possible, but rehearsals and filming of performances are permitted behind closed doors, with all involved observing COVID-19 secure guidelines.
A dramatic concert performance of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, will be streamed live from Leeds Town Hall at 7pm on Saturday December 12, conducted by Mark Wigglesworth, and directed by Matthew Eberhardt.
Fidelio is actually Leonore, a noblewoman disguised as a man, in search of her husband, Florestan, who has been unjustly imprisoned by his tyrannical political opponent Don Pizarro. Fidelio secures a job as a prison guard and sets in motion a chain of events in which she must risk everything to save her husband’s life…
A cast of internationallyrenowned singers including Rachel Nicholls, Toby Spence, Robert Hayward and Brindley Sherratt will perform with a 33-piece orchestra and 24-strong chorus, creating one of the largest on-stage ensembles since the COVID-19 outbreak for some of Beethoven’s most powerful and poignant music, including the moving Prisoners’ Chorus. Livestream director is Peter Maniura.
Education and community outreach activity remains a crucial part of Opera North’s work and they continue to work digitally with schools, youth ensembles, and adults, delivering virtual workshops and vocal and instrumental teaching.
From Couch to Chorus:
The Festive Edition, is a weekly virtual choir delivered via Zoom which has already seen more than
1500 people sign up to learn rousing opera choruses and festive favourites in the runup to Christmas, with learning resources featuring the Chorus of Opera North.
A tour of a new Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella is now rescheduled for live performances in early 2021 but a film of this production will be available online for free throughout December.
Directed by John Savournin with Marie Claire Breen as Cinderella, Amy J Payne as Prince/Stepmother, and Julia Mariko Smith as Fairy Godmother, Whistle Stop Opera: Cinderella is a
magical tour of different musical takes on the fairy tale.
It includes Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Massenet’s Cendrillon, Pauline Viardot’s operetta Cendrillon and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Cinderella.
Opera North General Director Richard Mantle said: “We had planned to return to fully-staged productions in November and December in Leeds and on tour.
“Our production of Fidelio promises to be an extraordinary musical and theatrical experience.
“We are delighted to be able to stream this, sharing the thrill of live musical performance, not least during this lockdown when audiences are once more deprived of live events in person”.