Following today’s news that English National Opera will be moving their operational base to Greater Manchester, Opera North looks forward to continuing to work closely with ENO and other touring companies to offer a coordinated programme of opera for audiences.
Having grown over the last 45 years since our origins as English National Opera North, we are deeply rooted in the north of England. We are privileged to work across this great region, and we will continue to perform in Greater Manchester as well as across Yorkshire, the North West, North East and the Midlands. We produce a vibrant programme of work all year round, from live, award-winning tours of opera and musical theatre to a vast array of learning and engagement activity across theatres, schools and community venues.
We also know there is need for arts education in many other areas – more than we can provide, despite our thriving, award-winning In Harmony schools programme and other projects. We’re hungry to collaborate with ENO and other arts organisations to make sure that music reaches as many children and young people as possible and to use public funds as effectively and efficiently as we can for the benefit of all.
Schoolchildren in Dewsbury experience a live orchestra performing with Orchestra Unpacked, part of Opera North's Learning and Engagement programme (24 November 2023) © Tom Arber
We look forward to working with ENO and other partners across the cultural industries to build the future of opera and classical music within our region, and – more than anything – we want to continue to share thrilling, moving, relevant and innovative operatic experiences with audiences, participants and communities here in the North.
From our base in Leeds, Opera North’s work takes place in venues of all scales across the north of England and beyond. Upcoming Opera North performances within the Greater Manchester region include performances of the family production Little Listeners: Cinderella at The Stoller Hall, Manchester and The Lowry, Salford Quays, Opera North’s Winter tour of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Rachmaninov’s Aleko, at The Lowry, Salford Quays, and Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra in partnership with the Hallé and Opera Rara at Bridgewater Hall.
Our 2024/25 season is due to be announced in March.
