The first glimpses of an exciting year-long celebration of culture have been revealed for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, including a number of events and projects from Opera North.
Events include the premiere of our latest thrilling concert staging, Verdi’s gripping drama Simon Boccanegra, which opens at St George’s Hall in Bradford for two performances to kickstart a national tour.
Meanwhile, for the wild moors of Brontë country, Bradford 2025 and Opera North have invited composers Caterina Barbieri, Nyokabi Kariũki and Gwen Siôn, and field recordist Sarah Keirle, to create new music and sound works inspired by this landscape – and by the music of Bradford-born composer Frederick Delius, which is so rooted in the natural world. Earth & Sky will be available to experience in Penistone Hill Country Park in Haworth, from May to October 2025.
Penistone Hill Country Park, Haworth, will be the location for Earth & Sky © Tom Arber
The Orchestra of Opera North returns to St George’s Hall on 9 May 2025 for Bassline Symphony, supercharging new symphonic versions of classic cuts from one of the most thrilling musical subcultures of the 21st century. Four-to-the-floor legends Jamie Duggan, DJ Q and TS7 will be joined by a galaxy of guest vocalists and DJs, conducted by Garry Walker, in a night that’s all about the bassline.
The Company is also joining forces with the Royal Ballet & Opera and Northern Ballet for a very special education programme taking place in schools across Bradford. Sing, Dance, Leap will culminate in a mass performance by young people alongside musicians and performers from all three companies.
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
Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North, comments:
“Bradford 2025 is going to be a remarkable year and we are so glad to be a part of celebrating all this youthful, diverse, growing city has to offer, right in the heart of West Yorkshire. During the next year and beyond, Opera North will be sharing joyous and moving musical experiences with audiences across the city, from schools taking part in Sing, Dance, Leap, to special events in the beautifully renovated St George’s Hall.
“We’re even taking music out into the spectacular moors beyond the city for our new sound walk, Earth & Sky, which takes Bradford-born composer Delius’s music as its jumping off point, but will venture into dynamic new sonic territories with music by three brilliant contemporary female composers. We can’t wait to get started and to share this programme with people and communities across Bradford through the year.”
Tickets for Simon Boccanegra are available now.
Details of other events in the programme for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture are available via the Bradford 2025 website.
