Switch ON: New projects for Autumn

As You Are: A Soundwalk for Leeds

14 November 2020 – 6 January 2021

A new interactive soundwalk is being composed by South African cellist Abel Selaocoe which will invite people to experience Opera North’s home city of Leeds in a very different way to usual. It will take in many of the city centre’s most recognisable landmarks, as well as its arcades and side streets and the waterfront of the River Aire. Small groups will be given a set of headphones connected to a wireless receiver, triggering new musical chapters at different points on the walk.

At times uplifting with full orchestra and chorus, at others reflective with just a single voice, As You Are embraces the healing power of walking and expresses acceptance that there will sometimes be difficult times, but that we will come through to the other side. For the recording, Abel Selaocoe will be joined by guest African musicians including Sidiki Dembele, as well as the full Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North.

Tickets will go on sale in September. Supported by Victoria Leeds.

La petite bohème: Animation

Dates and locations will be announced as soon as possible.

An animation re-imagining Act III of Puccini’s La bohème, snipped from black paper and animated by artist and filmmaker Matthew Robins with his unique eye for emotion and humour. The heartbreaking scene from the core of Puccini’s classic opera will feature a newly recorded soundtrack by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North, and four soloists.

The finished animation will be projected outdoors onto walls in found spaces in towns and cities across the North of England, with limited audiences at each screening listening via headphones.

Richard Mantle, General Director:

“We are extremely pleased to be able to announce such varied projects today as the first newly planned activity for this Autumn. Switch ON is our first step back to sharing music and performance with audiences in villages, towns and cities across the North of England. The overall picture regarding live indoor performances remains unclear over the next few months. We hope to be able to plan and present more live performances of great opera and music for audiences across our region, in as many different cities and communities as possible, once we are able to perform within social distancing guidelines. We are currently undertaking detailed planning with our partner venues in Leeds and beyond to ensure that we will be ready to restart performances safely and with financial viability, once there is a clear green light from the Government.

“Tickets for Switch ON events will all be accessibly priced and we hope as many people as possible will have the opportunity to experience music with us either live or digitally. We are a partner in Leeds Says Thanks, an initiative by Leeds City Council to thank NHS and frontline workers for their enormous efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic; as part of this, we will ensure that tickets to As You Are, our soundwalk for Leeds, will be made available to frontline staff.

“We remain committed to our purpose and whatever challenges we face, Opera North will continue to use music to create extraordinary experiences every day for and with the communities we serve. Live or digitally, in classrooms, theatres, homes and public spaces; we will continue to share music with people of all ages and backgrounds.”