Preview Howard Assembly Room Autumn Season

A look ahead to the going's on at Opera North's spectacular new venue

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Opera North have recently released the programme of performances and events that will make up the Autumn 2010 season at the wonderful Howard Assembly Room. If you haven’t yet had chance to visit this great venue, then Dickie and Butch recommend that you pay a visit to one of the concerts in the new season which features an exciting collection of internationally recognised musicians. The biggest name of the season is the Austrian mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager, who will perform a recital of songs by Mendelssohn and Loewe on the 23rd September. Below are the details of my highlights of the season which, as usual for the HAR, features an eclectic mix of performers and events including classical, folk, world music and workshops, open rehearsals and film screenings. For full listings for the season visit the Assembly Room website.

3rd September – 10.00a.m
Open Rehearsal – The Adventures of Pinocchio
£3.00
The final rehearsal in the HAR before the revival of Opera North’s very popular production of Jonathan Dove’s The Adventures of Pinocchio which will open at The Leeds Grand Theatre on the 16th September. An excellent opportunity to get an inside view on the rehearsal process as well as gaining an introduction to Dove’s music by the conductor David Parry. This should sell very quickly.

12th September - 7.30p.m
Iron and Wine
£13.00 – SOLD OUT
Folk rock singer-songwriter, Sam Bream (aka. Iron and Wine) performs an intimate gig that combines acoustic folk with country influences. Bream is best known for his 2007 album The Shepherd’s Dog and his music has been heard on the soundtracks to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘House’ and Twilight. This gig has now sold out but it would be worth checking with the box office for returns nearer to the time.

23rd September – 7.30p.m
Angelika Kirchschlager Recital
£15.00
The internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager has been described as “one of the world’s finest lyric mezzo-soprano’s” by Neil Fisher of The Times. She will perform a selection of songs by Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn and Carl Loewe. Kirchschlager has been seen in some of the world’s greatest opera houses (she was an excellent Hänsel in the ROH’s 2008 production of Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel) and forthcoming engagements include performances at the New York Met and the Vienna Staatsoper. She will be accompanied by the excellent Simon Lepper who was last seen by Dickie and Butch at the HAR accompanying Mark Padmore. It is a real coup for the HAR to be able to attract a performer such as Kirchschlager and is further proof that it is one of the most prestigious chamber venues in the North.

24th September – 8.00 p.m
Film Screening: La Strada
£5.00
An opportunity for film buffs (and anyone else) to catch a very rare screening of Fellini’s Oscar winning 1954 film La Strada (The Road). The film tells the story of Gelsomina and her life as an assistant to a travelling fairground strongman, Zampano. For all you theatre trivia junkies out there, the film was later turned into a Broadway musical which managed to open and close on the same day, 14th December 1969!

30th September – 7.30p.m
Plaid and Gamelan
£12.00
This performance promises a mesmerizing combination of Plaid’s trademark electronic music with the music of a traditional Gamelan percussion ensemble. The concert will feature new music written by Southbank Centre artist-in-residence Rahayu Supanggah. This should be a fascinating concert that will fuse two very different styles of music, definitely on Dickie and Butch’s list of concerts to see this year.

2nd October – 5.45 p.m
Twilight: Usher and Other Ghosts
FREE
The HAR will throw open its doors for a free concert by Victoria Simmonds (Pinocchio in The Adventures of Pinocchio), inspired by the Opera North production of Britten’s The Turn of The Screw. The concert will feature Debussy’s musical adaptation of Poe’s The Fall of The House of Usher as well as his disturbing Chansons de Bilitis. A brilliant opportunity for you to experience the work of the Assembly Room for free if you have not yet had chance to visit.

14th October – 7.30 p.m
Murcof and Francesco Tristano
£10.00
A unique and atmospheric collaboration between Mexican electronic composer Fernando Corona (aka Murcof) and classical pianist Francesco Tristano, as part of a new UK tour. The gig blends two musical genres, acoustic improvisation and electronica to make epic, inspiring suites of music that move the mind and heart.

 

15th October – 7.45p.m
Folk Opera: The Gypsy Bible
£10.00
A new opera commissioned by Opera North from composer Joe Townsend and librettist Alasdair Middleton about the myths and storytelling traditions which exist about the creation of the violin. The opera will be performed by a specially selected group of folk musicians including Sylvia Hallett and Paul Moyan. Alasdair Middleton has regularly collaborated with Jonathan Dove, most recently writing the librettos for The Adventures of Pinocchio and The Enchanted Pig.

16th October – 5.45p.m
Twilight: Dust and Desire
FREE
Opera North regular, mezzo-soprano Heather Shipp, gives a free concert prior to her performance in the title role of Bizet’s Carmen. The concert will feature the passionate and sultry tangoes of Astor Piazzolla as well as music by the much under-appreciated Spanish composer Manuel daFalla. Shipp was probably the best thing about Skin Deep and she also gave a very good performance as Mad Margaret in Ruddigore so it will be great to see her return to the company. Another excellent opportunity to explore this great venue for free!

21st October – 7.45pm
Kate Royal and Malcome Martineau
£15.00
Yet another high profile concert for the HAR. The soprano Kate Royal, celebrated for her performance as Miranda in Thomas Ades excellent operatic re-telling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the ROH, will perform a programme of songs by Schubert, Ravel and Strauss. She will be joined by the critically acclaimed accompanist Malcome Martineau in what should be a very popular concert.

28th October – 8.00 p.m
In The Penal Colony
£12.50
Music Theatre Wales will make their HAR début in a performance of Philip Glass’ In The Penal Colony. The opera is based on the unsettling novel by Franz Kafka which describes the use of an elaborate instrument used for torture and execution. This should be a compelling if somewhat disturbing performance.

4th November – 7.45p.m
Paul Lewis
£18.00
Another highlight of the Autumn season and another programming coup by Opera North. One of the greatest pianists of his generation, Paul Lewis has recently been celebrated for his excellent recordings of Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. He has most recently performed at the Proms last week in a concert of Beethoven Piano concertos. His programme for Leeds will include Mozart’s Adagio in B minor K540, and Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.21 in C major op.53. This is a must see concert of the season and will almost definitely be a sell out.

10th November – 7.45p.m
Kneehigh Theatre – In The Deepest Part Of The Forest
£7.50
Emma Rice and Stu Barker, the Artistic Director and Music Director respectively, of the Cornwall based theatre company Kneehigh make an appearance at the HAR. The creative duo behind one of Britain’s most innovative theatre companies will present an evening of song, storytelling and film to explore their 10 year working relationship. Kneehigh’s forthcoming productions include a new stage version of Butch’s favourite film musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, so Butch and I will definitely be attending this in the hope of a possible sneak preview!

24th November - 7.45p.m
The Skampa Quartet and Iva Bittová
£12.50
The Skampa Quartet return to the HAR for another Janacek performance, this time they will perform the composer’s 2nd String Quartet. The concert will also feature the Romanian violinist and vocalist Iva Bittovà, in a performance of Janacek’s song cycle, Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs. This should be an entertaining evening of Eastern European music.

Read more of Dickie and Bucth’s work at www.dickieandbutch.com

Posted on Friday 30th July 2010

Howard Assembly Room

Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU

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