Spectacular finish to Opera North season with Wagner's The Flying Dutchman

THE 2014/15 Opera North season has now finished on an eminently spectacular note, like last year’s Ring Cycle.

The three gigantic screens have given way to a huge ship’s sail to dominate, in effect, where Wagner started with the Flying Dutchman in 1843.

Not only is this an excellent development in itself but, as Richard Mantle the general director said in his programme introduction, it will enable the company to explore further this distinctive strand of opera in concert venues like Leeds Town Hall.

It should be noted that the six scheduled operas for the 2015/16 will remain as usual in Leeds Grand and on tour.

Another advantage of the new venue is that the excellent Ring Cycle casts have been retained. We now have Mats Almgren’s bass as a lyrical Daland, last year’s striking Siegfried (tenor Mati Turi) as the distraught Eric, and mezzo Ceri Williams, who was previously Erda, as Mary.

Baritone Bela Perenc, last year’s moving Wotan, is an ethereal Dutchman and his Brunnhilde, soprano Alwyn Mellor, is now a radiant Senta.

The 90-strong orchestra was once again exactly what Wagner was after, and there was a stunning 28-strong group of seamen postured dozen attractive lady singing at the front of the stage.

Richard fans as ever, paste these enormous forces to perfection – a triumph!

John Pettitt