Last Saturday Opera North revealed what was probably their most ambitious project yet -- a magnificent concert performance of the second part of Wagner's monumental Ring Cycle, fully worthy of the composer's genius.

The venue was exactly right, accommodating the mighty sound of the galaxy of international opera stars and the huge 94-strong orchestra under the presiding inspiration of Richard Farnes.

To counter the absence of stage scenery, Tim Anger the production manager had three giant screens to offer evocative images and English surtitles to the German text., a good idea Six leading singers propel the narrative at the centre of which was Wotan, sung by the powerful Hungarian bass-baritone Bela Perencz.

But Wagner ensures Wotan is no match for his searingly dominant wife Fricka, here in the vividly hostile performance of the Swedish mezzo Katarina Karneus against whom the beauty and passion of the incestuous act one That a love duet gloriously sung by the German Eric Nelson Werner's tenor Siegmund and the Lancastrian Alwyn Mellor's soprano Sieglinde stands no chance.

Her sinister husband Hunding was the excellent base Clive Bayley.

Act Two introduces us to Wotan's favourite daughter the legendary Brunnhilde, bravely.co ung largely from the vocal score by the American soprano Kelly Cae Hogan who replaced indisposed Swedish soprano Annalena Persson.

Brunnhilde's eight sisters later made a shattering vocal appearance across the stage for the Ride of the Walkyries.

Brunnhilde's intensely moving final duet with her father concluded an epic operatic experience. The last performance next Wednesday should not be missed.

* June 27, Leeds Town Hall, phone 0844 848 2720.

John Pettitt