Reviews
Opera North’s ‘The Adventures of Pinocchio’ at Leeds Grand Theatre
Opera North's production of The Adventures of Pinocchio' produced a buzz of excitement in a packed Grand Theatre as the audience eagerly awaited the world premiere of Jonathan Dove's opera based on Carlo Collodi's original 1883 book.
Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel' has enthralled generations of grown-ups and children. Could Dove's realisation of the tale of Pinocchio likewise find its way into our hearts?
All of the ingredients for a magical family experience are in place: fast-moving story line, a gallery of over 30 finely drawn human and animal characters plus a colourful musical score which skilfully exploits Opera North's most precious resource - the company's superlative orchestra and chorus.
Francis O'Connor's lavish scenery and Dickensian period costumes wonderfully evoke the darkness and mystery of this fairy tale and bring it to life as though turning the pages of a gigantic pop-up picture book. In one of many seamless transformations, we are taken from the foaming waves of a storm-tossed ocean into the belly of a sea monster.
An expert cast ensures that every word of Alasdair Middleton's punchy libretto is audible: soprano Victoria Simmonds as Pinocchio is rarely off stage. She displays incredible physical stamina and exudes youthful exuberance as the wooden boy come to life.
Jonathan Summers represents luxury casting as Pinocchio's father, Geppetto, and Graeme Broadbent brings an air of menace to the clutch of authoritative characters that he inhabits.
Mary Plaza's beautifully sung and acted Blue Fairy is as saccharine-sweet as the character should be. BBC Radio 3 New Generation artist Allan Clayton makes an impressive house debut in the tenor role of Pinocchio's friend, Lampwick.
Pride of place in the menagerie of animal, bird and insect characters must go to James Laing and Mark Wilde as the Fox and Cat; Laing's icy counter tenor giving his role a sinister edge. Rebecca Bottone's chirruping Cricket is a miraculous model of musical mimicry.
This appealing new family opera has been produced on an epic scale and represents a staggering achievement for its creators and for Opera North.
My only reservation is that at three hours running time, the production might be just a little too long to retain the attention of the youngest first-time opera goers.
There are two more performances at Leeds Grand on January 24 and 26 before Pinocchio and Co go on tour. Don't miss them.
JOHN BURLAND reviews The Bootleg Beatles concert at Harrogate Conference Centre
Despite having a career that only lasted eight years (with the exception of re-releases etc) The Beatles must still be reckoned to be the most popular and successful UK group ever.
Their record speaks for itself. In the UK they had 17 number one hits. Most of their sales in the 60s were at a time when a lot of records had to be sold to reach number one and five of theirs sold over a million copies.
Albums were equally successful. Their first Please Please Me' stayed at number one for 29 weeks in 1963 and was only knocked off the top position by their follow-up album With The Beatles' which notched up a further 21 weeks at No 1.
Probably their most successful album has to be Sgt Pepper', a groundbreaking release which transformed pop music.
I bought it the day it came out and still have it 36 years later (along with fake moustache, sergeant's stripes and other memorabilia that came with it!).
I was a big fan throughout my teenage years. When the group broke up in April 1970 I was devastated. Never again would I be able to hear them live as I had done at The Odeon in Bradford in December 1963 and in Leeds in October 1964.
Then in the 1980s and early 90s came the concept of tribute bands - in the case of the Fab Four', the Bootleg Beatles.
The Bootleg Beatles appeared locally at the Harrogate Conference Centre and I was totally blown away by their performance.
Excellent is an adjective that doesn't even go part way to describing the concert. In my eyes, the Fab Four' were back!
The Bootleg Beatles originated from the West End Production of Beatlemania'.
The first half comprised three main periods from 1963 to 1967. The show kicked off with I Want To Hold Your Hand', followed by She Loves You'.
They then moved onto the period of touring America featuring songs played at the Shay Stadium. The final section of the first half featured the backdrop of the Sgt Pepper Album cover.
Eight other musicians who formed their orchestra joined them on stage; four string players and four brass players. These musicians deserve great praise for they added a tremendous amount to this section as most of Sgt Pepper onwards had great orchestrations to it.
Songs in this section comprised the double A-sided single, John's haunting Strawberry Fields' followed by Paul's up-tempo Penny Lane'.
Piccolo cornet playing on this by Annette Brown was superb!
Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' followed and then A Little Help From My Friends' and finally Day In The Life'" to close the first half. Again, the orchestra was superb in this number, recreating the crescendo at the end.
The second half featured songs from Magical Mystery Tour', The White Album', Let it Be'and Abbey Road' albums. The songs commenced with, Fool On The Hill', followed by "Hello, Goodbye' and All You Need Is Love' before a solo of Here Comes The Sun'" from the Abbey Road album. While My Guitar Gently Weeps' followed, and then Revolution', Get Back' and the inevitable Hey Jude' which had everyone on their feet, clapping along.
Such was the applause that they returned to perform two encores, the first Happy Christmas - War is Over'. The final item, one of my favourites from the Abbey Road album, the final segue of Golden Slumbers', Carry That Weight' and The End'. What a way to end the show.
8:52am Thursday 3rd January 2008
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