The Girl of the Golden West

Leeds Grand Theatre

Tuesday, January 21

It is difficult to fathom why Puccini’s “Spaghetti Western” composed for the Metropolitan Opera and premiered there on December 10, 1910, is so infrequently performed.

Opera North staged an exciting production during the 1985/86 season; how sad this was never revived.

We have had to wait almost 30 years to once again bathe in the glow cast by Puccini’s heartwarming tale of redemptive love set in 1850s California during the Gold Rush.

The Girl of the Golden West – the pistol-packing, poker-playing, Bible-reading Minnie – is adored by the all-male mining camp. But she falls head over heels for Dick Johnson, a notorious bandit.

Aletta Collins’ new production, with stylish scenic designs by Giles Cradle and costumes by Gabrielle Dalton, is faithful to the 1850s setting of the story. Collins has undoubtedly captured the cinemagraphic quality of the opera permeating Puccini’s innovative music. It is a vast, shifting symphonic canvas which is turned into pure gold by the Orchestra of Opera North conducted by Richard Farnes.

The plot might seem corny but who cares? Any dramatic shortcomings are vastly out-weighed by this glorious realisation of one of Puccini’s most beautiful scores married to an animated technicolor production.

Wagnerian soprano Alwyn Mellor as the kindhearted Minnie brings a rainbow spectrum of vocal colour and a warm and generous characterisation to her role. Rafael Rojas sings with a burnished Italianate timbre and creates a likeable rogue of Dick Johnson.

Robert Hayward is the dark and brooding Sheriff Rance, Johnson’s deadly rival for her affection.

A large supporting cast with the men of the Chorus of Opera North create a host of cameos and sing with blazing fervour.

Further performances are on at Leeds Grand this Saturday, as well as February 19 and 21. It’s not to be missed.

Geoffrey Mogridge