A brand new production of the blockbuster American musical Carousel by Rodgers&Hammerstein, will open in Leeds in May 2012 for three weeks, swiftly followed by a week on tour at The Lowry, Salford Quays and five weeks at The Barbican, London in August 2012.

 
Leading a wave of international interest in the musical over the next few years, Opera North brings together an outstanding production team, to bring new life to one of the greatest musicals of the twentieth century. Jo Davies, who recently directed Opera North’s highly acclaimed operetta Ruddigore, brings her vision to the piece, accompanied by Olivier winning designer Anthony Ward (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Oliver!, and Opera North’s Peter Grimes and Gloriana). They are joined by multi-award winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup, who has created work in some of the world’s leading opera houses, including La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
 
Conducting are the extremely experienced James Holmes, who conducted over 100 performances of Carousel in London with Nicholas Hytner’s 1992 production for the National Theatre, and Jonathan Gill, who has previously conducted more than 600 performances of another Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music.
 
Having just completed a successful residence at the Barbican last week, Opera North’s first visit to the Capital in three years and indeed first visit to this venue, was warmly received. There is now excited anticipation for the Company’s first long-term residency in London for over twenty years, post-Olympics next year.
 
Over the past 20 years Opera North has developed a distinctive reputation for its work in operetta and musical theatre repertoire, from Showboat in the 1980’s, to Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, works by Kurt Weill, Shostakovich and the Gershwins, and more recently The Merry Widow and Ruddigore.
 
One of the greatest scores written for Broadway, Carousel was composed for large musical, vocal and theatrical forces, and is thus a natural choice for any major opera company. There will be a full Walker orchestration of over 40 musicians in Leeds and Manchester.
 
Richard Mantle, General Director of Opera North, comments: “We are delighted to have been entrusted by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Trust to take a fresh look at Carousel. This not only enables us to continue our commitment to this strand of musical theatre work, but also gives us the opportunity to look at the way we function as a performing arts organisation in the current financial climate. ”
 
Dates:
2rd May – Carousel opens at the Grand Theatre in Leeds for 18 performances until 19 May
23rd May – Carousel opens at The Lowry, Salford Quays, for 6 performances until 26 May
15th August – Carousel opens at the Barbican, London, for 35 performances until 15 September

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