Boost for opera in Liverpool as leading companies join forces

Some of the UK’s leading opera organisations have joined forces with the RLPO and Liverpool venues to create a year-round programme of the "powerful artform" aimed at boosting audiences in the city.

The announcement was made as representatives from Glyndebourne, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera and Opera North attended a special public screening of The Marriage of Figaro at the Philharmonic Hall.

The screening is part of a new partnership between the Phil and Glyndebourne which started earlier this year.

And the region’s opera fans will be able to see live performances by stars of the world-famous East Sussex opera house when it tours to Liverpool in November 2019, bringing three productions – Rigoletto, Handel’s Rinaldo and Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amour to the Empire Theatre.

Glyndebourne was a regular visitor to the city in the 1950s, staging productions at the Royal Court.

Speaking about the new joint initiative, Glyndebourne's director of communications George Bruell said: “This is the start of something we’re very excited about, opera companies and the orchestra and venues in this region working together to stage a year-round programme of opera in Liverpool.

“Opera is a powerful artform and it’s important to take that out to new audiences.”

Meanwhile Welsh National Opera makes its annual visit to the Empire this autumn, performing La Traviata on November 7 and 9, and Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella - pictured above) on November 8.

And Opera North brings a concert staging of Aida to the Philharmonic Hall on May 24 next year.

Further screenings of Glyndebourne productions take place at Picturehouse at FACT - Der Rosenkavalier on November 5 (one of a number of operas screened at the Wood Street venue from various companies and opera houses), and Madama Butterfly at the Philharmonic Hall on January 12.