title: Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1990–91 to 1996–97
text: # Opera North: history and repertoire, seasons 1990–91 to 1996–97
  
  Opera North is an opera company based at The Grand Theatre, Leeds. This article covers the period when the company's music director was Paul Daniel.
  
  ## History
  
  The team of Paul Daniel and General Administrator Nicholas Payne brought a number of novelties to the ON repertoire before Payne's departure in 1993 to become Opera Director at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. There were British premieres of Roberto Gerhard's The Duenna and Franz Schreker's Der ferne Klang (directed by Brigitte Fassbaender) and the British professional premiere of Carl Nielsen's Maskarade. A number of arias written by Mozart for insertion into other composers' operas, together with some of his concert arias were brought together by Paul Griffiths as an opera entitled as The Jewel Box. Tchaikovsky's one-act Iolanta was reunited with his ballet The Nutcracker (performed by Matthew Bourne's Adventures in Motion Pictures) and first performed by Opera North on the 100th anniversary of their first performances in Saint Petersburg. Paul Dukas's Ariane et Barbe-bleue had its first British performance in over 50 years, and other unusual repertoire included Michael Tippett's King Priam, Chabrier's L'étoile and Rossini's The Thieving Magpie, as well as the world premiere of Robert Saxton's Caritas.
  
  In 1993, Nicholas Payne was succeeded by Ian Ritchie, previously managing director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The 1993–94 season included two more world premieres – Michael Berkeley's Baa-Baa Black Sheep, based on a story by Rudyard Kipling, and Benedict Mason's Playing Away, an opera about football which premiered at the Munich Biennale – as well as three neglected operas: Phyllida Lloyd's production of Benjamin Britten's Gloriana, David McVicar's production of Mozart's early Il re pastore, and Francesca Zambello's production of Puccini's La rondine. Ritchie, whose title had been general director, left the company in 1994 to freelance as an arts management consultant, and his successor was the current general director, Richard Mantle, who had previously worked for English National Opera, Scottish Opera and Edmonton Opera.
  
  Notable among new productions during Paul Daniel's final three seasons as music director were Richard Jones's Pelléas et Mélisande (with Daniel's wife, Joan Rodgers, as Mélisande), Jonathan Miller's Il matrimonio segreto from Glimmerglass Opera, the British premiere of Chabrier's Le roi malgré lui, Verdi's first opera, Oberto (with John Tomlinson directing as well as playing the title character), William Walton's Troilus and Cressida, Luigi Cherubini's Médée in the composer's adaptation for Vienna and Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet, as well as Tannhäuser, Iphigénie en Aulide and Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria. Following the success of Show Boat, the company staged another Broadway musical, Kurt Weill's Love Life.
  
  Notable conductors appearing with the company during this period included Harry Bicket, Ivor Bolton, Oliver von Dohnányi, Claire Gibault, Roy Goodman, Alan Hacker, Richard Hickox, Diego Masson, Andrew Parrott, David Porcelijn, Carlo Rizzi and Antoni Ros-Marbà. Directors included Tim Albery, Annabel Arden, Tom Cairns, Martin Duncan, Caroline Gawn, Dalia Ibelhauptaitė, Helena Kaut-Howson, Jeremy Sams, Matthew Warchus and Deborah Warner.
  
  Principal singers included sopranos Josephine Barstow, Susan Chilcott, Susannah Glanville, Mary Hegarty, Janis Kelly and Linda Kitchen, mezzo-sopranos Patricia Bardon, Alice Coote and Linda Finnie, tenors Barry Banks, Edmund Barham, Kim Begley, Philip Langridge, Paul Nilon and Christopher Ventris, baritones William Dazeley, Gerald Finley, Robert Hayward, Keith Latham, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Alan Opie and Eric Roberts, basses and bass-baritones Clive Bayley, Andrew Shore and Richard Van Allan,
  
  Paul Daniel marked his departure to become music director of English National Opera with two concert performances of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violanta, one in Leeds and the other at The Proms. The soloists were Janice Cairns, Hans Aschenbach, Jonathan Summers, Stuart Kale and Liane Keegan. He left the company in September 1997 and, pending the appointment of a new music director, Elgar Howarth was designated music advisor.
  
  ## Repertoire
  
  Below is a list of main stage operas performed by the company during this period.
  
  | Season | Opera | Composer | Principal cast | Conductor | Director | Designer |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1990–91 | Ariane et Barbe-bleue | Dukas | Anne-Marie Owens (Ariane), Jonathan Best (Bluebeard) | Paul Daniel | Patrick Mason | Joe Vaněk |
  | 1990–91 | La traviata | Verdi | Eva Jenisová (Violetta), Bonaventura Bottone (Alfredo), Anthony Michaels-Moore/Jason Howard (Germont) | Carlo Rizzi | Revival of 1984–85 production | Revival of 1984–85 production |
  | 1990–91 | The Threepenny Opera | Weill | Alan Oke (Macheath), Linda Kitchen (Polly), Kate Flowers (Jenny Diver), Mark Lufton (Peachum), Sandra Francis (Mrs Peachum) | Martin Pickard | Revival of 1983–84 production | Revival of 1983–84 production |
  | 1990–91 | Così fan tutte | Mozart | Jane Leslie MacKenzie (Fiordiligi), Beverley Mills (Dorabella), Paul Nilon (Ferrando), Robert Hayward (Guglielmo), Kate Flowers (Despina), Eric Roberts (Don Alfonso) | Alan Hacker | Revival of 1981–82 production | Revival of 1981–82 production |
  | 1990–91 | Attila | Verdi | John Tomlinson/Jan Galla (Attila), Karen Huffstodt/Josephine Barstow (Odabella), Edmund Barham (Foresto), Jason Howard (Ezio) | Paul Daniel | Ian Judge | John Gunter/ Deirdre Clancy |
  | 1990–91 | The Jewel Box (world premiere) | Mozart | Barry Banks (Pedrolino), Mary Hegarty (Columbina), Pamela Helen Stephen (Composer), Jennifer Rhys-Davies (Singer), Mark Curtis (Dottore), Quentin Hayes (Pantalone), Stephen Richardson (Father) | Elgar Howarth | Francisco Negrin | Anthony Baker |
  | 1990–91 | Faust | Gounod | Arthur Davies (Faust), Anne Dawson (Marguerite), Richard Van Allan (Méphistophélès), Peter Savidge/Geoffrey Dolton (Valentin) | David Lloyd-Jones/ Roy Laughlin | Revival of 1985–86 production | Revival of 1985–86 production |
  | 1990–91 | Carmen | Bizet | Sally Burgess (Carmen), Edmund Barham (Don José), Robert Hayward/Jason Howard (Escamillo), Anne Williams-King (Micaela) | Oliver von Dohnányi | Revival of 1987–88 production | Revival of 1987–88 production |
  | 1990–91 | King Priam | Tippett | Andrew Shore (Priam), Christopher Ventris (Paris), Patricia Bardon (Helen), Neill Archer (Achilles), Eiddwen Harrhy (Hecuba), Geoffrey Dolton (Hector), Linda McLeod (Andromache) | Paul Daniel | Tom Cairns | Tom Cairns |
  | 1990–91 | Don Giovanni | Mozart | Robert Hayward (Don Giovanni), Helen Field (Donna Anna), Jane Leslie MacKenzie (Donna Elvira), John Hall (Leporello), Paul Nilon (Don Ottavio) | Paul Daniel | Tim Albery | Ashley Martin-Davis |
  | 1991–92 | L’étoile | Chabrier | Pamela Helen Stephen (Lazuli), Mary Hegarty (Princess Laoula), Anthony Mee (King Ouf), John Hall (Sirocco), Kate Flowers (Aloès), Alan Oke (Hérisson), Mark Curtis (Tapioca) | Jean‑Yves Ossonce /Martin Pickard | Phyllida Lloyd | Anthony Ward |
  | 1991–92 | La finta giardiniera | Mozart | Lynne Dawson (Sandrina), Paul Nilon (Belfiore), Neil Jenkins (Podestà), Richard Jackson (Nardo), Luretta Bybee/Ann Taylor (Ramiro) | Alan Hacker | Revival of 1989–90 production | Revival of 1989–90 production |
  | 1991–92 | Don Giovanni | Mozart | Robert Hayward (Don Giovanni), Helen Field/Bronwen Mills (Donna Anna), Jane Leslie MacKenzie (Donna Elvira), John Hall (Leporello), Paul Nilon (Don Ottavio) | Christopher Gayford | Revival of 1990–91 production | Revival of 1990–91 production |
  | 1991–92 | The Jewel Box | Mozart | Barry Banks (Pedrolino), Mary Hegarty (Columbina), Pamela Helen Stephen (Composer), Jennifer Rhys-Davies (Singer), Mark Curtis (Dottore), Quentin Hayes (Pantalone), Mark Glanville (Father) | Roy Laughlin/ Elgar Howarth | Revival of 1990–91 production | Revival of 1990–91 production |
  | 1991–92 | Caritas (world premiere) | Saxton | Eirian Davies (Christine), Jonathan Best (Bishop Henry), Christopher Ventris (Robert), David Gwynne (Richard) | Diego Masson | Patrick Mason | Joe Vaněk |
  | 1991–92 | Maskarade | Nielsen | Paul Nilon (Leander), Mary Hegarty (Leonora), Geoffrey Dolton (Henrik), Linda Ormiston (Magdelone), Clive Bayley (Jeronimus) | Roy Laughlin | Revival of 1989–90 production | Revival of 1989–90 production |
  | 1991–92 | Madama Butterfly | Puccini | Maryanne Telese (Butterfly), Richard Taylor/David Maxwell Anderson (Pinkerton), Keith Latham (Sharpless), Patricia Bardon (Suzuki) | Martin André | Jonathan Alver | Lez Brotherston/ Stephen Rodwell |
  | 1991–92 | Der ferne Klang (British premiere) | Schreker | Virginia Kerr (Grete), Kim Begley (Fritz), William Dazeley (Count), Peter Sidhom (Dr Vigelius) | Paul Daniel | Brigitte Fassbaender | Ultz |
  | 1991–92 | La gazza ladra | Rossini | Anne Dawson (Ninetta), Barry Banks (Giannetto), Andrew Shore (Podestà), Matthew Best (Fernando), Elizabeth McCormack (Pippo) | Ivor Bolton | Martin Duncan | Sue Blane |
  | 1991–92 | Rigoletto | Verdi | Keith Latham/Michael Lewis (Rigoletto), David Maxwell Anderson (Duke), Juliet Booth (Gilda) | John Pryce-Jones | Patrick Mason | Joe Vaněk |
  | 1991–92 | Boris Godunov | Mussorgsky | John Tomlinson (Boris), Paul Charles Clarke (Grigory), Jeffrey Lawton (Shuisky), Matthew Best (Pimen) | Paul Daniel | Revival of 1988–89 production | Revival of 1988–89 production |
  | 1992–93 | The Duenna (British premiere) | Gerhard | Susan Chilcott (Luisa), Pamela Helen Stephen (Clara), Adrian Clarke (Ferdinand), Gordon Wilson (Antonio), Andrew Shore (Jerome), Eric Roberts (Isaac), Gillian Knight (The Duenna) | Antoni Ros-Marbà | Helena Kaut-Howson | Sue Blane |
  | 1992–93 | Rigoletto | Verdi | Michael Lewis (Rigoletto), David Maxwell Anderson (Duke), Rosa Mannion (Gilda) | Paul Daniel | Revival of 1991–92 production | Revival of 1991–92 production |
  | 1992–93 | The Marriage of Figaro | Mozart | Gerald Finley/David Mattinson (Figaro), Linda Kitchen/Mary Plazas (Susanna), Robert Hayward/William Dazeley (Count), Jane Leslie MacKenzie (Countess), Ann Taylor-Morley/Pamela Helen Stephen (Cherubino) | Andrew Parrott | Caroline Gawn | Alison Chitty |
  | 1992–93 | Orpheus in the Underworld | Offenbach | Harry Nicoll (Orpheus), Linda Kitchen/Yvonne Barclay (Euridice), Eric Roberts (Jupiter) | Wyn Davies | Martin Duncan | Tim Hatley |
  | 1992–93 | Billy Budd | Britten | Jason Howard (Billy Budd), Nigel Robson/Philip Langridge (Captain Vere), John Tomlinson (Claggart) | Elgar Howarth | Graham Vick | Chris Dyer |
  | 1992–93 | Iolanta | Tchaikovsky | Joan Rodgers (Iolanta), Kim Begley (Vaudémont), Robert Hayward (Robert), Gwynne Howell/Norman Bailey (King René) | David Lloyd-Jones/ Martin Pickard | Martin Duncan | Anthony Ward |
  | 1992–93 | Don Carlos | Verdi | Richard Burke (Carlos), Linda McLeod (Elisabetta), Anthony Michaels-Moore (Posa), John Tomlinson (Philip II), Claire Powell (Eboli) | Paul Daniel/ Roy Laughlin | Tim Albery | Hildegard Bechtler /Nicky Gillibrand |
  | 1992–93 | La bohème | Puccini | William Burden (Rodolfo), Jane Leslie MacKenzie (Mimi), Robert Hayward (Marcello), Juliet Booth (Musetta) | Roy Laughlin/ Paul Daniel | Phyllida Lloyd | Anthony Ward |
  | 1992–93 | La Gioconda | Ponchielli | Rosalind Plowright/Marie Slorach (Gioconda), Edmund Barham (Enzo), Sally Burgess (Laura), Keith Latham (Barnaba) | Oliver von Dohnányi | Philip Prowse | Philip Prowse |
  | 1992–93 | Wozzeck | Berg | Andrew Shore (Wozzeck), Vivian Tierney (Marie), Jeffrey Lawton (Captain), John Rath (Doctor), Alan Woodrow (Drum-Major) | Paul Daniel | Deborah Warner | Hildegard Bechtler /Nicky Gillibrand |
  | 1993–94 | The Love for Three Oranges | Prokofiev | Christopher Ventris (The Prince), Paul Harrhy (Truffaldino), Andrew Shore (Leander), Maria Moll (Fata Morgana) | Wyn Davies/ Martin Pickard | Revival of 1988–89 production | Revival of 1988–89 production |
  | 1993–94 | La bohème | Puccini | Gordon Wilson (Rodolfo), Juliet Booth (Mimi), Robert Hayward (Marcello), Janis Kelly (Musetta) | Bruno Aprea | Revival of 1992–93 production | Revival of 1992–93 production |
  | 1993–94 | Tamerlano | Handel | Christopher Robson (Tamburlaine), Philip Langridge (Bajazet), Graham Pushee (Andronicus), Rosa Mannion (Asteria), Patricia Bardon (Irene) | Roy Goodman | Revival of 1984–85 production | Revival of 1984–85 production |
  | 1993–94 | Baa-Baa Black Sheep (world premiere) | Berkeley | William Dazeley (Mowgli), Fiona Kimm (Auntirosa), Henry Newman (Captain) | Paul Daniel | Jonathan Moore | David Blight |
  | 1993–94 | Il re pastore | Mozart | Joan Rodgers (Amyntas), Mary Hegarty (Elisa), Martyn Hill (Alexander), Patricia Bardon (Tamyris), Philip Salmon (Agenor) | Paul Daniel | David McVicar | Frank Higgins/ David McVicar |
  | 1993–94 | Gloriana | Britten | Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth I), Thomas Randle (Essex), Susan Chilcott (Lady Rich), Karl Daymond (Mountjoy), Yvonne Burnett (Lady Essex), Clive Bayley (Raleigh), Eric Roberts (Cecil) | Paul Daniel | Phyllida Lloyd | Anthony Ward |
  | 1993–94 | La traviata | Verdi | Michal Shamir (Violetta), David Maxwell Anderson (Alfredo), Peter Sodhom (Germont) | Jean‑Yves Ossonce /Roy Laughlin | Revival of 1984–85 production | Revival of 1984–85 production |
  | 1993–94 | L’étoile | Chabrier | Pamela Helen Stephen (Lazuli), Mary Hegarty (Princess Laoula), Paul Nilon (King Ouf), Jonathan Best/Richard Van Allan (Sirocco), Kate Flowers (Aloès), Alan Oke (Hérisson), Mark Curtis (Tapioca) | Valentin Reymond | Revival of 1991–92 production | Revival of 1991–92 production |
  | 1993–94 | La rondine | Puccini | Helen Field (Magda), Tito Beltrán (Ruggero), Peter Bronder (Prunier), Anna Maria Panzarella (Lisette), Peter Savidge (Rambaldo) | David Lloyd-Jones | Francesca Zambello | Bruno Schwengl |
  | 1993–94 | The Magic Flute | Mozart | William Burden (Tamino), Linda Kitchen (Pamina), William Dazeley (Papageno), John Rath (Sarastro), Eileen Hulse (Queen of the Night) | Andrew Parrott | Annabel Arden | Rae Smith |
  | 1993–94 | Playing Away (world premiere) | Mason | Philip Sheffield (Terry Bond), Rebecca Caine (LA Lola), Richard Suart (Stan Stock) | Paul Daniel | David Pountney | Huntley Muir |
  | 1994–95 | Le roi malgré lui (British premiere) | Chabrier | Russell Smythe (Henri), Justin Lavender (Nangis), Rosa Mannion (Minka), Nicholas Folwell (Laski) | Paul Daniel | Jeremy Sams | Lez Brotherston |
  | 1994–95 | The Magic Flute | Mozart | William Burden (Tamino), Linda Kitchen (Pamina), Karl Daymond (Papageno), John Rath (Sarastro), Eileen Hulse (Queen of the Night) | Harry Bicket | Revival of 1993–94 production | Revival of 1993–94 production |
  | 1994–95 | Il trovatore | Verdi | Edmund Barham (Manrico), Katerina Kudriavchenko (Leonora), Sally Burgess/Claire Powell (Azucena), Ettore Kim (Count di Luna) | Paul Daniel/ Roy Laughlin | Inga Levant | Charles Edwards |
  | 1994–95 | Il matrimonio segreto | Cimarosa | Paul Nilon (Paolino), Linda Kitchen (Carolina), Andrew Shore (Geronimo), Jonathan Best (Count Robinson), Mary Plazas (Elisetta), Tamsin Dives (Fidalma) | Richard Farnes | Jonathan Miller | John Conklin/ Stephen Rodwell |
  | 1994–95 | Oberto | Verdi | John Tomlinson (Oberto), Rita Cullis (Leonora), David Maxwell Anderson (Riccardo) Linda Finnie (Cuniza) | David Porcelijn | John Tomlinson | Russell Craig |
  | 1994–95 | Tosca | Puccini | Josephine Barstow/Marie Slorach (Tosca), Patrick Power (Cavaradossi), Matthew Best (Scarpia) | Stefano Ranzani | Revival of 1987–88 production | Revival of 1987–88 production |
  | 1994–95 | Troilus and Cressida | Walton | Arthur Davies (Troilus), Judith Howarth (Cressida), Nigel Robson (Pandarus), Alan Opie (Diomede), Clive Bayley (Calkas), Yvonne Howard (Evadne) | Richard Hickox/ Martin Pickard | Matthew Warchus | Neil Warmington |
  | 1994–95 | Les pêcheurs de perles | Bizet | Arthur Davies (Nadir), André Cognet (Zurga), Maria D’Aragnes (Leila) | Dietfried Bernet | Revival of 1988–89 production | Revival of 1988–89 production |
  | 1994–95 | Orpheus in the Underworld | Offenbach | Jamie MacDougall (Orpheus), Yvonne Barclay (Euridice), Eric Roberts (Jupiter) | Paul McGrath | Revival of 1992–93 production | Revival of 1992–93 production |
  | 1994–95 | Pelléas et Mélisande | Debussy | Joan Rodgers (Mélisande), William Dazeley (Pelléas), Robert Hayward (Golaud) | Paul Daniel | Richard Jones | Antony McDonald /Nicky Gillibrand |
  | 1995–96 | Hamlet | Thomas | Anthony Michaels-Moore/Karl Daymond (Hamlet), Rebecca Caine (Ophélie), Linda Finnie (Gertrude), Jan Galla (Claudius), John Rath (Ghost) | Oliver von Dohnányi | David McVicar | Michael Vale |
  | 1995–96 | Les pêcheurs de perles | Bizet | Léonard Pezzino (Nadir), André Cognet/Peter Savidge (Zurga), Maria D’Aragnes (Leila) | Brad Cohen | Revival of 1988–89 production | Revival of 1988–89 production |
  | 1995–96 | Jenůfa | Janáček | Stephanie Friede (Jenůfa), Josephine Barstow (Kostelnička), Julian Gavin (Laca), Neill Archer/Jeffrey Stewart (Števa) | Paul Daniel | Tom Cairns | Tom Cairns |
  | 1995–96 | Luisa Miller | Verdi | Susannah Glanville (Luisa), Arthur Davies (Rodolfo), Alan Opie (Miller), Matthew Best (Walter), Clive Bayley (Wurm) | Paul Daniel | Tim Albery | Stewart Lang |
  | 1995–96 | La bohème | Puccini | Tito Beltrán/Alan Oke (Rodolfo), Margaret Richardson (Mimi), Karl Daymond (Marcello), Elena Ferrari (Musetta) | Jean‑Yves Ossonce /Martin Fitzpatrick | Revival of 1992–93 production | Revival of 1992–93 production |
  | 1995–96 | Love Life | Weill | Margaret Preece (Susan), Alan Oke (Sam), Geoffrey Dolton (Magician/Vaudevillian/Hobo) | Wyn Davies | Caroline Gawn | Charles Edwards/ Nicky Gillibrand |
  | 1995–96 | Médée | Cherubini | Josephine Barstow (Médée), Thomas Randle (Jason), Nicola Sharkey (Dircé), Norman Bailey (Creon) | Paul Daniel | Phyllida Lloyd | Ian MacNeil/ Kandis Cook |
  | 1995–96 | The Duenna | Gerhard | Susannah Glanville (Luisa), Ann Taylor (Clara), Adrian Clarke (Ferdinand), Neill Archer (Antonio), Richard Van Allan (Jerome), Eric Roberts (Isaac), Claire Powell (The Duenna) | Antoni Ros-Marbà | Revival of 1992–93 production | Revival of 1992–93 production |
  | 1995–96 | The Marriage of Figaro | Mozart | Clive Bayley (Figaro), Linda Kitchen (Susanna), William Dazeley (Count), Janis Kelly (Countess), Alice Coote/Ann Taylor (Cherubino) | Richard Farnes | Caroline Gawn | Alice Purcell |
  | 1996–97 | The Marriage of Figaro | Mozart | Richard Whitehouse (Figaro), Mary Hegarty (Susanna), Roderick Williams (Count), Janis Kelly (Countess), Ann Taylor (Cherubino) | Paul Goodwin | Revival of 1995–96 production | Revival of 1995–96 production |
  | 1996–97 | Madama Butterfly | Puccini | Chen Sue (Butterfly), Mark Nicolson (Pinkerton), Peter Savidge/Simon Thorpe (Sharpless), Liane Keegan (Suzuki) | Marco Zambelli/ Martin Pickard/ Paul Daniel | Dalia Ibelhauptaitė | Oleg Cheintsis |
  | 1996–97 | Iphigénie en Aulide | Gluck | Lynne Dawson (Iphigenia), Neill Archer (Achilles), Christopher Purves (Agammemnon), Della Jones (Clytemnestra), John Rath (Calchas) | Valentin Reymond | Tim Hopkins | Nigel Lowery |
  | 1996–97 | Wozzeck | Berg | Andrew Shore (Wozzeck), Josephine Barstow (Marie), Peter Bronder (Captain), Clive Bayley (Doctor), Jacque Trussel/Keith Mills (Drum-Major) | Paul Daniel | Revival of 1992–93 production | Revival of 1992–93 production |
  | 1996–97 | Gloriana | Britten | Josephine Barstow (Elizabeth I), Thomas Randle (Essex), Susannah Glanville (Lady Rich), Karl Daymond (Mountjoy), Ruth Peel (Lady Essex), Clive Bayley (Raleigh), Eric Roberts (Cecil) | James Holmes/ Paul Daniel | Revival of 1993–94 production | Revival of 1993–94 production |
  | 1996–97 | Falstaff | Verdi | Andrew Shore (Falstaff), Rita Cullis (Alice Ford), Robert Hayward (Ford), Paul Nilon (Fenton), Margaret Richardson (Nanetta), Frances McCafferty (Mistress Quickly), Yvonne Howard (Meg Page) | Paul Daniel | Matthew Warchus | Laura Hopkins |
  | 1996–97 | Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria | Monteverdi | Alice Coote (Penelope), Nigel Robson (Ulysses) | Harry Bicket/ Martin Pickard | Annabel Arden | Tim Hatley |
  | 1996–97 | Tannhäuser | Wagner | Jeffrey Lawton (Tannhäuser), Rita Cullis (Elisabeth), Anne-Marie (Venus), Keith Latham (Wolfram), Norman Bailey (Landgrave) | Paul Daniel/ James Holmes | David Fielding | David Fielding |
  | 1996–97 | Cosí fan tutte | Mozart | Susannah Glanville (Fiordiligi), Emma Selway (Dorabella), Paul Nilon (Ferrando), William Dazeley (Guglielmo), Linda Kitchen (Despina), Jonathan Best (Don Alfonso) | Claire Gibault/ Martin Fitzpatrick | Tim Albery | Matthew Howland Robin Rawstorne /Tania Spooner |
  
  * ↑ "Main stage" means operas performed at Leeds Grand Theatre and a number of touring venues; small-scale productions are not included. Semi-staged concert performances at Leeds Town Hall and other similar venues are included, but concert performances without any staging are not.
  * ↑ Titles in Bold are new productions. Opera titles are those used in Wikipedia and not necessarily those used by Opera North.
  * ↑ Where two designers are credited, the first-named designed the set and the second designed the costumes
  * ↑ Arranged by Paul Griffiths
  * ↑ Performed as a double-bill with Adventures in Motion Pictures' version of The Nutcracker to celebrate the centenary of both works.
  