MASQUE OF MIGHT Purcell – Opera North

Diktat is a tyrannical ruler unleashing chaos on the planet. But, as a band of unlikely heroes forms, launching a battle of biblical proportions, can a shattered world heal in time? Masque of Might is the world premiere of a witty and satirical new opera which sees Sir David Pountney skilfully assemble Henry Purcell’s music to create a fantastical and thoroughly modern tale of power, corruption and the gathering climate crisis. Henry Purcell is arguably England’s finest composer of music for the stage before Benjamin Britten, yet he wrote only one opera, Dido and Aeneas. Masterpiece though that undoubtedly is, much of Purcell’s greatest dramatic music is to be found in the ‘semi-operas’, masques and other entertainments that were popular in his time, such as The Fairy Queen. Masque of Might showcases Purcell’s most beautiful, as well as rarely heard, music – including the spellbinding ‘O let me weep‘ from The Fairy Queen, the virtuosic ‘Arise ye subterranean winds‘ from The Tempest and the epic chorus ‘Soul of the world‘ from Ode for St Cecilia’s Day. Harry Bicket conducts the chorus and orchestra of Opera North. Full performance streamed on OperaVision from 3 December 2023 at 19:00 CET to 3 June 2024: @operanorth CAST Nebulous / Activist / Wolf Andri Björn Róbertsson Elena / Witch Anna Dennis Tousel Blond / Fox James Laing Strumpet Ginger James Hall Diktat Callum Thorpe Scrofulous / Toady / Seer / Saul Xavier Hetherington Sceptic / Samuel Matthew Brook Dancers Jonny Aubrey-Bentley Rose Ellen Lewis Ruby Portus Ben Yorke-Griffiths Orchestra Orchestra of Opera North Chorus Chorus of Opera North Music Henry Purcell Musical numbers edited by Huw Daniel Text assembled and adapted by David Pountney Conductor Harry Bicket Director David Pountney Sets Leslie Travers Costume Marie-Jeanne Lecca Lighting Paule Constable Ben Pickersgill Video design David Haneke Choreography Denni Sayers Chorus Master Anthony Kraus OperaVision is a freeview opera streaming platform, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. Watch live streams as the performances themselves unfold in the opera house. Enjoy a variety of shows - including opera, operetta, musical theatre, dance, ballet and concerts. Opera connaisseur or curious newcomer, there is something for everyone on OperaVision. WEBSITE: FACEBOOK: X: INSTAGRAM: TIKTOK: @operavision