Opera North brings a stunning double-bill of groundbreaking tales to The Lowry

The excellent, award-winning Opera North makes a welcome return to Salford this month, kicking things off with a stunning double-header of gritty, blood-soaked dramas at The Lowry.

Running between Wed 20 Mar – Fri 22 Mar, the collective will deliver a two-part performance that features both the ever-popular Cavalleria rusticana as well as Rachmaninov’s rarely-heard Aleko.

An unprecedented overnight success upon its original release, Cavalleria rusticana pioneered a movement known as the ‘verismo’ which saw a greater sense of realism and ‘ordinary’ stories portrayed on the stage.

The story follows Turiddù and Lola, who were once lovers; but when Turiddù left to join the army, Lola married another man. While Turridù finds consolation in the arms of Santuzza, his passion for Lola still burns, thus unfolding a tale of faithlessness, jealousy and violence.

Rachmaninov’s first opera, Aleko, shapes the second half of the show. After Aleko turns his back on conventional society to join a marginalised community he falls in love with Zemfira. However, after Zemfira leaves for a younger lover, Aleko seeks bloody revenge, driven on by the unforgiving code of honours he has inherited.

Composed when he was just 19 years old, Rachmaninov’s passionate score showcases the rich orchestral palette so synonymous with his piano concertos and symphonies.

Tickets to Opera North’s performance of Cavalleria rusticana and Aleko are on sale now. Book yours using the button below.