CityLife

Classical highlights: Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Opera North...

Conductor Jaap Van Zweden

One of the most dynamic new orchestras on the European scene is heading our way – the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic plays the Bridgewater Hall on March 1 (a day before Symphony Hall in Birmingham).

I say ‘new’ because this orchestra was re-born out of a financial crisis only five years ago.

There were two big radio orchestras in Holland before that, but government cuts meant they were down to one (plus a radio chamber orchestra and professional radio choir).

Dynamic Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden was appointed chief conductor just before the crisis broke and had the unenviable task of re-casting the orchestras with 85 fewer players than their predecessors’ total.

The fact that he did it with minimum anguish and rapidly built up the new Philharmonic’s morale afterwards is testimony to his leadership abilities and the respect he earns.

He’s a musicians’ musician – formerly the youngest-ever leader of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra (he was appointed age 19) and encouraged to turn to conducting by none other than Leonard Bernstein.

His watchword with orchestras (he’s also music director of the Dallas Symphony and building a big reputation in the States) is ‘discipline’.

More of him and his vision next week. But the quality of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic vividly apparent to me on a quick visit to hear them last month was the confidence of their playing – and the number of young players in key positions in their line-up. Van Zweden did not just select from the existing players, but brought on many rising stars.

“I think our brass is actually much better than the Concertgebouw’s,” says orchestra manager Kees Dijk. “And Jaap knows exactly how to work with the string players, too, because he’s one of them. He knows how to make an orchestra sound better.”

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Opera North’s new production for their visit to the Lowry next week is a Gilbert & Sullivan classic: Ruddigore.

Director Jo Davies has given it some of the atmosphere of early silent films, and there’s plenty for traditional Gilbert & Sullivan fans to enjoy, too.

Alongside it, Opera North is reviving La Boheme by Puccini, which was first seen on a British stage here, in our own Theatre Royal on Peter Street, in 1899.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, this version was a hit in 1993 and has been revived more than once since. It brings the story into the 1950s, and sharpens the contrast between the tender love of Rodolfo and Mimi and the tougher, love-hate relationship of their friends Marcello and Musetta.

This year’s cast includes Opera North’s new discovery, Anne Sophie Duprels, as Mimi (she’s already sung Madame Butterfly for them), and Jeni Bern as Musetta. Music director Richard Farnes conducts.

There’s also another chance for those who missed the new production of Cosí Fan Tutte last autumn.

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Elemental Opera is a group of recent graduates from the Royal Northern College of Music, Guildhall School and Trinity College in London.

Based in Manchester, it is presenting two performances of Britten’s The Rape Of Lucretia at the RNCM on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. The show has already been seen in Sheffield and London.

Director Gavin Magenty has tackled the opera’s structure – a story from pre-Christian times commented on by Christian ‘chorus’ figures ­– by presenting it as a mother and father, themselves knowing the consequences of teenage rebellion, telling it to their wayward daughter.

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Singers wanted: St Ann’s church choir in Manchester is 46-strong but lacks enough altos (or contraltos) for good balance, and needs another tenor.

Contact Ronald Frost on 01204 883338 or the church on 0161 834 0239.