A Little Night Music
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WELCOME It is a real pleasure to welcome you to the Quarry before last, and who share the role of Fredrika in Theatre for the first time in many months for our A Little Night Music. It’s a thrill to be able to perform co-production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Sondheim’s work in Jonathan Tunick’s original Music. This latest collaboration between Leeds orchestrations, with the brilliant Orchestra of Opera Playhouse and Opera North represents a significant North conducted by one of the world’s leading step for both organisations on the road back to a full interpreters of classic musical theatre, Jim Holmes. programme of performances for live audiences. Behind the scenes, our staff have been working The partnership between our two companies has incredibly hard to ensure a safe environment flourished since our work together five years ago for performers and audiences alike, and that on another Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, and will continue to be a top priority as we plan for has grown all the stronger during the pandemic. performances without restrictions in the coming Against the odds we made an all too brief return months. There is much to look forward to from to live performance together last October with both companies, with Pam Gems’ sensational play the Connecting Voices season, which included about the life of Edith Piaf at the Playhouse later Orpheus in the Record Shop, an extraordinary new this summer, and an autumn season that includes work by Leeds-based artist Testament, which was the magical Christmas show Wendy and Peter subsequently filmed for BBC4’s Lights Up festival. Pan. Opera North returns to Leeds Grand Theatre in October with one of the world’s most popular Many of the roles in A Little Night Music are cast operas, Carmen, and an intriguing Bernstein double from Opera North’s extraordinarily talented and bill that includes a new collaboration with Phoenix versatile Chorus, who have brought an abundance of Dance Theatre. imagination and creativity to the rehearsal room, just as they did in Into the Woods. We’re also delighted With travel so restricted at the moment, we hope to be joined by a number of hugely distinguished that for a few hours at least you’ll enjoy being guest artists, including Dame Josephine Barstow, caught up in Sondheim’s enchanted web of romantic Stephanie Corley and Quirijn de Lang, who are entanglements on a Scandinavian midsummer’s already part of the broader Opera North family, night when the sun won’t set. and Corinne Cowling and Laurence Kilsby, who are making their debuts with both Opera North and Leeds Playhouse. Making a very welcome return to the Quarry stage are Agatha Meehan and James Brining Richard Mantle Lucy Sherman, who shared the role of Dorothy in Artistic Director General Director The Wizard of Oz at the Playhouse the Christmas Leeds Playhouse Opera North 2 A Little Night Music - Welcome A Leeds Playhouse and Opera North co-production A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Music and Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by HUGH WHEELER Original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick Suggested by a film by INGMAR BERGMAN Originally Produced and Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited First performance: 25 February 1973, Shubert Theatre, New York First performance of this production: 26 June 2021, Quarry Theatre, Leeds Playhouse The performance lasts approximately 3 hours including one interval of 25 minutes 3 A Little Night Music CHARACTERS Madame Armfeldt Dame Josephine Barstow Desiree Armfeldt her daughter, an actress Stephanie Corley Fredrika Armfeldt Desiree’s daughter Agatha Meehan* Lucy Sherman† Fredrik Egerman a lawyer Quirijn de Lang Anne Egerman his new wife Corinne Cowling Henrik Egerman Fredrik’s son from a previous marriage Laurence Kilsby Petra Anne’s maid Amy J Payne Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm Christopher Nairne Countess Charlotte Malcolm his wife Helen Évora The Quintet: Mrs Nordstrom Gillene Butterfield* Miranda Bevin† Mrs Segstrom Molly Barker* Amy Freston† Mrs Anderssen Claire Pascoe* Hazel Croft† Mr Lindquist Dean Robinson* James Davies† Mr Erlanson Tim Ochala-Greenough* Stuart Laing† Frid Madame Armfeldt’s manservant Ivan Sharpe Malla Desiree’s maid Sarah Blood Bertrand Page in Madame Armfeldt’s household Warren Gillespie Osa Maid in Madame Armfeldt’s household Kathryn Stevens * 26, 30 Jun; 1, 7, 8, 16, 17 Jul † 29 Jun; 2, 3, 9, 10, 14, 15 Jul Conductor James Holmes exc. 29 Jun; 8 (eve), 9, 10, 17 (mat) Jul Oliver Rundell 29 Jun; 8 (eve), 9, 10, 17 (mat) Jul Director James Brining Set and Costume Designer Madeleine Boyd Lighting Designer Chris Davey Sound Designer Sebastian Frost Choreographer Lucy Hind Voice Coach Emma Woodvine Assistant Conductor Oliver Rundell Assistant Director Anna Pool Chief Repetiteur Annette Saunders Stage Manager Kate Freston-Davy Deputy Stage Manager (Book) Rebecca Wing Assistant Stage Managers Lisa Ganley Abby Jones Production Manager Mick Cassidy Head of Wardrobe Victoria Marzetti Sound No. 1 Ian Penrose Trainee Assistant Director Xolani Crabtree Set Construction and Scenic Art by Leeds Playhouse Scenic Workshops 4 A Little Night Music - Characters ORCHESTRA OF OPERA NORTH First Violins (3) Bassoon (1) For Leeds Playhouse For Opera North Andrew Long (Co-Leader) Adam Mackenzie Artistic Director General Director Byron Parish (Principal) David Baker * James Brining Richard Mantle OBE Michael Ardron * Brian Reilly * Horns (2) Executive Director Music Director Robert Ashworth * Robin Hawkes Garry Walker Second Violins (3) John Pratt Associate Director Principal Guest Katherine New * Alexander Hamilton Amy Leach Conductor Cristina Ocaña Rosado Samuel Yates Antony Hermus Catherine Baker * Associate Director – Wendy Dyson * Trumpets (2) Creative Engagement Director of Planning Alison Dixon Jonathan Clarke Alexander Ferris Christine Jane Chibnall Adam Wood Technical Director Finance Director Violas (2) Michael Woodhead * Judith Cloke Kirsty Bullen David Aspin Lourenço Macedo Sampaio Trombone (1) Finance Director Director of Orchestra Anne Trygstad Blair Sinclair Chris Williams and Chorus Elizabeth Wyly * Robert Burtenshaw * Phil Boughton Director of Marketing & Communications Projects Director Cellos (2) Percussion/Timpani Hannah Hughes Dominic Gray Jessica Burroughs Mark Wagstaff Daniel Bull Director of Human Education Director Jonathan Pether Harp Resources & Learning Jacqui Cameron Céline Saout Chris Coates Director of Bass (1) Strategic Director External Affairs Genna Spinks Piano/Celeste of Fundraising & David Collins Diane Clark Annette Saunders Development Technical and Kath Russell Flutes (2) * Opera North Company Production Director member for 25 years Luke O’Toole or more Commercial & Kieron Docherty Sarah Whewell Operations Director Matt Bowman Oboe (1) Senior Producer Richard Hewitt * Wesley Bennett-Pearce Catherine Lowe * Clarinets (2) Audio-described Our thanks to all Andrew Mason performances the freelancers and Sarah Masters Thursday 15 July the permanent and Adam Slater 7.30pm, Saturday casual staff at both 17 July 2.00pm Leeds Playhouse and Opera North for their Captioned performance contribution to the Friday 9 July 7.30pm creation and running BSL-interpreted of A Little Night performances Music during a Thursday 1 July challenging period for 7.30pm, Saturday performing arts. 10 July 2.00pm 5 A Little Night Music - Orchestra MUSICAL NUMBERS Act One Act Two OVERTURE ENTR’ACTE Quintet (Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom, Mrs. Anderssen, Mr. Lindquist, Mr. Erlanson) THE SUN WON’T SET (NIGHT WALTZ I) Quintet FIRST WALTZ Company THE SUN SITS LOW (NIGHT WALTZ II) Quintet NOW Fredrik Egerman IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL Fredrik, Carl-Magnus LATER Henrik Egerman PERPETUAL ANTICIPATION Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom, Mrs. Anderssen SOON Anne Egerman SEND IN THE CLOWNS Desiree THE GLAMOROUS LIFE Fredrika Armfeldt, Desiree Armfeldt, THE MILLER’S SON Quintet, Madame Armfeldt Petra REMEMBER? Reprises: Quintet SOON / YOU MUST MEET MY WIFE / YOU MUST MEET MY WIFE A WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY / Fredrik, Desiree EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH Quintet LIAISONS Madame Armfeldt Reprise: SEND IN THE CLOWNS IN PRAISE OF WOMEN Desiree, Fredrik Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm LAST WALTZ EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Anne A WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY Company 6 A Little Night Music - Musical Numbers In rehearsal: Dame Josephine Barstow (Madame Armfeldt) Photograph: Sharron Wallace WHAT PASSES BY Conductor Jim Holmes and director James Brining in conversation with Stuart Leeks ‘Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul / says, ‘but I do think Covid affects the way we see But it’s bad for the heart’ things – certainly in this piece, which has so much to do with human interaction and intimacy. With So goes one of Stephen Sondheim’s lyrics in so many people having been denied the simplest A Little Night Music. Anyone involved in the current physical intimacy with family or friends, and having co-production of the show by Leeds Playhouse been denied it ourselves in the rehearsal room and and Opera North could be forgiven for demanding to a large extent in the staging of the production, the a rewrite: perpetual anticipation is good for question of what is truly valuable in life has become neither the soul nor the heart, and certainly not more urgent for me. What is most important? Is it the nerves. Originally scheduled to open in May the acquisition of status and possessions, or is it last year, the onset of the pandemic forced an relationships and emotional satisfaction? I wouldn’t