Opera North’s Simon Boccanegra An Immersive Experience

Opera North’s concert staging of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra Roland Wood as Simon Boccanegra and Vazgen Gazaryan as Jacopo Fiesco with the Orchestra of Opera North. Conductor Antony Hermus, Director PJ Harris, Designer Anna Reid, Lighting Designer Richard Moore Photo credit: James Glossop

It was a pleasure to be invited back to St George’s Hall in Bradford for a performance of Opera North’s Simon Boccanegra. It’s a beautiful concert hall filled with memories from various gigs over the years.

Opened in 1853 and recently refurbished, this Grade II-listed building is a centrepiece for Bradford’s City of Culture 2025 celebrations. Its ornate Victorian grandeur set a fitting backdrop for an opera steeped in political intrigue and emotional depth.

Opera North’s new production of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra felt fresh and innovative. The orchestra took centre stage and was visible throughout the performance. It was an immersive experience unlike any traditional opera staging. Audiences were drawn into Verdi’s world from all angles, with the action spilling into the auditorium and creating a powerful 360-degree effect. This innovative approach made the story of clashing political factions, lost and found familial ties, and the plea for unity feel all the more immediate and relevant to today’s society.

Richard Mosley-Evans as Pietro, Roland Wood as Simon Boccanegra and Mandla Mndebele as Paolo Albiani with the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North Photo credit: James Glossop

Director PJ Harris and designer Anna Reid crafted a clever, imaginative staging that made the most of St George’s Hall’s smaller platform. A simple three-part set structure suggested shifting locations, from palatial chambers to stormy streets, with hanging banners marking the divisions between the patrician and plebeian factions.

Musically, the evening was a feast. Antony Hermus, Opera North’s principal guest conductor, led the Orchestra of Opera North in a stirring, passionate reading of Verdi’s richly dramatic score. Being seated so close to the orchestra allowed the audience to experience the music.

The international cast was outstanding. Roland Wood, as Simon Boccanegra, brought gravitas and humanity to the Doge, while Sara Cortolezzis, making her Opera North debut as Amelia, sang with power and emotion.

Roland Wood as Simon Boccanegra, Sara Cortolezzis as Maria Boccanegra and Andrés Presno as Gabriele Adorno Photo credit: James Glossop

Mandla Mndebele also stood out as the villainous Paolo.
The production managed to make a 19th-century political drama feel contemporary. Verdi’s plea for peace, written in a fractured Italy, resonates just as strongly today in a world struggling with its own deep divisions.
Opera North’s Simon Boccanegra reminds us that good art holds a mirror up to society and urges change.

If you have the chance, do not miss this production as it tours. For tickets, visit: https://www.operanorth.co.uk/
Bradford has a packed itinerary for the City of Culture, and it’s worth 10 minutes of your day to review the programme and book some events - https://bradford2025.co.uk/ - there is something for everyone.