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Opera

A Christmas Carol

Chorus of Opera North

  • Date night
  • Great for groups
  • Under 90 mins
  • Early finish
Date
Sun, 20 Dec 2026
Time
18:00 · 1h 15m
Venue
Howard Assembly Room
City
Leeds
Conductor
Garry Walker
Tickets
from £27.5
Book from £27.5 ↗

You'll be taken to the ensemble's official site.

Summary

Garry Walker conducts the Chorus of Opera North in a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Howard Assembly Room.

Why it's fantastic

This seventy-five-minute concert captures the gothic chill and eventual warmth of Dickens’ famous ghost story through a series of vivid choral arrangements. It is an ideal introduction to the power of a professional chorus, offering a hauntingly atmospheric alternative to the usual bright lights of the festive season.

Good to know

Runtime
1h 15m
When to clap
Clap (or 'bravo!') after big arias and at the end of each act

Our guide to this performance

What you'll hear

We are presented with a musical retelling of the classic Victorian ghost story by Charles Dickens. Throughout the seventy-five-minute duration, you will hear a series of choral arrangements that trace the emotional journey from the icy, gothic isolation of the early scenes to the eventually glowing, festive redemption of the finale. The sequence is designed to evoke the specific atmosphere of the text, moving through haunting, ethereal passages that represent the supernatural visitations. Listen for how the singers use vocal textures to mirror the biting winter cold and the contrasting warmth of the closing movements. The structure relies on the ensemble's ability to shift from stark, sombre tones to the rich, expansive harmonies associated with the holiday season. It offers a focused, atmospheric alternative to traditional carol services, prioritising narrative depth and a sense of theatrical drama through the medium of the human voice.

Who's performing

The Chorus of Opera North is a professional vocal ensemble based in Leeds, recognised for its versatility across the operatic and concert repertoire. Known for their precision and powerful collective sound, they frequently perform at major venues across the North of England. In this performance, they are led by conductor Garry Walker. The ensemble is celebrated for bringing a high level of dramatic intensity to their singing, drawing on their experience in staged opera to deliver evocative and characterful performances in a concert setting.

Planning your evening

This performance takes place at the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds and lasts approximately seventy-five minutes. As the duration is relatively short and the subject matter is widely familiar, it is a suitable choice if you are attending a choral concert for the first time or if you prefer a shorter evening out. The event is listed as an opera category performance but presented in a concert format. There is no specific dress convention for this venue, though many patrons choose smart-casual attire for festive events.

Written by the Bravura editorial team from the ensemble's published programme and venue information. We don't reproduce copy from box-office sites. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.

Programme

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