Leeds College of Music Community Symphony Orchestra

Stars of Opera North and Leeds College of Music tutors Mary Plazas and Paul Nilon join the College’s Community Symphony Orchestra in this all-Tchaikovsky programme, conducted by the College’s John Anderson. The concert starts with the dramatic Entr’acte and Waltz from his lyric opera Eugene Onegin, followed by two of the most popular arias from the same work. The afternoon is rounded off with a performance of the popular Symphony No 6, his final and what he considered to be his best symphony, and of which he led the first performance just nine days before his death in 1893.

Mary Plazas is one of the UK’s leading sopranos. She has sung many lead roles for ENO, Opera North and others and has featured on several recordings. She has also given many recitals and concerts including solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, and the Karajan Centre in Vienna and has performed at many of the UK’s most prestigious music festivals. Leading tenor Paul Nilon has enjoyed great success in recent seasons. He has appeared in many opera performances and concerts both in the UK and internationally and has featured on recordings for Opera Rara. In 2009/10 he will sing the title role in a new production of Idomeneo for ENO.