Opera North Wins South Bank Show Award

Leeds-based Opera North has won the prestigious South Bank Show Award for Opera against stiff competition from English National Opera and The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with its thrilling new production of Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, directed by Phyllida Lloyd.

Richard Mantle, General Director of Opera North and Phyllida Lloyd collected the award at a special ceremony hosted by Melvyn Bragg on Tuesday 23 January at The Savoy to honour the UK's creative and most popular artists in 2006, in front of a star-studded audience. The South Bank Show Awards are the only awards in the world to recognise excellence across the arts of Theatre, Film, Dance, Classical Music, Pop Music, Opera, Literature, Comedy, Visual Arts and TV Drama.

Speaking about the award Richard Mantle commented:

"This is a tremendous accolade for everyone involved in Phyllida Lloyd's inspired production of Peter Grimes, which became a crowning moment in our season heralding the re-opening of Leeds Grand Theatre. Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts' electrifying performance in the title role, supported by a brilliant cast and the undying fervour with which our chorus and orchestra approach such artistic endeavours under the incisive leadership of Richard Farnes, makes me particularly proud that we have received this important award at this point in the Company's history.

"The production has recently been nominated in the Best New Opera Production in the Olivier Awards and will return to Leeds, London, Salford Quays, Belfast, Newcastle and Nottingham at the beginning of next year."

The South Bank Show Awards was broadcast on Sunday 28 January 2007 on ITV1.

Opera North's production of Peter Grimes is supported by the Friends of Opera North. The production is designed by Anthony Ward with lighting by Paule Constable. -- www.operanorth.co.uk