West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein turns his Broadway panache to a short 50-minute gen of an opera that packs a powerful punch.

The cards are in your favour as Carmen waltzes into the Lowry theatre for Opera North’s new, sensual production. The French treasure, written by Georges Bizet in 1875 is infused with a Spanish flair and blends it extensive, lavish love story with a compelling score.

The Marriage of Figaro follows a fierce set of complicated characters whose class, desires and pride fuel the fast-paced farce. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s tale, originally written in 1786, set against the French Revolution has been updated to pre-revolutionary Russia, allowing Opera North to confront a collapsing aristocratic rule in a new location.

Layering class, duty and passion, Opera North’s Katya Kabanova plunges audiences into her turbulent love life with an intense operatic...