Bradford Kidnaps Leeds’ Best Export – Opera North! Wicked!

It began at 4.30pm on a cold Bradford afternoon and, quite frankly, Opera North’s ‘The Best of the West End’ at St George’s Hall has got to be one of the classiest shows I have seen this year.

My only regret is that I am unable to signpost you to the next performance of this ‘for one night only’ show which was absolutely stunning.

To my left was a lady from Liverpool and to my right another from Manchester: they travelled for this one! Someone had definitely got the word out.

It is rare that you see the back cloth at St George’s flown out but, last night, the hall’s spectacular organ pipes were on full display as the 60+ piece orchestra under the baton of Michael England, crammed on to the stage for this spectacular two-hour performance.

And, if that weren’t enough, four of the West End’s top performers - Alice Fearn (Wicked, Shrek The Musical), Scott Davies (Carousel, The Phantom of the Opera) Gina Beck (Wicked, Matilda the Musical) and Rob Houchen (Les Misérables) – fronted Mr England’s musical line up.

And they were stunning.

The magnificence of their singing brought me to tears with a feast of songs - solos, medleys and duets - from Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, and everything in between from Guys and Dolls to Cabaret, Mary Poppins and Chess.

Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 are the words on everyone’s lips at the moment and, for once, the cynics who are all too quick to put this great city down should have been in St George’s Hall last night.

If this is a sign of what has yet to come between now and 2025 then the city’s 1980’s campaign is finally coming true: Bradford’s on its way back with a bounce and Opera North has given the city a much deserved boost by just being there. A class act and top marks to whoever booked them in.