Thank you to all who attended and made the day so special.  The salon looked very festive, decorated with purple and gold balloons and members added to the sparkle with their golden accessories.  The lecture before the reception was The Romance of Gold by Susan Rumfitt.  The feedback from those attending was that it was an excellent lecture and very much enjoyed.  

Special thanks to Anne Palmer, Susan Rumfitt and Claire Wesley for speeches and to everyone who contributed in making the day a success.  We had two special anniversary cakes - the image shows Susan Rumfitt cutting one of them.

Our Special Event with Opera North on 31st January was another event that didn't disappoint.  Arts Society members and guests enjoyed an afternoon that started with coffee and cake, followed by a Q&A session with the Artistic Director, Esther Dix and "cover" singers, Sian Griffiths and Jack Holton.  We learnt the career journey each had made and the challenges facing an opera "cover" singer - a lot of observing rather than performing but having to be ready to go on if the worst happens to the lead artist.   At 2.30 pm we took our seats at Leeds Grand Theatre for a full dress rehearsal of Cosí fan Tutte.  The action was staged inside a giant camera obscura with doors that slid open for the actors to move through, like mice in an experiment.  The performance was superb - singing, acting, costumes and orchestra.  What a delightful way to spend a rainy afternoon in Leeds.  Thank you to Susan Mackintosh (Arts Volunteering Liaison) and Opera North for organising this event.

Opera North were excellent hosts at our Study Day at the Howard Opera Centre on 22 September.  Leeds Arts Society members were joined at the event by members from Wensleydale, Northallerton and Ebor Arts Societies.  

Our base for the day was the first floor Studio in the Howard Opera Centre.  Sitting next to a stage set dais, throughout the day we enjoyed presentations by the Production Manager, the Scheduling & Casting Administrator and, at the beginning of the day, a stimulating talk from the Director of the current production of La Traviata, Alessandro Talevi.  With Alessandro we explored set and scenery design for La Traviata, his inspirations and the challenges presented in the staging of an opera.  Alongside scenery, the cast must be dressed and were shown artist’s impressions of the costumes.  

I must be honest and say I am not an opera fan, but I do love the theatre and was looking forward to going behind the scenes of a big production.   Guided by Opera North’s Technical Manager, Peter Restall, the backstage tour of Leeds Grand Theatre was, for me, one of the highlights of the day.  Peter was a knowledgeable guide and as we stood on stage, next to Violetta’s bed, we learned about the history of the theatre and the issues around staging an opera in an old theatre.  We looked out across the auditorium, up to the Gods and the intricate wrought ironwork across the ceiling dome.  

By this time, we were ready for lunch which was served in the newly opened Kino restaurant in the Howard Assembly Rooms.  The restaurant was very comfortable and the generous buffet lunch tempted our tastebuds.  We had plenty of time to relax, partake of the good food and chat to each other about what we had learned during the morning.

In the afternoon, we took our second trip into Leeds Grand Theatre.  This time we were in the auditorium sitting in the Dress Circle to observe a live production rehearsal.  The full orchestra were in the orchestra pit and on stage we watched Violetta and Alfredo rehearse their duet interrupted now and again by the Stage Manager with prompts to get musicians and singers more in sync.  The singing was hypnotic and the scene was made even more special by the fact that we ourselves had stood on that stage hours before. 

But all good things come to an end and we eventually had to leave the theatre for our final session of the day in the Howard Opera Centre Studio.  We were welcomed back by Richard Mantle, the General Director of Opera North and were invited to ask questions.   

It was evident from the comments and questions throughout the day that the Study Day had been enjoyed by all.  This was reinforced by the fact that quite a few attendees purchased tickets for La Traviata, including me.

The day with SUZANNE COOPER  followed the footsteps of the Victorian artists who fell in love with the world of Dante and Botticelli, and will look at how these encounters challenged and reinvigorated the art of 19th century England.

Suzanne Cooper studied history at Oxford University and Art history at the Courtauld Institute. She is currently Research Director at York Art Gallery, working on an exhibition on Turner and Ruskin. She has worked as a historical consultant for films, and published books on Pre-Raphaelite Art in the V and A, The Victorian Woman, and Effie Gray.

SUSAN RUMFITT from the Rumfitt Gallery in Harrogate returns to follow up on a previous study day.

This day will focus on Victorian and Art Nouveau jewellery, with an opportunity to look at and handle examples.

TIM STIMSON will lead a day looking at the works of Victorian artist Atkinson Grimshaw whose work was in the pre-Raphaelite style. This artist was born in Leeds in 1836, and died in Leeds in 1893 and is buried in St Georges Fields. (Woodhouse Cemetery).

His early work was under the patronage of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society. This day will provide a opportunity to hear some of the most recent research into Atkinson Grimshaw’s work.

David Rosier will lead us through the Court Costume and Dress Accessories worn by Chinese Imperial family and senior Civil  and Military Officials.
There will be a display of items from the Wendy and David Rosier collection of Qing Dynasty textiles plus dress accessories.

DAVID ROSIER

David Rosier is a chartered insurer by profession. He spent over 25  years living and working in Asia. While living in Hong Kong from 1991 to 2004 he assembled a collection of approximately 700 predominantly Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Imperial textiles and related costume accessories. David is a past Committee Member of the Hong Kong Society and a frequent speaker on Imperial Insignia and Badges of Rank.

A study of late C19th and early C20th stained glass, style, content, context and iconography. This is a return visit following Michael’s highly successful visit last year.  It will be of particular interest to church recorders as well as to anyone with an interest in, and love of, late Victorian, Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts stained glass.

MICHAEL SWIFT

Until recently the stained glass adviser to the Diocese of Truro, Michael has for over 10 years been much in demand for his lectures and study days on stained glass.   Michael has researched into, and written extensively about, stained glass, including producing the definitive work on the windows of Truro Cathedral.

His work to date can be found at cornishstainedglass.org.uk.