In this special episode of the Opera North Podcast, recorded in the Howard Assembly Room in February 2022, Nazir Afzal OBE expands on his critically-acclaimed memoir, The Prosecutor, looking back on his his childhood and some watershed moments over the course of his illustrious career.

Nazir Afzal OBE was Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and formerly Director in London. Most recently, he was Chief Executive of the country’s Police & Crime Commissioners. During a 24-year career, he prosecuted some of the most high profile cases in the country and advised on many other and led nationally on several legal topics including Violence against Women and Girls, child sexual abuse, and honour-based violence.

He had responsibility for more than 100,000 other prosecutions each year. His prosecutions of the so-called Rochdale grooming gang, BBC presenter Stuart Hall and hundreds of others were groundbreaking and drove the work that has changed the landscape of child protection. He was appointed to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He is also National Adviser on Gender-Based Violence to the Welsh Government. Most recently he joined the advisory board of Google’s Innovation Fund for counter-extremism.

Liberty Lectures are part of Opera North's groundbreaking DARE programme in association with the University of Leeds.

As he prepared to bid farewell to the Company with our concert staging of Parsifal in summer 2022, Leader of the Orchestra of Opera North David Greed sat down with Music Director Garry Walker to reflect on his record-breaking career, the role of a concertmaster, and some personal highlights of his 44 years on the job.

With excerpts from performances from the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North.

Follow cellist and composer Abel Selaocoe and his collaborators through the rehearsal and recording of As You Are, his soundwalk for Leeds.

Experienced through headphones on a 40-minute walk through central Leeds, As You Are is a major Opera North commission for the South African-born musician, and sees him joined by the Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North, and soloists from across Africa.

Here Abel talks about his writing process, the many musical traditions from the African continent embedded within the piece, and his belief that music can open up a space for contemplation and refuge. Sounds captured on the walk itself meander through the interviews and music.

As you Are opens as part of Leeds City of Culture 2023 in March 2023.

The Leeds-based sitarist and composer talks about bringing Indian classical music to the western symphony orchestra, ahead of the world premiere of his new sitar concerto, commissioned by Opera North. 

First published in January 2020.

Director Charles Edwards and Opera North's Editor Stuart Leeks discuss Handel's mighty oratorio, Joshua, ahead of Opera North's fully-staged production at Leeds Grand Theatre in spring 2013.

First published 10 Apr 2013.

Opera North's Editor Stuart Leeks talks to director Tim Albery ahead of his production of Verdi's masterpiece, which opened at Leeds Grand Theatre in January 2013.

First published 17 Dec 2012.

Director John Fulljames talks to Opera North's Editor Stuart Leeks about Mozart's penultimate opera, ahead of his production for the Company that premiered in January 2013.

First published 17 Dec 2012.

Director Alessandro Talevi talks about how he shaped the concept for his production and reveals his favourite musical moments in the piece.

First published 27 Sep 2012.

Opera North's Editor Stuart Leeks discusses the second part of Wagner's ring cycle with the conductor, and Opera North's Music Director, Richard Farnes.

First published 18 May 2012.

Projects Director Dominic Gray discusses exploring Opera North's mainstage production of Carousel through a series of music, films, words and participation workshops.

First published 3 Apr 2012.