THE Orchestra of Opera North is more often hidden from view in the pit, providing backing to a range of operatic productions.

But it remains the only ensemble in the country to have a year-round dual role in the concert hall.

In a rare foray into the open in the North-East, it gave a spectacular concert at The Sage.

The orchestra, under the baton of Bramwell Tovey, began with sensitive take on Ravel’s La Vallee des Cloches, arranged by Percy Grainger.

Asie, the second song in Ravel’s Sheherazade, was billed as being “definitely on the list of things to hear before you die”. Soprano Susan Gritton gave a performance to die for; her voice sensuously entwined with the flute in her delivery of La flute Enchantee.

The evening was rounded off with Orff’s Carmina Burana, a work more commonly known by the opening lines of Fortuna Imperatix Mundi, which has been filched by countless advertisers.

The mighty forces of the Huddersfield Choral Society – all 200 members – hurled out the introduction with unbridled gusto and at a volume that blew one’s socks off.

Baritone William Dazeley gave a robust peformance, his powerful voice adding an earthy gravitas to Omnia Sol Temperat. Tenor John Graham- Hall stole the show with his performance of Olim Lacus Colueram – the pain in his voice exquisite as he took on role of the beautiful swan “black and roasted to a turn”.

A further highlight was provided by Gritton’s flawless tripping up and down the highest of scales in Dulcissime.

Throughout, Tovey had a dynamic grip on the rhythms of the work. A tour de force.