"Back by popular demand" is a phrase most of us don't associate with contemporary opera, though this revival of Jonathan Dove's The Adventures of Pinocchio amply justifies its use. Adored at its Leeds premiere in 2007, it became a hit in Germany and the US as well as the UK, and its return to Opera North to open the new season was cheered to the rafters by a packed house.
The opera's strengths lie in Dove's narrative powers and in his ability to sustain a sense of genuine, if at times sinister, magic. His sense of shape, pace and proportion allows him to capture the episodic quality of Carlo Collodi's children's serial without letting it sprawl. Catchy, Stravinskyan rhythms guide us excitedly through the story, though Dove pauses from time to time to contemplate the ethereal beauty of the Blue Fairy or the dangerous animalism that lurks behind the surface glitz of Funland. Unlike many operas conceived as family entertainment, this refuses to sentimentalise or patronise: by the end we are fully – even painfully – aware of the emotional and moral complexities that Pinocchio's transformation from puppet into "real boy" will entail.
The opera is also unimaginable without Victoria Simmonds in the title role and Martin Duncan's astonishing production. Simmonds, heading an outstanding cast and singing for the best part of two-and-a-half very taxing hours, is funny, touching and utterly compelling. Duncan, meanwhile, turns the stage into a literal box of magic tricks that leaves adults as well as kids gasping with wonder and surprise. Beautiful stuff and enchanting from start to finish.
In rep until 23 October (box office: 0844 848 2720), then touring.
