This year’s Leeds Opera Festival blends great music, mystery and suspense in the world premiere of the first-ever opera based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic Victorian sleuth.

Audiences are invited to join the razor-sharp detective as he investigates the Sign of Four. This is a story of murder, mayhem and stolen treasure which also contains a love interest.

Lliam Paterson is a 33-year-old award winning Aberdeen born composer. He has written the music and libretto for this thrilling new operatic perspective on one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes stories. Said Lliam: “The music is very rhythmical, with repeating sections and themes intended to mirror the workings of Sherlock's mind - and his infamous violin solos.”

The Sign of Four is being staged by Leeds based Northern Opera Group, as the headline event of their 8th annual Leeds Opera Festival. An exciting young cast will be led by Edward Hawkins as Sherlock Holmes and David Horton as his loyal associate Doctor Watson. The Sign of Four is conducted by Ellie Slorach, designed by Caitlin Mawhinney and directed by David Ward, artistic director of Northern Opera Group.

Said David: “Sherlock Holmes is such a theatrical character who obsessively pursues a clue. He loves to work undercover heavily disguised and he revels in the art of the reveal. Holmes’ set pieces really are a gift to the opera stage.”

The wide ranging programme of related events adds extra spice to the Festival’s mystery theme: The Book of Eternity, an interactive mystery for children will tour over twenty libraries across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Kirklees. This involving project promises to bring the magic of opera to diverse communities across the region. It will include creative workshops with primary school pupils in Leeds.

The Festival also features a musical escape game. The challenge is to find notorious opera singer Irene Adler before the time runs out in an all-new escape game with Locked In Games (until 8th Sept). Meanwhile, Opera Rave, at Opera North’s Howard Assembly Room, re-imagines the opera-going experience by blending arias with beats-infused electronic music. The objective is to create something that feels like an opera and a rave happening simultaneously. Clearly, Leeds Opera Festival remains as invigorating and inventive as ever.

The Sign of Four will be premiered at Leeds School of Arts Theatre, Beckett University, Portland Way from August 28-31. Leeds Opera Festival continues until September 8.

Tickets and info from: https://www.northernoperagroup.co.uk/leeds-opera-festival-2024