Leading arts organisation Opera North has announced two significant appointments as it continues to ensure opera remains a vital part of the cultural offering in Leeds and further afield.
Garry Walker will step down as Music Director at the end of his current term in August 2028 to be succeeded by Patrick Lange (pictured above). Having begun his opera conducting career in Zurich and Lucerne, Patrick has subsequently become a regular guest conductor at leading opera houses worldwide, including the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Opéra National de Paris. Further engagements have taken him to the Royal Opera House in London, Opéra du Capitole Toulouse, Semperoper Dresden, Opera Australia, Opernhaus Zürich, the Canadian Opera Company and the Korean National Opera in Seoul.
Patrick made his debut with Opera North in 2025 conducting The Magic Flute to both critical and audience acclaim. He returns to the company this year for a revival of Femi Elufowoju Jr’s hard-hitting Rigoletto.
As Music Director, he will conduct opera productions in Leeds and on tour, and symphonic concerts as part of the Kirklees Concert Season, as well as supporting the many other aspects of Opera North’s work, including its community and education initiatives.
He said: ‘It fills me with great joy and pride to have been appointed Music Director at Opera North. I am deeply moved by the extraordinary spirit that prevails in the company – a spirit that unites all the fantastic people within it in the pursuit of creating beautiful, delightful and memorable emotional experiences. Opera North are passionate about what they do; they truly love opera and their audience, and it is a privilege to be able to make my contribution to this.
‘I am also incredibly excited about working with the wonderful Chorus and Orchestra, after taking them straight to my heart since my debut at Opera North last year. Together we have big plans, and I can hardly wait to put them into action.’
The Opera North Board of Trustees welcomes a new Chair following Paul Lee OBE’s decision to step down after 12 years in post. Taking on the role will be Merran McRae (pictured).
Merran has extensive experience in governance, strategic leadership and partnership across the public, charitable and cultural sectors. Previously Chief Executive of Wakefield Council, she is now Chair of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and has held several non-executive roles in the cultural and charitable sectors, including currently as Deputy Chair at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and previously as Trustee and Chair of Nominations at The Hepworth Wakefield.