Opera North launched in 1978, following a prolongued battle to create a permanent opera company in the North of England (of the current 'Big 6' UK opera companies, Opera North is the youngest).

For a number of years, it looked as though Manchester would be the likely home for the proposed company, however the civic investment and show of concrete support from Leeds - not to mention the advocacy of English National Opera's Managing Director, and Lord of Harewood House, George Lascelles - made Yorkshire its eventual destination.

The company emerged from English National Opera (hence their original name of 'English National Opera North'), as a way of removing the touring requirements on the London company, and finally creating a full-time opera company for the North. In the decades leading up to this, Leeds was still kept well with opera, with the likes of the D'Oyly Carte Company, and the touring companies of English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Scottish Opera, and Welsh National Opera, all performing in the city. For all the good that Opera North brought to Leeds, it put an end to such a broad diversity of travelling companies visiting the city.

Under the leadership of Music Director, David Lloyd-Jones, Samson and Delilah opened the company's inaugural season, alongside Dido and Aeneas (feauring Ann Murray), The Breasts of Tiresias and La Boheme.

Opera North remains the North of England's only full-time opera company, and is joined in the city by Leeds Youth Opera (17 years Opera North's senior!), student socities at the University of Leeds, and Leeds Conservatoire, and Northern Opera Group.