Anyone who has been to see the movie The Counterfeiters may have been impressed by the tango-inspired soundtrack.

The 20th century master of this musical form was Astor Piazzola whose distinctive accordion-type instrument, the bandoneon, is of such stylistic significance to his compositions.

It does not have keys. The bandoneon is a big square squeeze-box with buttons which has a huge and arrestingly dynamic range of effects.

On December 1 at West Yorkshire Playhouse, Opera North musicians will be joined by exponents of the classical tango, including bandoneon player Kristina Kuusisto, for Tango Apasionado, an evening dedicated to Piazzola's music.

Highlights of the show include songs from his only opera, Maria de Buenos Aires, his masterpiece the Concerto del Angel and the setting of poems by Borges about knife-fights in down-town Buenos Aires.

Jim Holmes, Opera North's head of music said: "We have done this tango evening before in Leeds, Nottingham, Gateshead and Manchester.

"The tango has a prowling, predatory quality that can be associated with seduction. At the same time it also has that dangerous edge, particularly the way that Piazzola handles it.

"He took the tango in new directions and combined it with almost classical forms such as the fugue; he went against the more conventional tango supporters in Argentina and elsewhere.

Other concerts by Opera North at the Playhouse includes Prokofiev's 1936 classic Peter and the Wolf, accompanied by an animated film created by Suzie Templeton.

The BAFTA-nominated film was premiered at London's Royal Albert Hall in September last year and shown on Channel 4 last Christmas.

"The story is great. It's about growing up, breaking the bonds of being a child and confronting life's problems," said Jim Holmes.

"It is important for us to do these projects that have popular appeal and which gives Opera North the chance to work outside our repertoire. It feeds back into the company and re-establishes our own self-worth."

Peter and the Wolf will be performed at 10am and 1pm on November 27, and 1pm and 6.30pm on November 29.

The music of Kurt Weill and Tom Waits are brought together in Mercy and Grand: The Tom Waits Project, in which six musicians and two of Opera North's most versatile singers combine to perform songs from America.

This show takes place on November 28, starting at 7.45pm.

Gipsy music from Transylvania inspired by Bartok's opera Duke Bluebeard's Castle and the projected photography of photo-journalist Dominick Tyler make up the show Green Leaf, on November 30, starting at 7.45pm.

  • Tickets for these four varied concerts at West Yorkshire Playhouse may be obtained by ringing (0113) 213 7700.