Fourteen years after Opera North last appeared at the Alhambra, the company is returning early next year with three works by Mozart, Puccini and Kurt Weill.

Weill's operetta, Arms and the Cow, a joint production, was last performed in Britain in 1935. Its revival at the Alhambra represents a coup for the theatre.

The last time that Opera North brought a show to the Alhambra was in June 1992 when the company and Birmingham D'Oyley Carte teamed up for a production of Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld.

A good deal of behind-the-scenes negotiations have been going on for quite a while between the management of the Leeds-based opera company and the management of the Alhambra.

Hence the delight at the happy outcome expressed by Adam Renton, Bradford's manager of theatres, concert halls and community arts.

"We are thrilled that Opera North will be resident with us next spring. This will be a very welcome return for this prestigious national opera company to the city of Bradford. It will be the only chance opera lovers have to catch Opera North in the West Yorkshire region, " he told the T&A.

Stage rehearsals are scheduled for the middle of February prior to opening night of The Marriage of Figaro on March 3 - the first of ten shows at the Alhambra until April 1.

During Opera North's eight weeks at the Alhambra some of the company's stars will be going out into the district's secondary schools to introduce pupils to opera. The pupils will then have the opportunity of going to see a performance of The Marriage of Figaro at the theatre.

Four performances of Figaro are planned, three of Puccini's La Rondine and three of Weill's comic satire Arms and the Cow.

Richard Mantle, Opera North's director of opera, told the T&A: "We are delighted to be resident at the Alhambra next spring. Bradford will be the company's base for two months where we will prepare, rehearse and open three compelling and diverse operas before we go on tour.

"The Alhambra is a beautiful theatre; its facilities for our audience and performers are superb, something we have lacked at Leeds Grand Theatre.

"We believe our programme will be appealing to many. The Marriage of Fiagaro is a perfect introduction to opera and it will be performed in Mozart's 250th anniversary year."

Leeds Grand Theatre is currently in the middle of a £31.5 million exterior and interior renovation, due to be completed in 2007.

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro will be Caroline Gawn's celebrated 1996 production, with designs by Alice Purcell. Directing the orchestra of Opera North will be Christian Gansch. The singers include Welsh baritone Why Pencarreg as Figaro, Scottish soprano Jeni Bern as Susanna, and Linda Richardson as the Countess Almaviva. The production will be sung in English.

Puccini's La Rondine will be sung in Italian. Francesca Zambello's 1994 production is the one that will be performed, with set and costumes by Bruno Schwengl and directed by Peter Relton. Janis Kelly returns in the role of Magda. She will be joined by the Mexican tenor Rafael Rojas as Ruggero, Magda's rich young lover from the provinces. Baritone Peter Savidge returns to the role of Rambaldo, the Parisian banker and Magda's protector.

The part of the poet Prunier will be played by tenor Alan Oke. Making her Opera North debut as Lisette, Magda's maid, will be Welsh soprano Gail Pearson. Opera North's musical director Richard Farnes will conduct.

Arms and the Cow, Kurt Weill's satirical operatta, has not been staged in Britain since 1935. It tells the story of an American arms dealer who arrives on an imaginary Caribbean island and stirs the people up to get involved in an arms race with neighbouring islanders. Meanwhile, two village lovers whose only possession is a cow, plan their wedding. The cow is then confiscated to help pay for the weapons bought.

The work is full of contemporary references to dictators, arms dealers and weapons of mass destruction.

Satire and bawdy humour are combined with traditional waltzes, cancans and Caribbean-style numbers.

The show's choreographer will be Craig Revel Horwood (Strictly Come Dancing). Conducting will be Opera North's head of music James Holmes, who is also artistic advisor to the Kurt Weill Festival in Dessau.

Taking the role of Juanita, the village bride, is soprano Mary Plazas.

Jones, the loud-mouth arms dealer, is played by Adrian Clarke.

Bookings for all three operas star ts on November 12. Individual operas can be booked from November 26.

Contact (01274) 432000.