Opera North last appeared at the Alhambra in 1992. On the strength of last night's performance of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, before an almost sell-out audience of 1,300, the company's return to Bradford has been long overdue.

Snow, which fell across the district like a thick wet blanket all yesterday afternoon, was turning icy by the time of curtain up, delaying the start. Conditions did not improve throughout the performance, but no one was in a hurry to leave.

Evidently, Opera North's singers and musicians were determined that their Bradford come back would be a night to remember. And so it was, from Alice Purnell's modernistic sets, Giuseppe di Iorio's brilliant lighting to the robust playing of the orchestra, conducted by Christian Gansch.

Last night was special for another reason too - it marked the opening of a short season at the Alhambra, three operas, ten performances, until April 1, when the company concludes its run with Kurt Weill's political satire, Arms and the Cow.

As I listened to Mozart's wondrous music and Da Ponte's witty libretto I was struck by the fact that The Marriage of Figaro, first performed in Austria in 1786, marked the end of the European Enlightenment and the beginning of nearly 30 years of revolution and continent-wide war.

The story merrily exposes the licentiousness of the aristocracy in the shape of the lustful Count Almaviva, who has his eyes on Susanna, the bride-to-be of Figaro, who is chased by a woman who turns out to be his mother.

But this is only one strand of a racy plot, sung in English by a young cast with Jeni Bern outstanding in the demanding role of clever, feisty, Susanna and Wyn Pencarreg as the resourceful but hoodwinked Figaro. The audience warmly responded to Howard Reddy's frustrated Count Almaviva and Linda Richardson as his long-suffering wife the Countess.

Welcome back Opera North, in spite of the weather. Further performances of The Marriage of Figaro on March 8, 15 and 17, starting at 7.15pm. For tickets ring 01274-432000.