English National Opera: five top 2019/20 shows to book now
In a season of new productions and revivals, the ones to pick now feature top directors interpreting music from across the centuries. Booking opens 10AM, Wed 24 April
Gluck's Orfeus and Eurydice
The first of four treatments of the Orpheus and Eurydice story in the ENO 2019/20 season, which span 230 years and share a single set. Choreographer Wayne McGregor makes his ENO directorial debut, and his company dances to an ethereal 18th-century score. Sarah Tynan (pictured) sings Eurydice with Sarah Connolly as Orpheus and Soraya Mafi as Love.
Read more ...Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld
Emma Rice and her Wise Children company promise theatricality and humour as they collaborate with ENO for the first time, in the second of four Orpheus operas. The sizzling music of the French 19th-century composer includes the riproaring Can-Can. With Claudia Boyle (pictured) as Eurydice, Ed Lyon as Orpheus, and Sir Willard White.
Read more ...Verdi's Luisa Miller
With grand orchestration and soaring melodies, a very welcome addition to the ENO season. Directed by Barbora Horáková Joly, winner in the Newcomer category at the 2018 International Opera Awards, this stirring story of love and heroism stars Elizabeth Llewellyn as Luisa and Olafur Sigurdarson as Miller.
Read more ...Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro
Wedding eve flirtations and deceptions weave into Mozart's virtuosic comic opera. In this new production directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, Royal Opera artist Božidar Smiljanić makes his role debut as Figaro, with sopranos Louise Alder (pictured) and Sophie Bevan, and company favourites Andrew Shore and Susan Bickley.
Read more ...Dvorak's Rusalka
One of the most challenging roles in the repertoire, as the mermaid who exchanges her voice for life on land besides the man she loves, is taken by US soprano Corinne Winters (pictured) in this new production. Olivier Award-nominated tenor David Butt Philip plays the Prince and David Soar is the Water Spirit.
Read more ...