Iphigénie en Tauride, Hackney Empire

The tragic death of Iphigenia, sacrificed by her father Agamemnon in childhood to let his fleet sail to Troy, is one of the most familiar tales of classical myth, serving as the initial inciter of vengeance in the Oresteia. Less known to contemporary audiences is what many Greeks believed happened after – favoured by Artemis, Iphigenia was spirited away to that goddess’ temple in Taurus where she became head priestess. Tasked herself with sacrificing strangers who cross her temple, tragicomic complications arise when one such arrival turns out to be her brother Orestes.
Inspired by Euripides play of the same name, Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride (1779) is often regarded as the pioneering reformer’s masterpiece. Curtailing recitative and dances in favour of arias, it incorporates numerous highlights from the composer’s previous work to create a yearningly beauteous whole that encompasses the full grace and eloquence of the classical era. It will form part of the English Touring Opera’s Spring 2016 season.
This new production is directed by James Conway, the English Touring Opera’s General Director since 2002. Martin André conducts, while the cast is headed by mezzo Catherine Carby and baritone Grant Doyle. After debuting at the Hackney Empire, it will embark on tour around the country.
Founded by the Arts Council in 1979, the English Touring Opera has a mission of spreading opera outside the capital and to audiences that would not normally be able to experience it. Twice a year, they embark on a tour that takes in venues across the country. With a mixture of established repertoire classics and more obscure gems, they are treasured for their inventiveness, community participation and habit of discovering new stars. In 2014, they won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for King Priam and Paul Bunyan.