English National Opera: five top 2019/20 shows to book now

By Claudia Pritchard on 23/4/2019

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.

WHEN

Tues 1 Oct to Tues 19 Nov, 7:30PM (eight performances)

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

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.

WHEN

Sat 5 Oct to Tues 19 Nov, times vary (12 performances)

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

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.

WHEN

Wed 12 Feb to Fri 6 March, times vary (six performances)

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

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.

WHEN

Sat 14 Mar to Sat 18 April, times vary (10 performances)

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES

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.

WHEN

Sat 28 Mar to Wed 15 April, times vary (seven performances)

WHERE

English National Opera, London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES