English National Opera - London | 20 April 2024 |
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Performance reviews
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Duke Bluebeard's CastleEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 |
Jennifer Johnston saves the day in fiery Bartók |
31 Mar 24 / The Observer |
Inside Bartok’s ‘Bluebeard’s Castle’ at the ENO |
27 Mar 24 / The Article |
A remarkable Duke Bluebeard’s Castle from ENO |
26 Mar 24 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
An unexpected bride in English National Opera’s Duke Bluebeard's Castle |
26 Mar 24 / Bachtrack |
Bluebeard and his zombie brides |
26 Mar 24 / London Unattached |
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle semi-staged but calamity strikes ENO as soprano withdraws at the eleventh hour |
24 Mar 24 / Seen and Heard |
English National Opera Presents Duke Bluebeard’s Castle at the London Coliseum |
24 Mar 24 / Opera Online (English) |
Erotic, unsettling and beautifully staged |
23 Mar 24 / The Guardian |
JenufaEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 |
Psychological turmoil with a powerful ending |
20 Mar 24 / London Unattached |
Janáček’s Jenůfa burns intensely at ENO |
19 Mar 24 / Opera Today |
Almost an expressionist nightmare |
18 Mar 24 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
Intense and brilliant Janáček at the ENO |
17 Mar 24 / Express |
First rate performances in revival of David Alden’s Jenufa at the London Coliseum |
17 Mar 24 / Opera Online (English) |
An opera that packs a punch |
16 Mar 24 / The Article |
Beneath the ice: a triumphant revival of Jenůfa at English National Opera |
16 Mar 24 / Bachtrack |
Janáček's searing opera in an Olivier-award production is revived with a new cast |
15 Mar 24 / CultureWhisper |
Jennifer Davis and Susan Bullock pull out all the stops in Janáček's moving masterpiece |
15 Mar 24 / The Arts Desk |
Overwhelming emotional experience |
15 Mar 24 / The Stage |
Alden’s harrowing staging remains a formidable piece of theatre |
15 Mar 24 / The Guardian |
A fine revival of David Alden’s thought-provoking Jenůfa at English National Opera |
15 Mar 24 / Seen and Heard |
Die ZauberflöteEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 7 |
Courage, Love and Laughter: Simon McBurney’s ENO Magic Flute enchants and enlightens |
5 Mar 24 / Seen and Heard |
McBurney's delightfully batty Magic Flute returns to the Coliseum |
5 Mar 24 / Bachtrack |
A magic Magic Flute |
5 Mar 24 / London Unattached |
more reviews [+]
An enchanting, must-see Magic Flute from ENO |
4 Mar 24 / Opera Today |
The anarchy and invention of Simon McBurney’s Mozart production triumphs as ENO plays on |
3 Mar 24 / The Observer |
Truly magical Mozart at the English National Opera |
2 Mar 24 / Express |
Simon McBurney's dark pantomime casts its spell again |
1 Mar 24 / The Arts Desk |
Il barbiere di SivigliaEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 |
Another Barber of Seville revival proves ENO remains a joy and a gem |
25 Feb 24 / Seen and Heard |
The Barber is back at the Coliseum |
21 Feb 24 / The Article |
Miller’s Barber lights up the ENO |
20 Feb 24 / London Unattached |
more reviews [+]
Notable house debuts at ENO |
18 Feb 24 / The Observer |
Lesley Garrett returns in the ENO's glorious Rossini romp |
16 Feb 24 / Express |
Fourteenth revival of Jonathan Miller’s The Barber of Seville at the London Coliseum |
16 Feb 24 / Opera Online (English) |
Time for a cut? Jonathan Miller's The Barber of Seville returns to English National Opera |
15 Feb 24 / Bachtrack |
Miller’s 1987 staging still sparkles |
14 Feb 24 / The Guardian |
Jonathan Miller's ever-popular 1987 is back for another run |
14 Feb 24 / Broadway World |
The Handmaid's TaleEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 13 |
Gilead, república de machos |
15 Feb 24 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
ENO keeps its dystopian focus |
11 Feb 24 / The Observer |
Sensational |
9 Feb 24 / City A.M. |
more reviews [+]
In its first revival ENO’s The Handmaid’s Tale remains an impressive piece of theatre |
6 Feb 24 / Seen and Heard |
An intense and engaging production of The Handmaid’s Tale at the London Coliseum |
6 Feb 24 / Opera Online (English) |
The Handmaid’s Tale returns to English National Opera |
6 Feb 24 / Opera Today |
Stuck under each other’s heels |
6 Feb 24 / London Unattached |
Poul Ruders’s opera shows Atwood’s novel has lost none of its relevance |
5 Feb 24 / The Guardian |
As chilling and emotional as ever |
5 Feb 24 / Planet Hugill |
Grim but powerfully performed |
5 Feb 24 / Express |
A much anticipated revival for the ENO's 2022 hit production |
3 Feb 24 / Broadway World |
Kate Lindsey is the saving, amazing grace of Poul Ruders’ lumpy music drama |
3 Feb 24 / The Arts Desk |
Prescient then, terrifying now: |
3 Feb 24 / Bachtrack |
CarmenEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 7 |
Carmen breaks the rules |
15 Feb 24 / Express |
Calixto Bieito’s production of Carmen still conveys the opera’s visceral, raw passions afresh |
16 Feb 23 / Classical Source |
This reboot is physically and emotionally confining – some charm or wonderment wouldn’t go amiss |
16 Feb 23 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
Disappointing revival of Calixto Bieito’s production of Carmen at English National Opera |
13 Feb 23 / Seen and Heard |
Happy birthday English National Opera – a Carmen to celebrate |
7 Feb 23 / London Unattached |
On a knife-edge: Calixto Bieito's Carmen returns to English National Opera |
4 Feb 23 / Bachtrack |
Vivid revival finds ENO on fighting form |
3 Feb 23 / The Guardian |
7 Deaths of Maria CallasEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 |
Los siete egos de Marina Abramović |
17 Nov 23 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
Marina Abramović channels Maria Callas |
12 Nov 23 / The Observer |
A lovely set of vocal performances within a concept of limited appeal |
8 Nov 23 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
Maria Callas: the seven deaths of La Divina |
8 Nov 23 / The Article |
The life and death of Maria Callas |
7 Nov 23 / The Opera Critic |
7 Deaths of Maria Callas brings Marina Abramović to the London Coliseum |
7 Nov 23 / Opera Online (English) |
Marina Abramović celebrates Maria Callas |
7 Nov 23 / The Stage |
A visual and musical feast at the ENO |
7 Nov 23 / London Unattached |
Marina Abramović dreams up a diva’s greatest hits |
6 Nov 23 / The Guardian |
La TraviataEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 |
The ENO Orchestra is excellent in a well-sung Traviata and Konwitschny’s concept is an interesting one |
4 Nov 23 / Seen and Heard |
Passionate subjectivity |
4 Nov 23 / The Critic |
It’s curtains for Violetta |
31 Oct 23 / London Unattached |
more reviews [+]
Fierce & intense: Peter Konwitschny's production of La traviata returns to ENO with a mesmerising account of the title role from Nicole Chevalier |
30 Oct 23 / Planet Hugill |
La Traviata peu orthodoxe mais efficace de l'English National Opera au Coliseum de Londres |
29 Oct 23 / Opera Online (French) |
English National Opera’s unorthodox but effective La traviata at the London Coliseum |
26 Oct 23 / Opera Online (English) |
Radical revival powered by outstanding performers |
25 Oct 23 / The Guardian |
Curtain rises on ENO's Traviata revival |
25 Oct 23 / Bachtrack |
Peter GrimesEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 11 |
A superb ‘Peter Grimes’ returns to the Coliseum |
1 Nov 23 / The Article |
ENO's strongly staged Peter Grimes returns |
11 Oct 23 / The Opera Critic |
ENO’s new season opens with searing revival of Alden’s expressionist vision of Britten |
6 Oct 23 / OperaWire |
more reviews [+]
Elizabeth Llewellyn rightly brings a ray of light amid the gloom |
2 Oct 23 / Classical Source |
Britten’s masterpiece holds its own at ENO |
1 Oct 23 / The Observer |
A superb ‘Peter Grimes’ returns to the Coliseum |
27 Sep 23 / The Article |
Alden gives us an almost psychotic claustrophobia |
26 Sep 23 / Opera Today |
David Alden’s production of Britten’s Peter Grimes reaches into the darkness |
26 Sep 23 / London Unattached |
Grim but compelling, Alden’s nightmarish staging returns to Coliseum |
23 Sep 23 / The Guardian |
The second revival of ENO’s Peter Grimes is a complete triumph |
23 Sep 23 / Seen and Heard |
Peter Grimes a raging, powerful, defiant start to the new ENO season |
23 Sep 23 / Bachtrack |
IolantheEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 11 |
Still gorgeous but ever so slightly less funny than before |
12 Oct 23 / The Arts Desk |
Cal McCrystal’s Iolanthe is revived at English National Opera |
12 Oct 23 / Opera Today |
A heavy-handed revival throws everything but the kitchen sink at Gilbert and Sullivan's lords-and-fairies operetta |
11 Oct 23 / CultureWhisper |
more reviews [+]
This political pantomime of an opera is a colourful affair |
10 Oct 23 / Broadway World |
Cal McCrystal's wacky Iolanthe returns to the Coliseum |
10 Oct 23 / The Opera Critic |
The fairies triumphant return to the Coliseum |
10 Oct 23 / London Unattached |
The flower fairies are back |
9 Oct 23 / Planet Hugill |
A fun first revival of Cal McCrystal’s Iolanthe at the London Coliseum |
8 Oct 23 / Opera Online (English) |
From Nadine Dorries to flying lords, the spiralling absurdity makes this a delight |
7 Oct 23 / The Guardian |
English National Opera revives their uproarious Iolanthe: an undeniable smash hit |
7 Oct 23 / Seen and Heard |
ENO’s Iolanthe is a tonic for our times |
7 Oct 23 / The Stage |
Symphony Of Sorrowful SongsEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 |
Bywater’s fine staging and Chevalier’s superb singing makes Symphony of Sorrowful Songs memorable |
6 May 23 / Seen and Heard |
Isabella Bywater’s new staging of Henryk Górecki’s Third Symphony is artful and affecting |
3 May 23 / OperaWire |
Motherhood and loss in music and on stage |
2 May 23 / London Unattached |
more reviews [+]
Henryk Górecki's Symphony of Sorrowful Songs at ENO in an astonishing visual treat from Isabella Bywater |
1 May 23 / Planet Hugill |
The music is slow, hypnotic and full of long notes |
30 Apr 23 / Broadway World |
Gorecki’s triptych retains its visceral power in thoughtful staging |
29 Apr 23 / The Guardian |
A staged version of Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs at the London Coliseum |
29 Apr 23 / Opera Online (English) |
ENO closes its season on a high with a staging of Henryk Górecki’s symphonic classic |
29 Apr 23 / The Stage |
Letting Górecki’s music do the work |
29 Apr 23 / Bachtrack |
BlueEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 |
ENO’s Blue is a miss as an opera, but has top-flight singers and a conductor at the top of his game |
2 May 23 / Seen and Heard |
Porgy, Bess, and Blue |
1 May 23 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
A potent US tale of Black lives hits home with fervour and humanity at ENO. |
30 Apr 23 / The Observer |
more reviews [+]
Blue enjoys its UK premiere from English National Opera at the London Coliseum |
27 Apr 23 / Opera Online (English) |
A striking production of an operatic dud at ENO |
27 Apr 23 / The Spectator |
Black and ‘Blue’: an NYPD opera at the Coliseum |
26 Apr 23 / The Article |
English National Opera’s Blue presents a fierce reality |
25 Apr 23 / Opera Now |
Blue, Jeanine Tesori's new opera on urban violence, comes to ENO |
25 Apr 23 / Bachtrack |
Powerful new opera tackles racial violence but also celebrates the highs and lows of family life |
24 Apr 23 / CultureWhisper |
Compelling production by Tinuke Craig |
22 Apr 23 / The Stage |
Racial violence, love and loss in a lyrical and angry work of unflinching power |
22 Apr 23 / The Guardian |
Blue is the colour |
22 Apr 23 / London Unattached |
Die Tote StadtEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 16 |
American opera, voices flavor creative mix on stages across Europe |
22 Apr 23 / Classical Voice North America |
Annilese Miskimmon’s surrealist new production of Korngold probes and enthralls |
9 Apr 23 / OperaWire |
English National Opera brings Korngold’s Dead City to life |
8 Apr 23 / Reaction |
more reviews [+]
Bringing The Dead City to life |
4 Apr 23 / London Unattached |
An unsentimental but incisive and stimulating interpretation of the opera |
3 Apr 23 / Classical Source |
Korngold looks back: the lushness & extravagance of fin-de-siecle Vienna evoked in The Dead City at English National Opera |
3 Apr 23 / Planet Hugill |
ENO give a thoughtful account of Korngold’s uneven study of loss |
2 Apr 23 / The Observer |
ENO’s justly ambitious, laudable Korngold project |
29 Mar 23 / Seen and Heard |
English National Opera’s First Ever Production of Korngold’s The Dead City at the London Coliseum |
29 Mar 23 / Opera Online (English) |
associated articles [+]
‘I fear we are losing a whole generation of talent’
As she stages a new production of The Dead City, Korngold’s wild opera banned by the Nazis, English National Opera’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon talks about the company’s strong present and uncertain future.
As she stages a new production of The Dead City, Korngold’s wild opera banned by the Nazis, English National Opera’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon talks about the company’s strong present and uncertain future.
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News & Articles
English National Opera musicians call off strike action |
ENO will now revise plans that triggered dispute, after negotiations with Musicians’ Union. |
16 Feb 2024 / The Guardian |
English National Opera musicians and chorus suspend strike |
Musicians at the English National Opera (ENO) have called off a strike over pay and conditions, the performing arts union Equity has said. |
30 Jan 2024 / BBC News |
English National Opera employees to strike over cuts |
Underfunding of Manchester move blamed as Musicians’ Union announces first full strike in 44 years. |
18 Jan 2024 / The Guardian |
English National Opera members to vote on strike action |
Equity union says chorus members will vote in early January on whether to act over plans to cut salaries by 40%. |
22 Dec 2023 / The Guardian |
ENO announces Greater Manchester will be its new home |
The company, which had a shortlist of five cities, had been told funding was dependent on leaving London. |
6 Dec 2023 / The Guardian |