English National Opera - London
4 May 2024

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Performance reviews

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Satyagraha

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 11

Glass’ operas are unlike anything else
20 Oct 21 / Brinkwire
ENO is back doing what it does best: Phelim McDermott’s astonishingly effective production of Satyagraha
19 Oct 21 / Seen and Heard
Fourth revival of Phelim McDermott’s Satyagraha at the London Coliseum
19 Oct 21 / Opera Online (English)
Force et vérité d'une voix
19 Oct 21 / Forum Opéra
Philip Glass’s Satyagraha still captivates at English National Opera
19 Oct 21 / Opera Today
New-minted rather than dusted down: ENO opens season with Satyagraha
19 Oct 21 / Bachtrack
A thoughtful and rewarding evening
18 Oct 21 / Classical Source
Satyagraha de Philip Glass à l'English National Opera
18 Oct 21 / Olyrix
Glass’s operas are quite unlike anything else
18 Oct 21 / The Toys Matrix
HMS Pinafore

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 15

The ENO delights with a lavish staging of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic o
7 Nov 21 / The Observer
This is how G&S should be staged
5 Nov 21 / The Spectator
A mix of Gilbert's witty lyrics and Sullivan's rollicking music
4 Nov 21 / Express
First ever production of HMS Pinafore at the London Coliseum
3 Nov 21 / Opera Online (English)
Les Dennis gives good value
3 Nov 21 / The Stage
Gilbert & Sullivan meets Monty Python
3 Nov 21 / The Article
Cal McCrystal’s silly spectacle is colourful and distinctly naughty
2 Nov 21 / iNews
A broad brush approach makes this new production enjoyable but a bit of a missed opportunity
2 Nov 21 / Evening Standard
Puritans stay away: this ENO HMS Pinafore is pure unadulterated fun
2 Nov 21 / Seen and Heard
An Aussie Josephine is just one of the rippers as G&S meets Morecambe and Wise
2 Nov 21 / Limelight
ENO’s shipshape satire ramps up the camp
1 Nov 21 / The Guardian
Vibrant visuals and fancy footwork
1 Nov 21 / Opera Today
Hi-jinks on the high-seas
1 Nov 21 / Planet Hugill
Shipshape classic comedy craft
31 Oct 21 / The Arts Desk
This is a feel-good show for difficult times, and it is good to see ENO blowing its trumpet so confidently!
31 Oct 21 / Classical Source
Tosca

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 6

Puccini and chips with English National Opera
5 Sep 21 / The Observer
Natalya Romaniw and an outstanding cast lift a threadbare staging
1 Sep 21 / iNews
ENO pop up with Puccini at Crystal Palace Bowl
31 Aug 21 / Opera Today
Powerful sound and musical magic in the park
30 Aug 21 / The Guardian
A walk in the park with Tosca: English National Opera at Crystal Palace
29 Aug 21 / Bachtrack
ENO's field trip is opera for people who don't like opera
29 Aug 21 / Telegraph
La bohème

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 5

ENO delivers an operatic experience like no other
7 Nov 20 / OperaWire
Honk your horn for Mimi and Rodolfo
27 Sep 20 / The Observer
In driving rain ENO’s drive-in Ally Pally La bohème turns out to be as deeply moving as ever
26 Sep 20 / Seen and Heard
Exuberant drive-in staging
22 Sep 20 / The Stage
Orchestral manoeuvres in a car park
21 Sep 20 / The Guardian
Covid-19: Swansea soprano stars in drive-in London opera
A night at the opera might summon up images of people in suits and ballgowns sitting in stalls and boxes overlooking a stage. But not when Natalya Romaniw sings in Puccini's La bohème.
ENO to stage world's first live drive-in opera
The world’s first live drive-in opera will take place at Alexandra Palace, as the English National Opera is set to stage La bohème outdoors.
Le nozze di Figaro

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Un divertissement qui vaut le détour
12 Apr 20 / Opera Online (French)
An inventive and well-sung production
1 Apr 20 / The Stage
An entertaining and worthwhile The Marriage of Figaro at the London Coliseum
23 Mar 20 / Opera Online (English)
Comedy with knobs on
18 Mar 20 / Bachtrack
Sexual desire drives the new Figaro at English National Opera
17 Mar 20 / The Article
Energised attitudes, lower-level humanism
17 Mar 20 / The Arts Desk
Superb singing in hilarious staging
16 Mar 20 / The Guardian
ENO’s new Marriage of Figaro is a real tonic in these uncertain times
16 Mar 20 / Seen and Heard
A new, blank-canvas Figaro at English National Opera
16 Mar 20 / Opera Today
Madama Butterfly

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 5

Natalya Romaniw reigns supreme in Madam Butterfly at the London Coliseum
23 Mar 20 / Opera Online (English)
Natalya Romaniw in gloriously impressive in the title role
4 Mar 20 / Express
Pulling the heart strings: Madam Butterfly returns to ENO
3 Mar 20 / Bachtrack
Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw triumphs in the title role
2 Mar 20 / The Observer
A wonderful role debut for Natalya Romaniw in ENO's revival of Minghella's Madama Butterfly
28 Feb 20 / Opera Today
Luisa Miller

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 12

ENO’s wonderful singers compensate for a disordered modern dress Luisa Miller
22 Feb 20 / Seen and Heard
Neglected work brought back to passionate life
18 Feb 20 / Evening Standard
ENO no-no
18 Feb 20 / The Critics' Circle
A passion for patriarchy
17 Feb 20 / The Observer
Alexander Joel directed a well-paced and lively account of the score
17 Feb 20 / Classical Source
An emphasis on the psychological paid dividends in the performances
17 Feb 20 / Opera Today
A missed opportunity
16 Feb 20 / Express
An uneven production but hardly one that warranted the boos that greeted the production team.
16 Feb 20 / Music OMH
English National Opera kicks 2020 off with a turkey
14 Feb 20 / Independent
A treat for the ears, if not the eyes
14 Feb 20 / The Guardian
Fantastic singing, but no wonder the production was booed
14 Feb 20 / Telegraph
Love, intrigue… and black paint-play
14 Feb 20 / Bachtrack
Carmen

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 8

Calixto Bieito’s direct and disturbing Carmen is now in its second revival
11 Feb 20 / Classical Source
Strength of ensemble in the casting is a defining factor of this ENO Carmen revival
10 Feb 20 / Seen and Heard
Carmen à l’English National Opera, Almodóvar ​dans la langue de j’expire
10 Feb 20 / Olyrix
This production embraces its new potential with vigour
7 Feb 20 / A Younger Theatre
On the positive side, Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Justina Gringyté played the title role in delightfully seductive style
6 Feb 20 / Express
Empty hunger: Bieito’s Carmen returns to ENO
4 Feb 20 / Bachtrack
Bieito's Carmen returns to English National Opera
31 Jan 20 / Opera Today
Underpowered revival of a bold production
31 Jan 20 / The Stage
Orphée

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 13

Orpheus at ENO: house of the dead
6 Dec 19 / Opera Now
Orpheus in London: Four Orpheus operas at the English National Opera
27 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice
Orphée at English National Opera
27 Nov 19 / Express
There’s some gorgeous singing and playing
23 Nov 19 / Metro
Classic Cocteau film gets trademark treatment from Philip Glass
21 Nov 19 / The Star
Once again, the ENO turn out to be great advocates for the operas of Philip Glass
21 Nov 19 / Opera Journal
An intriguing, surreal conclusion to ENO’s Orpheus quartet
20 Nov 19 / The Article
It really is a feast for the ears and eyes. And enthralling drama.
19 Nov 19 / Classical Source
This is as opera noir it gets
19 Nov 19 / Opera Today
Disquieting and beautifully done
18 Nov 19 / The Guardian
Glass’s Cocteau adaptation may be marshmallowy, but this ENO production is good and sharp
18 Nov 19 / Telegraph
ENO’s production and performance of Glass’s Orphée has a vitality that almost throbs
18 Nov 19 / Seen and Heard
The cast is well stocked with ENO regulars
18 Nov 19 / Music OMH
The Mask of Orpheus

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 12

Orpheus at ENO: house of the dead
6 Dec 19 / Opera Now
Orpheus in London: Four Orpheus operas at the English National Opera
27 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice
This opera by the British composer Harrison Birtwistle is a complete mess - but a rather brilliant mess
3 Nov 19 / Express
Fontanals-Simmons and Hoare are standouts in ENO’s The Mask of Orpheus though orchestra gets glitterball
31 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard
Birtwistle's The Mask of Orpheus is anything but simple
31 Oct 19 / Opera Journal
Birtwistle’s Mask of Orpheus submerged by high camp spectacle
23 Oct 19 / The Article
ENO reinvents Birtwhistle’s Mask of Orpheus with clowns, latex and oodles of camp
22 Oct 19 / Financial Times
Daniel Kramer's camp carnival defuses any focus in Birtwistle's bruising score
22 Oct 19 / The Arts Desk
Not for the first time, alas, ENO has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory
22 Oct 19 / Opera Today
A mysterious spectacle which pushes unusual emotional buttons
21 Oct 19 / Music OMH
Travesty of a production is nothing to laugh about
21 Oct 19 / The Guardian
For the average audience, this is a physical and mental ordeal
21 Oct 19 / Telegraph
Orphée aux Enfers

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 10

Orpheus at ENO: house of the dead
6 Dec 19 / Opera Now
Orpheus in London: Four Orpheus operas at the English National Opera
27 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice
Orphée aux Enfers, Offenbach version british à l'English National Opera
16 Nov 19 / Olyrix
To hell with it
16 Oct 19 / The Critics' Circle
Emma Rice’s #MeToo ENO Orpheus in the Underworld is bleached of all its inherent charm
14 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard
A humourless hike to Hades
14 Oct 19 / Opera Today
The company has assembled a good ensemble of old pros and new blood, with interesting results
7 Oct 19 / Classical Source
Balloons for tutus and jarring tragedy
7 Oct 19 / The Guardian
Emma Rice’s misjudged production
7 Oct 19 / The Stage
Emma Rice's lively new production somewhat misses the point of Offenbach
7 Oct 19 / Planet Hugill
Lucia Lucas: Making UK operatic debut at the ENO
Lucia Lucas has entered into the history books by becoming the first transgender singer to perform with the English National Opera in London.
Orfeo ed Euridice

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 15

Orpheus at ENO: house of the dead
6 Dec 19 / Opera Now
Orpheus in London: Four Orpheus operas at the English National Opera
27 Nov 19 / San Francisco Classical Voice
To hell with it
16 Oct 19 / The Critics' Circle
Extraordinary colours and choreography in Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice
9 Oct 19 / The Article
Wayne McGregor’s ENO debut is all about the dance
7 Oct 19 / The Observer
Wayne McGregor's stylish take on Gluck's Orpheus, with Alice Coote in the title role, opens ENO's new season
7 Oct 19 / Planet Hugill
Gluck has got the ENO's Orpheus season off to a good start
5 Oct 19 / Express
A visually distinctive Orpheus and Eurydice from English National Opera
3 Oct 19 / Financial Times
The cheerleaders flooding the auditorium in fawning support roared with support
3 Oct 19 / Classical Source
Wayne McGregor provides a striking staging
3 Oct 19 / The Guardian
Wayne McGregor’s reach-me-down choreography is an intrusive presence on stage
3 Oct 19 / Independent
Pellucid music and two heart-tugging leads let down by anodyne choreography
3 Oct 19 / Telegraph
Much to admire in ENOs staging of Orpheus and Eurydice
3 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard
Wayne McGregor's dance-opera opens ENO's 2019-20 season
3 Oct 19 / Opera Today
Wayne McGregor’s visually striking production
3 Oct 19 / The Stage
The Mikado

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 2

Looks fresher than it feels
6 Nov 19 / The Stage
Jonathan Miller’s The Mikado returns once more to ENO but is showing its age
5 Nov 19 / Seen and Heard
Noye's Fludde

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 7

A charming, heartfelt new production of Noye's Fludde that shows off Britten's skill in writing for children
11 Jul 19 / The Spectator
All aboard
9 Jul 19 / The Critics' Circle
Floods theatre with colour and a nervous moose
8 Jul 19 / The Guardian
A rousing, colourful production
7 Jul 19 / The Observer
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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