| English National Opera - London | 19 January 2021 |
click here for a gallery of photos from recent productions
click here for more photos for
Click below forproduction trailers
La bohème
Madama Butterfly
Carmen
Orphée
The Mask of Orpheus
You've been granted free access to this page.
Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.
Free access
Performance reviews
| Key | 
Photo gallery
|
Production details
|
Video link
|
La bohèmeEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
Exuberant drive-in staging |
| 22 Sep 20 / The Stage |
Orchestral manoeuvres in a car park |
| 21 Sep 20 / The Guardian |
associated articles [+]
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.
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.
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 FigaroEnglish National OperaNo. 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) |
more reviews [+]
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 ButterflyEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 MillerEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 |
CarmenEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 |
OrphéeEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
There’s some gorgeous singing and playing |
| 23 Nov 19 / Metro |
Classic Cocteau film gets trademark treatment from Philip Glass |
| 21 Nov 19 / Morning Star Online |
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 OrpheusEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 (via Google) |
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 EnfersEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 |
associated articles [+]
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.
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 EuridiceEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
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 (via Google) |
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 MikadoEnglish National OperaNo. 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 FluddeEnglish National OperaNo. 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 |
more reviews [+]
A rousing, colourful production |
| 7 Jul 19 / The Observer |
An engaging production of Noye’s Fludde offers considerably more than the sum of its parts |
| 6 Jul 19 / Seen and Heard |
Two-by-two in Stratford East: Britten's Noye's Fludde on location |
| 5 Jul 19 / Bachtrack |
Lucky Stratford East to have such resources, talent and ambition in its midst |
| 5 Jul 19 / Metro |
Hansel und GretelEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Midsummer may seem an odd time for a pantomime, but this production really works |
| 21 Jun 19 / Express |
ENO take fairytale opera and fly with it |
| 19 Jun 19 / The Guardian |
An enchanting Hansel and Gretel at Regent's Park Theatre |
| 19 Jun 19 / Opera Today |
more reviews [+]
ENO and the Open Air Theatre join forces for a lip-smacking Hansel and Gretel |
| 19 Jun 19 / Bachtrack |
A magical evening at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre |
| 19 Jun 19 / Classical Source |
Dido and AeneasEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
Dido for generation Z |
| 19 May 19 / The Observer |
A fuzzy update of Purcell’s opera for a younger audience |
| 16 May 19 / The Stage |
Purcell's Queen comes over all Bridget Jones in incoherent staging |
| 16 May 19 / The Guardian |
more reviews [+]
Purcell's opera renamed and relocated by ENO and the Unicorn Theatre |
| 16 May 19 / Bachtrack |
associated articles [+]
Opera's Dido
From Queen of Carthage to single mum in Bermondsey.
From Queen of Carthage to single mum in Bermondsey.
Paul BunyanEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
A very up-market pantomime |
| 17 May 19 / Express |
ENO’s Paul Bunyan is a magnificent, hugely entertaining evening |
| 16 May 19 / Seen and Heard |
The cast is extremely strong |
| 12 May 19 / Music OMH |
more reviews [+]
Paul Bunyan is a strange hybrid of a piece |
| 11 May 19 / Classical Source |
Singing animals, heroic lumberjacks, pure melody and riotous entertainment in ENO's Paul Bunyan |
| 11 May 19 / Bachtrack |
Jack the RipperEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
Vocally it’s an operatic perfect storm |
| 6 Apr 19 / Metro |
ENO’s Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel gets lost in the Whitechapel maze |
| 6 Apr 19 / Seen and Heard |
ENO's Jack the Ripper needs to decide if it wants to be a gore-fest or social history |
| 4 Apr 19 / The Spectator |
more reviews [+]
A new opera tells the stories of Jack the Ripper’s victims |
| 2 Apr 19 / The Economist |
A crucial corrective that fails to match its ambition |
| 2 Apr 19 / Independent |
An impressive achievement |
| 2 Apr 19 / Evening Standard |
The casting of this production is absolutely first rate and redeems a production which splinters too often |
| 2 Apr 19 / Opera Today |
Iain Bell's new opera for ENO |
| 2 Apr 19 / Bachtrack |
An important addition to the operatic repertoire |
| 1 Apr 19 / Classical Source |
Draining the life out of a full-blooded story |
| 1 Apr 19 / Telegraph |
Murder victims refuse to come to life |
| 1 Apr 19 / The Guardian |
A limited achievement |
| 1 Apr 19 / The Stage |
associated articles [+]
The opera bringing dignity back to Jack the Ripper's victims
In The Women of Whitechapel, it is not the serial killer who’s the star, but three generations of formidable ENO singing talent evoking colourful lives in the slum streets he stalked.
In The Women of Whitechapel, it is not the serial killer who’s the star, but three generations of formidable ENO singing talent evoking colourful lives in the slum streets he stalked.
Die ZauberflöteEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
McBurney has turned a great Mozart opera into something even greater |
| 23 Mar 19 / Express |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
No future performances found
News & Articles
| The London Coliseum will reopen with Mozart's Requiem |
The London Coliseum, one of the largest venues in London, will reopen for two days of special performances of Mozart's Requiem, presented by the English National Opera. |
| 15 Sep 2020 / What's on Stage |
| English National Opera cancels ‘A Christmas Carol’ |
Due to social distanced restrictions the company has come to the regrettable decision to cancel ‘A Christmas Carol’ planned for the first week of December this year. |
| 3 Sep 2020 / OperaWire |
| English National Opera launches program to help COVID-19 patients |
English National Opera will take part in”ENO Breathe,” a rehabilitation program aimed at supporting patients recovering from COVID-19. |
| 6 Aug 2020 / OperaWire |
| English National Opera announces new Harewood Artists for summer 2020 |
The new members of ENO’s programme for exceptionally talented singers are Alexandra Oomens (soprano), Benson Wilson (baritone) and William Thomas (bass). |
| 23 Jul 2020 / Opera Today |
| 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. |
| 17 Jul 2020 / Evening Standard |
 |