| English National Opera - London | 15 December 2018 |
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La bohème
War Requiem
Salome
La Traviata
A Midsummer Night's Dream
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Performance reviews
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War RequiemEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
A thoughtful production by ENO's artistic director Daniel Kramer |
 13 Dec 18 / Express |
Sobre héroes y tumbas |
| 3 Dec 18 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
Kramer’s vision and Tilmans’s unforgettable photography create a powerful War Requiem |
| 21 Nov 18 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
A mesmerising performance |
| 20 Nov 18 / Londonist |
This tale of suffering and the struggle to understand the reason for it was superb |
| 20 Nov 18 / Independent |
Inspiration eludes Kramer in Britten's War Requiem at English National Opera |
| 20 Nov 18 / Bachtrack |
Staging Britten's choral masterpiece brings uncertain rewards |
| 20 Nov 18 / The Guardian |
Staging Britten's War Requiem |
| 20 Nov 18 / Opera Today |
ENO's attempt to turn Britten's choral masterpiece into an opera had all the subtlety of a fifth-form school play |
| 19 Nov 18 / Telegraph |
Staging the unstageable, Daniel Kramer and ENO's striking version of Britten's large-scale concert work |
| 19 Nov 18 / Planet Hugill |
Daniel Kramer directs an unforgettable staging |
| 18 Nov 18 / The Stage |
For all the staging’s moments of visual grandeur, it is sympathetic to the music |
| 17 Nov 18 / Classical Source |
La bohèmeEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
ENO’s Bohème is the safe option, the show you take your granny to |
| 6 Dec 18 / The Spectator |
This staging of La Bohème bids a warm welcome to opera newbies |
| 6 Dec 18 / A Younger Theatre |
This delightful production of La Bohème is the alternative Christmas show you need |
| 2 Dec 18 / The Reviews Hub |
more reviews [+]
A stylish La bohème |
| 2 Dec 18 / The Sunday Times |
La Bohème brings a biting Paris winter to life on the London stage |
| 30 Nov 18 / Londonist |
Jonathan Miller's La bohème returns to the Coliseum |
| 30 Nov 18 / Opera Today |
Authoritative staging of a masterpiece that continues to surprise |
| 28 Nov 18 / Telegraph |
Surefire revival touches the heights |
| 28 Nov 18 / The Guardian |
A house debut to savour: Natalya Romaniw soars in revival of ENO's Bohème |
| 28 Nov 18 / Bachtrack |
Its restraint combines humour, well-defined characterisations and a slow release of emotional tension |
| 28 Nov 18 / Classical Source |
ENO on top form for welcome resurrection of Miller’s popular La bohème |
| 28 Nov 18 / Seen and Heard |
A wonderful evening under the baton of Alexander Joel |
| 28 Nov 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Porgy and BessEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | |
Del gheto al cielo con los maestros cantores de Charleston |
| 15 Nov 18 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
A vital and sweeping ‘Porgy and Bess’ debuts in London |
| 29 Oct 18 / New York Times |
ENO’s production restores the majestic brilliance of the full score |
| 21 Oct 18 / The Reviews Hub |
more reviews [+]
Fine ENO cast but as Catfish Row comes to the Coliseum perhaps Porgy and Bess is too ‘traditional’ |
| 15 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
Full of good things |
| 15 Oct 18 / Planet Hugill |
You can almost hear the heat |
| 13 Oct 18 / The Guardian |
Knock-out choruses but a hollow core |
| 13 Oct 18 / Telegraph |
Some first-night caution aside, this will shape up to be one of the company’s signature productions |
| 13 Oct 18 / Classical Source |
With John Wilson, Gershwin's music is the winner at ENO's Porgy and Bess |
| 13 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
The chorus are like the best gospel choir you’ve ever heard |
| 13 Oct 18 / The Times |
Lucia di LammermoorEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 11 | |
A dramatic and musically triumphant mad scene is a highlight of ENO’s Lucia revival |
| 12 Nov 18 / Seen and Heard |
Madness is at the heart of David Alden's production, the only way out for a Lucia controlled equally by brother and lover |
| 5 Nov 18 / Planet Hugill |
We are fortunate to have Sarah Tynan as a superbly well-nuanced and grippingly effective Lucia |
| 31 Oct 18 / Planet Hugill |
more reviews [+]
Amid the gothic horror of ENO’s staging Sarah Tynan is a superb Lucia |
| 30 Oct 18 / The Times |
English National Opera have hit pure gold in their third outing of the season |
| 29 Oct 18 / Express |
English National Opera revives Lucia di Lammermoor in chilling style |
| 29 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
A superbly cogent piece of theatre |
| 27 Oct 18 / The Guardian |
David Alden's fine Lucia returns to ENO |
| 27 Oct 18 / Opera Today |
A blazing revival of a masterpiece |
| 27 Oct 18 / Telegraph |
There is blood, there is thunder, there is incest, sacrifice, death and madness |
| 27 Oct 18 / OperaWire |
English National Opera revives Lucia di Lammermoor in chilling style |
| 27 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
SalomeEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 20 | |
The musical pleasures were supplemented by some good singing and dramatic performances |
| 18 Oct 18 / Opera Journal |
Losing heads in London |
| 17 Oct 18 / ConcertoNet (English) |
A radically feminist version of the story |
| 12 Oct 18 / Express |
more reviews [+]
If you’re used to installation art, you’ll take to it more readily |
| 9 Oct 18 / The Critics' Circle |
Blood and guts meet street dance and a kinky Santa in a provocative production of Strauss’s opera |
| 7 Oct 18 / The Observer |
ENO’s cast deserved better than this incompetent, incoherent production of Salome |
| 5 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
There will be blood in English National Opera’s Salome |
| 4 Oct 18 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
English National Opera's production is psychologically acute but dramaturgically flawed |
| 2 Oct 18 / Evening Standard |
Once-banned opera Salome is back on the London stage |
| 2 Oct 18 / Londonist |
Flogging a dead horse: a new Salome at English National Opera |
| 2 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
ENO's Salome both intrigues and bewilders |
| 1 Oct 18 / Opera Today |
A cold-hearted, half-baked conceptual riff on an opera that should leave you shattered |
| 1 Oct 18 / The Times |
Petals, porn and dead ponies give Strauss a feminist reboot |
| 1 Oct 18 / The Guardian |
Vividly theatrical, lyrically sung, but.... |
| 1 Oct 18 / Planet Hugill |
Visually arresting, but decidedly peculiar |
| 1 Oct 18 / The Stage |
Inertia kills strong stage pictures, decent singing and a bejewelled orchestra |
| 30 Sep 18 / The Arts Desk |
Big on gesture but short on enlightenment |
| 30 Sep 18 / Classical Source |
The excellent cast captures the audience from the start |
| 30 Sep 18 / The Upcoming |
A baffling, feminine interpretation of Strauss |
| 30 Sep 18 / Telegraph |
Headless horses with floral innards in theatre of the absurd |
| 30 Sep 18 / Independent |
associated articles [+]
Heady stuff: Salome, a bloody and brutal heroine for our age?
Strauss’s opera, with its necrophilia, nudity and sheer nastiness is - and always was - a huge challenge for singers. Can a new production coming to ENO emphasise its ‘mythic and feminine’ elements?
Strauss’s opera, with its necrophilia, nudity and sheer nastiness is - and always was - a huge challenge for singers. Can a new production coming to ENO emphasise its ‘mythic and feminine’ elements?
Paul BunyanEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Where the opera fails is in its story-telling |
| 13 Sep 18 / Express |
Britten’s facility and efficacy for appropriating musical styles is on constant display |
| 6 Sep 18 / Classical Source |
Embrace the chaos and there’s fun to be had |
| 5 Sep 18 / The Times |
more reviews [+]
New world created in old music hall: Paul Bunyan at Wilton's |
| 5 Sep 18 / Bachtrack |
Britten's first opera is still a joyful spectacle of youthful exuberance |
| 5 Sep 18 / Telegraph |
Jamie Manton’s wonderfully alive staging of Paul Bunyan for ENO |
| 5 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
The Turn of the ScrewEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
Intelligent, cogent and, as the sky darkened, properly spooky |
| 2 Jul 18 / The Observer |
A brilliantly creepy Turn Of The Screw |
| 30 Jun 18 / Metro |
A spook in the park that’s beautiful listening |
| 29 Jun 18 / A Younger Theatre |
more reviews [+]
Not enough spookiness at ghostly chamber opera that hints at child abuse |
| 29 Jun 18 / Ham&High |
Knocking it out the (Regent's) Park |
| 28 Jun 18 / Bachtrack |
Toby Purser conducts with authority and sensitivity |
| 28 Jun 18 / Classical Source |
A chillingly convincing revival of Britten's ghostly opera |
| 27 Jun 18 / Telegraph |
A stunning reimagination of Britten's ghost opera |
| 27 Jun 18 / What's on Stage |
The singing is superb and one sensed that every member of the capacity audience was spellbound if not spooked |
| 27 Jun 18 / Opera Today |
Britten's opera chills the spine as darkness falls |
| 26 Jun 18 / The Guardian |
An atmospheric but not especially scary open air outing |
| 26 Jun 18 / Time Out |
Britten’s score becomes increasingly suggestive of evil forces insidiously whittling away the sanity of trusting innocents |
| 26 Jun 18 / The Times |
Le nozze di FigaroEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
An unusually strong cast makes up for muddy staging |
| 6 Apr 18 / Independent |
This is exactly what the English National Opera should be doing |
| 4 Apr 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
A reasonably safe, crowd-pleasing production enhanced by engaging performances |
| 4 Apr 18 / The Stage |
more reviews [+]
ENO stimulates with revival of Mozart’s The Marriago of Figaro |
| 2 Apr 18 / Seen and Heard |
A very humane comedy |
| 2 Apr 18 / Planet Hugill |
Lust and labyrinths |
| 2 Apr 18 / Bachtrack |
A revival that shows many more strengths than weaknesses |
| 1 Apr 18 / Music OMH |
Fiona Shaw's The Marriage of Figaro returns to the London Coliseum |
| 31 Mar 18 / Opera Today |
This Figaro stands well and there is much to relish and enjoy |
| 31 Mar 18 / Classical Source |
La TraviataEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 13 | |
The kink’s english |
| 3 Apr 18 / parterre box |
Essential story gets rather lost |
| 26 Mar 18 / Express |
A worthy production debut from Daniel Kramer’s team now that he has his feet under the table |
| 21 Mar 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
more reviews [+]
More croce than delizia: Daniel Kramer’s new Traviata offers entertainment but little heart |
| 20 Mar 18 / Bachtrack |
By and large this is a cack-handed production |
| 19 Mar 18 / Independent |
Kramer's production ultimately seemed a little too eager, too desperate to please |
| 19 Mar 18 / Opera Today |
Decadence and camp debauchery in a Verdi partyland |
| 19 Mar 18 / The Guardian |
Daniel Kramer’s La traviata for English National Opera disappoints |
| 19 Mar 18 / Seen and Heard |
The key performers are dangerously exposed |
| 19 Mar 18 / The Times |
ENO's disappointing new production of Verdi's popular crowd-puller |
| 19 Mar 18 / What's on Stage |
There was no scandal here, just conventional operatic melodrama |
| 18 Mar 18 / Telegraph |
Daniel Kramer digs a grave for musical-theatre possibilities |
| 18 Mar 18 / The Arts Desk |
This Traviata is similarly jinxed |
| 18 Mar 18 / Classical Source |
A Midsummer Night's DreamEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 17 | |
Summer lovin’ |
| 20 Mar 18 / The Critics' Circle |
A double helping of Titania, Bottom and friends |
| 12 Mar 18 / The Observer |
Notwithstanding the colourful costumes, this production of A Midsummer Night's Dream has inert, unimaginative and superficial staging
|
| 11 Mar 18 / Daily Mail |
more reviews [+]
The result brings joy to the heart |
| 7 Mar 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Bright-eyed and comic |
| 6 Mar 18 / Financial Times (via Google) |
ENO’s excellent company performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
| 6 Mar 18 / Seen and Heard |
A return to the world of sleep and dreams |
| 5 Mar 18 / Planet Hugill |
Why did ENO bother to revive Robert Carsen’s limp Britten staging? |
| 5 Mar 18 / The Times |
The perfect antidote to a cold winter's evening |
| 3 Mar 18 / Telegraph |
Hot ice and strange snow: an unseasonal return for Carsen’s bed-hopping Dream |
| 3 Mar 18 / Bachtrack |
A faithful version of the play with added humour |
| 3 Mar 18 / Express |
You can't see the forest for the very stylish trees |
| 3 Mar 18 / Evening Standard |
Carsen's classic staging makes a welcome return |
| 3 Mar 18 / The Guardian |
Robert Carsen's A Midsummer Night's Dream returns to ENO |
| 3 Mar 18 / Opera Today |
The perfect winter warmer, Robert Carsen's ageless production returns to ENO |
| 3 Mar 18 / What's on Stage |
The latest revival of Robert Carsen’s production confirms its theatrical brilliance |
| 3 Mar 18 / The Stage |
With sigh-inducing simplicity, Carsen’s production covers Shakespeare’s big themes |
| 3 Mar 18 / Classical Source |
IolantheEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 15 | |
Un bain d’humour britannique |
| 6 Mar 18 / ConcertoNet (French) |
Fairy bad |
| 23 Feb 18 / The Critics' Circle |
Here is staging and performance deserving the full support of the Arts Council |
| 21 Feb 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Puccini
26 Nov 2018 to 22 Feb 2019
Glass
11 Feb to 7 Mar 2019
Lehar
1 Mar to 13 Apr 2019
Mozart
14 Mar to 11 Apr 2019
Bell
30 Mar to 12 Apr 2019
Purcell
11 May to 2 Jun 2019
Britten
3 to 12 Jul 2019
News & Articles
| English National Opera |
As ENO marks 50 years at the Coliseum, is it time to move on? |
| 5 Oct 2018 / Telegraph |
| ENO bans food and drink |
English National Opera bans food and drink after audience members smuggle vodka in water bottles. |
| 1 Oct 2018 / Evening Standard |
| ENO was the Quentin Tarantino of opera powerhouses-what happened? |
With the white elephant venue of the Coliseum and falling audiences, a crisis is looming. It’s time for a mission rethink. |
| 30 Jun 2018 / The Guardian |
| Fresh crisis at English National Opera as key figure quits |
Producing director Terri-Jayne Griffin to leave, with others claiming ENO ‘lacks ambition’. |
| 20 Jun 2018 / The Guardian |
| Opera chiefs extend ‘elitist’ ban on drinks |
English National Opera has bowed to criticism of its decision to ban those watching musicals from taking in food or drink and has now widened the policy to all audience members. |
| 12 May 2018 / The Times |
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