| English National Opera - London | 23 October 2018 |
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Salome
La Traviata
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Iolanthe
Marnie
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Performance reviews
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Porgy and BessEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
ENO’s production restores the majestic brilliance of the full score |
 21 Oct 18 / The Reviews Hub |
Full of good things |
| 15 Oct 18 / Planet Hugill |
Fine ENO cast but as Catfish Row comes to the Coliseum perhaps Porgy and Bess is too ‘traditional’ |
| 15 Oct 18 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
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 |
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 |
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 |
Flogging a dead horse: a new Salome at English National Opera |
| 2 Oct 18 / Bachtrack |
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 |
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 |
A baffling, feminine interpretation of Strauss |
| 30 Sep 18 / Telegraph |
Headless horses with floral innards in theatre of the absurd |
| 30 Sep 18 / Independent |
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 |
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 |
Jamie Manton’s wonderfully alive staging of Paul Bunyan for ENO |
| 5 Sep 18 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
Embrace the chaos and there’s fun to be had |
| 5 Sep 18 / The Times |
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 |
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 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 |
A chillingly convincing revival of Britten's ghostly opera |
| 27 Jun 18 / Telegraph |
Britten’s score becomes increasingly suggestive of evil forces insidiously whittling away the sanity of trusting innocents |
| 26 Jun 18 / The Times |
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 |
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 [+]
Lust and labyrinths |
| 2 Apr 18 / Bachtrack |
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 |
A revival that shows many more strengths than weaknesses |
| 1 Apr 18 / Music OMH |
This Figaro stands well and there is much to relish and enjoy |
| 31 Mar 18 / Classical Source |
Fiona Shaw's The Marriage of Figaro returns to the London Coliseum |
| 31 Mar 18 / Opera Today |
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 |
ENO's disappointing new production of Verdi's popular crowd-puller |
| 19 Mar 18 / What's on Stage |
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 |
This Traviata is similarly jinxed |
| 18 Mar 18 / Classical Source |
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 |
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
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| 11 Mar 18 / Daily Mail |
more reviews [+]
The result brings joy to the heart |
| 7 Mar 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
ENO’s excellent company performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream |
| 6 Mar 18 / Seen and Heard |
Bright-eyed and comic |
| 6 Mar 18 / Financial Times (via Google) |
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 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 |
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 |
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 |
more reviews [+]
A bring-the-whole-family production |
| 20 Feb 18 / Express |
An opera with a cast that is pretty close to perfect |
| 19 Feb 18 / Express |
The production feels very fresh at the moment and it needs to stay that way |
| 16 Feb 18 / Music OMH |
Could prove just the big hit that ENO needs |
| 15 Feb 18 / Telegraph |
The staging is particularly arresting visually |
| 15 Feb 18 / Classical Source |
House of Lords satire bursts with frothy exuberance |
| 15 Feb 18 / The Guardian |
Cal McCrystal’s new production relishes the topsy-turvy world where peris consort with peri-wigs |
| 15 Feb 18 / Opera Today |
Director Cal McCrystal never knows when to stop, diverting too much attention from the music and lyrics |
| 15 Feb 18 / The Times |
ENO rendition of Gilbert & Sullivan opera is a second-class show |
| 15 Feb 18 / Evening Standard |
A colourful, exuberant riot |
| 15 Feb 18 / Bachtrack |
The first two acts are nowhere near funny enough |
| 15 Feb 18 / Independent |
The new Gilbert and Sullivan offering from English National Opera is sheer bliss |
| 15 Feb 18 / What's on Stage |
SatyagrahaEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 13 | 
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Perfectly thought-through and immaculately staged |
| 12 Feb 18 / Express |
A persistent meditative state |
| 9 Feb 18 / Bachtrack |
A masterclass in suggestion and imagination |
| 8 Feb 18 / The Guardian |
more reviews [+]
This choral work raises us from the cares of life to something etherea |
| 7 Feb 18 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Toby Spence is the perfect Gandhi |
| 6 Feb 18 / Independent |
A largely new cast and conductor bring something very special to this seminal work |
| 6 Feb 18 / Opera Today |
Remarkable, thought-provoking Satyagraha from ENO |
| 5 Feb 18 / Seen and Heard |
When the Glass feels half full |
| 5 Feb 18 / Telegraph |
The images and icons that the Improbable team create with the simplest materials are astonishing |
| 5 Feb 18 / The Times |
Philip Glass's Gandhi opera is revived by English National Opera for the third time |
| 3 Feb 18 / What's on Stage |
As mesmerising as ever |
| 3 Feb 18 / Financial Times (via Google) |
Toby Spence brings off the potent force of Gandhi’s non-violent personality patiently and skilfully |
| 3 Feb 18 / Classical Source |
Phelim McDermott’s staging of Philip Glass’ Gandhi opera once again provides an unforgettable experience |
| 3 Feb 18 / The Stage |
MarnieEnglish National OperaNo. of reviews: 22 | |
Hitch free |
| 29 Nov 17 / The Critics' Circle |
Création mondiale de Marnie au London Coliseum |
| 24 Nov 17 / Opera Online |
Marnie, création mondiale de Nico Muhly à l'ENO |
| 23 Nov 17 / ResMusica |
more reviews [+]
This production by Broadway veteran Michael Mayer, making his first entry into opera, is outstanding |
| 22 Nov 17 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Nico Muhly’s Marnie for ENO returns to England and loses the plot |
| 21 Nov 17 / Seen and Heard |
Where Marnie is an unqualified triumph is in its direction and sets |
| 21 Nov 17 / Opera Today |
A new large-scale opera from ENO in a distinguished staging by Michael Mayer |
| 21 Nov 17 / What's on Stage |
Muhly's operatic thriller sounds great but lacks the twists and turns of Hitchcock's iconic film version |
| 21 Nov 17 / Time Out |
An uneasy and uneven transition to the stage |
| 21 Nov 17 / Independent |
Elina Makropoulos chez Hitchcock |
| 21 Nov 17 / Forum Opéra |
Muhly's Marnie fails to find the drama of Winston Graham's novel |
| 21 Nov 17 / Bachtrack |
Well-intentioned remake falls short of Hitchcock’s thriller |
| 21 Nov 17 / Evening Standard |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Strauss, R
28 Sep to 23 Oct 2018
Gershwin
11 Oct to 17 Nov 2018
Donizetti
25 Oct to 5 Dec 2018
Britten
16 Nov to 7 Dec 2018
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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