English Touring Opera - Touring
28 March 2024

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La Cenerentola
Il viaggio a Reims
Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Lucrezia Borgia
Tutankhamun’s Shoes

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Performance reviews

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The Rake's Progress

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 4

A devil of an opera
14 Mar 24 / Rotherham Advertiser
Stravinsky’s Rake has plenty of company at ETO
10 Mar 24 / The Observer
ETO’s insightful, entertaining and high-quality Rake is not to be missed
7 Mar 24 / Seen and Heard
Stylisation tips towards surrealism in ETO’s staging of Stravinsky parable
4 Mar 24 / The Guardian
Manon Lescaut

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 6

Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini displays outstanding talent but is a little too modern
13 Mar 24 / National World
Puccini gets a rough ride at English Touring Opera
3 Mar 24 / The Observer
Bold reimagining or misguided experiment? English Touring Opera's 'Manon Lescaut' sparks debate
27 Feb 24 / BNN Breaking
English Touring Opera opens spring tour with an off-the-wall Manon Lescaut
27 Feb 24 / Bachtrack
Puccini’s desert tragedy gets a surreal rainbow revamp
26 Feb 24 / The Guardian
Grotesque staging sabotages Puccini's breakthrough tragedy
26 Feb 24 / The Arts Desk
La Cenerentola

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 5

English Touring Opera put Rossini's La Cenerentola in a museum
31 Oct 23 / Bachtrack
A museum romp
22 Oct 23 / The Opera Critic
A night at the museum
11 Oct 23 / Opera Today
Entertaining if odd spin on Rossini’s opera
10 Oct 23 / The Guardian
Musical pleasure: strong & stylish performances from a young cast
9 Oct 23 / Planet Hugill
L'incoronazione di Poppea

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 5

Vivid Monteverdi
31 Oct 23 / Bachtrack
A new regime at ETO kicks off with Poppea
17 Oct 23 / The Opera Critic
Some colour to the result
3 Oct 23 / The Stage
ETO’s gender-fluid staging has fizz but also flaws
2 Oct 23 / The Guardian
Modernising Monteverdi: The Coronation of Poppea from English Touring Opera in a radical new version by Yshani Perinpanayagam
2 Oct 23 / Planet Hugill
Giulio Cesare in Egitto

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 6

Caesar conquers Buxton: ETO's slimmed-down Giullio Cesare strikes just the right note
16 May 23 / Bachtrack
Refreshingly modern and relevant
17 Apr 23 / The Opera Critic
The voices and musicians worked together with great beauty and skill
16 Mar 23 / The Star
Two major role debuts as ETO launches Spring tour with strong revival of Handel's Giulio Cesare
6 Mar 23 / Planet Hugill
Invigorating evening of intrigue
28 Feb 23 / The Stage
This production never pales
27 Feb 23 / Opera Today
A bit of a whirlwind
Counter-tenor Francis Gush discusses his forthcoming debut in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare with English Touring Opera
Lucrezia Borgia

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 9

A memorable performance
20 Apr 23 / The Opera Critic
Lucrezia Borgia makes for a curious viewing
19 Mar 23 / The Reviews Hub
Katherine McIndoe was impressive in the title role
16 Mar 23 / The Star
English Touring Opera’s presentation of this surprisingly rarely encountered opera is a sure winner
10 Mar 23 / Classical Source
English Touring Opera hits the spot in Hackney with Lucrezia Borgia and Il Viaggio a Reims
7 Mar 23 / The Article
English Touring Opera’s spring tour sets out on an Italian sojourn
7 Mar 23 / Opera Today
The Poisoner’s Dilemma: English Touring Opera presents a dramatic Lucrezia Borgia
7 Mar 23 / Bachtrack
Dark and atmospheric Donizetti
6 Mar 23 / The Guardian
English Touring Opera brings out the musical delights of Donizetti's murderous heroine, Lucrezia Borgia
6 Mar 23 / Planet Hugill
Il viaggio a Reims

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 8

Let the unravelling begin
17 Apr 23 / The Opera Critic
Luci Briginshaw’s high-wire vocalising as the Countess of Folleville and impossible self-dramatisation stand out
2 Apr 23 / The Reviews Hub
A welcome chance to see this rarity
10 Mar 23 / Classical Source
Il viaggio a Reims sees English Touring Opera prove the journey is more important than the destination
8 Mar 23 / Music OMH
English Touring Opera hits the spot in Hackney with Lucrezia Borgia and Il Viaggio a Reims
7 Mar 23 / The Article
Perfectly timed revival of Rossini’s coronation comedy makes delightful entertainment
7 Mar 23 / The Stage
English Touring Opera’s spring tour sets out on an Italian sojourn
7 Mar 23 / Opera Today
ETO's new Il viaggio a Reims is a long journey
7 Mar 23 / Bachtrack
Ottone

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 4

Ottone glimmers in this ETO revival
6 Nov 22 / The Opera Critic
English Touring Opera’s autumn Handelfest gets off to a sparkling start
9 Oct 22 / The Observer
A beautifully designed production
5 Oct 22 / Opera Today
Emerging from the gloom
4 Oct 22 / Bachtrack
Tamerlano

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 5

A performance that is difficult to forget
28 Oct 22 / The Opera Critic
The audience is left with a lot of homework to do in English Touring Opera's Tamerlano
27 Oct 22 / The Spectator
A dark, sombre Tamerlano from English Touring Opera
11 Oct 22 / Opera Today
A character study in singing
11 Oct 22 / Bachtrack
A tremendous achievement: Handel's Tamerlano from English Touring Opera in performance that really drew you into the drama
10 Oct 22 / Planet Hugill
Tutankhamun’s Shoes

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 1

An “ideal introduction to opera which is almost impossible to get otherwise!”
23 Oct 22 / LondonTheatre1
Agrippina

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 3

Devious yet delicious, Paula Sides makes the most of Agrippina
23 Oct 22 / The Opera Critic
Leo Duarte and The Old Street Band sustain a performance of great liveliness throughout
10 Oct 22 / Classical Source
Vivacious drama
10 Oct 22 / Planet Hugill
Le coq d'or

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 15

A show that seems hard not to be able to recommend
17 Apr 22 / The Reviews Hub
La Boheme and The Golden Cockerel at Sheffield Lyceum
9 Apr 22 / Rotherham Advertiser
Great fun, if you like that sort of thing
8 Apr 22 / The Opera Critic
A strong presentation proves the relevance of Rimsky-Kosakov’s final opera for the 21st century
2 Apr 22 / OperaWire
Grant Doyle characterises Tsar Dodon with mock gravity
20 Mar 22 / Classical Source
ETO’s production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s satirical opera is uncomfortably timely
13 Mar 22 / The Observer
This whimsical tale lands a deft political blow
11 Mar 22 / iNews
A production that reveals strong performances and a penchant for the absurd
8 Mar 22 / Music OMH
The cock crows: English Touring Opera presents Rimsky-Korsakov’s satire on incompetent autocracy
8 Mar 22 / Opera Today
James Conway’s production misses the sinister quality of Rimsky-Korsakov’s dark fairy-tale
8 Mar 22 / The Stage
Entertaining but short of enchanting
8 Mar 22 / Bachtrack
A timely attack on autocracy and imperialism
7 Mar 22 / The Guardian
It’s a turkey, but Rimsky-Korsakov is not to blame
7 Mar 22 / The Arts Desk
The real ‘stars’of this production are the orchestra and chorus
7 Mar 22 / LondonTheatre1
Shades of the present haunt Russia’s past as parodied by Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel
7 Mar 22 / Seen and Heard
La bohème

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 10

A production that manages the serious stuff much better than the comic
17 Apr 22 / The Reviews Hub
La Boheme and The Golden Cockerel at Sheffield Lyceum
9 Apr 22 / Rotherham Advertiser
Francesca Chiejin's Mimi is utterly compelling
8 Apr 22 / The Opera Critic
A finely-honed revival of an operatic staple
11 Mar 22 / OperaWire
Puccini is still master of the miserable
11 Mar 22 / Hackney Citizen
See this for the singing
1 Mar 22 / Evening Standard
English Touring Opera’s enjoyable revival of La bohème
1 Mar 22 / Seen and Heard
A perfect production
1 Mar 22 / iNews
Bo-ho: ETO takes Bohème to Hackney
1 Mar 22 / Bachtrack
English Touring Opera's revival of Puccini's La Boheme proves finely satisfying
28 Feb 22 / Planet Hugill
Amadigi di Gaula

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 9

James Conway, an experienced Handelian, maintains a knowing detachment, slides in a few visual quips, but never sends up the characters
17 Oct 21 / The Reviews Hub
English Touring Opera returns with Amadigi
13 Oct 21 / The Opera Critic
Trouble at English Touring Opera
10 Oct 21 / The Observer
English Touring Opera heads back on the road with Handel's Amadigi
6 Oct 21 / Bachtrack
This company is having an identity crisis
5 Oct 21 / iNews
Small-scale Handel with yoga and walls of fire
5 Oct 21 / The Guardian
Magical show casts an enjoyable spell
5 Oct 21 / Evening Standard
Handelian magic from English Touring Opera
5 Oct 21 / Opera Today
Director James Conway has another ETO success on his hands here
4 Oct 21 / LondonTheatre1
Giulio Cesare in Egitto

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 5

English Touring Opera hits the road with a top-notch production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare
16 Mar 20 / The Observer
A serious-minded but accessible staging
14 Mar 20 / The Stage
Donnez donc César à (Paul) Antoine!
13 Mar 20 / Forum Opéra
Susanna Hurrell's Queen Cleopatra reigns in English Touring Opera's Giulio Cesare
10 Mar 20 / Bachtrack
A new cast brings a different focus to English Touring Opera's production of Handel's masterpiece
9 Mar 20 / Planet Hugill
Così fan tutte

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 5

Has wit and hilarity of 1930s screwball comedy
11 Mar 20 / The Guardian
A travelling Cosi Fan Tutti
11 Mar 20 / The Article
A school for lovers full of froth and fizz
5 Mar 20 / OperaWire
A sunny, insouciant Così from English Touring Opera
3 Mar 20 / Opera Today
A handsome Così fan tutte opens English Touring Opera's Spring tour
3 Mar 20 / Bachtrack
St John Passion

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 2

Immersive and communal Bach staging is deeply touching
9 Mar 20 / The Guardian
Communal experience & the re-telling of familiar stories
9 Mar 20 / Planet Hugill
Der Silbersee

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 11

No praise too high for English Touring Opera at Snape
5 Nov 19 / East Anglian Daily Times
A dark musical fable with a rarely heard score and a message from 1930s Germany that holds good today
18 Oct 19 / Jewish Renaissance
This rarely seen work is well worth the effort
15 Oct 19 / The Opera Critic
True heroes link Engish Touring Opera’s contrasting productions
14 Oct 19 / Buxton Advertiser
Timely steps with English Touring Opera
10 Oct 19 / The Guardian
With its parallels to today, ETO bring authentic Weill sounds and exciting music making to The Silver Lake
10 Oct 19 / Seen and Heard
A deeply impressive performance of a shockingly underrated work
10 Oct 19 / Music OMH
‘If the present is already lost, then I want to save the future.’
10 Oct 19 / Opera Today
Remorse and resentment find redemption in Kurt Weill’s The Silver Lake
9 Oct 19 / The Article
A larger than life performance of a show that could hardly be more topical
8 Oct 19 / Independent
Even by English Touring Opera’s standards, this is adventurous
8 Oct 19 / Classical Source
Die Entführung aus dem Serail

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 8

No praise too high for English Touring Opera at Snape
5 Nov 19 / East Anglian Daily Times
A highly entertaining performance
15 Oct 19 / The Opera Critic
True heroes link Engish Touring Opera’s contrasting productions
14 Oct 19 / Buxton Advertiser
Timely steps with English Touring Opera
10 Oct 19 / The Guardian
An effervescent and visually rewarding production
8 Oct 19 / Classical Source
A sparkling Seraglio from English Touring Opera
8 Oct 19 / Bachtrack
English Touring Opera's Autumn Tour 2019 opens with a stylish Seraglio
7 Oct 19 / Opera Today
Thought provoking and engaging
7 Oct 19 / Planet Hugill
Macbeth

English Touring Opera


No. of reviews: 13

A cold and bleak Macbeth
21 May 19 / The Opera Critic
The annual visit by English Touring Opera is always a highlight of the Perth Festival of the Arts
18 May 19 / The Herald
A timeless tale of ambition
28 Apr 19 / Norwich Evening News
James Dacre’s production of Macbeth ticks all the wrong boxes at the outset but finally wins through
7 Apr 19 / The Reviews Hub
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Performance schedule
Puccini
24 Feb to 25 May 2024
Stravinsky
2 Mar to 24 May 2024
Shahryar
5 Mar to 28 May 2024

News & Articles

English Touring Opera announces 2023-24 season & new initiatives
Robin Norton-Hale, the General Director of the English Touring Opera, has unveiled the company’s upcoming season and launched a multiple digital events, and educational initiatives.
7 Jul 2023 / OperaWire
James Conway to leave English Touring Opera after 20 years
Conway is leaving to pursue freelance opportunities, but has agreed to remain artistic director of ETO on a part-time basis until the end of 2022, working with interim chief executive Michael Garvey.
21 Jan 2022 / The Stage
English Touring Opera announces spring 2022 performances
ETO will perform La bohème, The Golden Cockerel and St John Passion during its spring tour.
22 Dec 2021 / OperaWire
English Touring Opera drops half its orchestra in controversial move
The opera company has said it’s prioritising “increased diversity in the orchestra” in line with “firm guidance of the Arts Council.”
14 Sep 2021 / Classic FM
English Touring Opera to tour Handel’s ‘Amadigi’ in fall
The company will return to live performances with a national autumn tour of Handel’s “Amadigi” in a new production led by director James Conway and conductor Jonathan Peter Kenny.
22 Apr 2021 / OperaWire