English National Opera - London
28 March 2024

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Performance reviews

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Die Tote Stadt

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 16

This production doesn’t quite have the cinematic sweep to blur the lines between fact and fantasy
28 Mar 23 / Opera Today
Mesmerising
28 Mar 23 / The Stage
Korngold's extravagant opera The Dead City staged in style by ENO
28 Mar 23 / Bachtrack
A rare and impressive staging of the early masterwork by a Hollywood composer
27 Mar 23 / CultureWhisper
Study of grief, guilt and obsession unsettles and enraptures
27 Mar 23 / The Guardian
An arresting new production of Korngold's operatic meditation on melancholy
27 Mar 23 / Broadway World
‘I fear we are losing a whole generation of talent’
As she stages a new production of The Dead City, Korngold’s wild opera banned by the Nazis, English National Opera’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon talks about the company’s strong present and uncertain future.
Akhnaten

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Akhnaten is absolutely unmissable at ‘national treasure’ ENO
3 Apr 23 / Seen and Heard
Philip Glass’ Akhnaten returns to the London Coliseum stage for its second revival
2 Apr 23 / The Opera Critic
English National Opera’s Akhnaten could hardly be bettered at the London Coliseum
26 Mar 23 / Opera Online (English)
Le soleil d’Akhnaten de retour à Londres
25 Mar 23 / Olyrix
A philosopher king of Egypt at the ENO
22 Mar 23 / The Article
Startlingly modern and troubling production with spectacular imagery and stagecraft
21 Mar 23 / The Stage
Breaking rules – creating magic
21 Mar 23 / London Unattached
Akhnaten still compels at English National Opera
20 Mar 23 / Opera Today
An epic revival destined to become a modern classic
20 Mar 23 / Broadway World
Das Rheingold

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 16

L’Or du Rhin ou les vestiges d’une Tétralogie à l’English National Opera
21 Mar 23 / Olyrix
Wotan en pelotas
20 Mar 23 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish)
The Rhinegold plays it fairly straight and safe, having nothing much new to add to Wagner Ring mythology
9 Mar 23 / Opera Journal
The jackpot of opera
5 Mar 23 / The Critic
Wagner’s masterpiece, with added bling
4 Mar 23 / Reaction
The ENO’s updated Ring cycle is really starting to shine
26 Feb 23 / The Observer
John Relyea cuts an authoritative figure as Wotan
25 Feb 23 / LondonTheatre1
English National Opera’s The Rhinegold is fresh, fun and a little far fetched
22 Feb 23 / Opera Online (English)
A hallmark of Jones’s staging is the clarity of its narration
22 Feb 23 / Opera Today
A razzle-dazzle production of Wagner's opera shows the company at its best, musically and dramatically
21 Feb 23 / CultureWhisper
ENO’s The Rhinegold is not to be missed despite questions about Richard Jones’s concept
21 Feb 23 / Seen and Heard
Musically, standards are far better honed and consistent
21 Feb 23 / Classical Source
Sky-high musical standards
21 Feb 23 / The Stage
Lucid in music and narrative: ENO and Richard Jones’ The Rhinegold
21 Feb 23 / Bachtrack
ENO strikes Wagnerian gold
21 Feb 23 / London Unattached
Witty and insightful, Jones’s production delivers an emphatic win for ENO
20 Feb 23 / The Guardian
Gloriana

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 6

ENO stages a remarkable rarity
20 Jan 23 / The Spectator
No weak link in the cast as ENO comes together as a company for Britten’s Gloriana
19 Dec 22 / Seen and Heard
ENO’s one-off revival of Britten’s restless coronation opera is a triumph
18 Dec 22 / The Observer
This was ENO on top form
15 Dec 22 / Classical Source
Superb singing and smart staging illuminate Britten’s coronation opera
10 Dec 22 / The Guardian
The second Elizabethan age receives a noble tribute from the first in ENO's Gloriana
10 Dec 22 / Bachtrack
It's a Wonderful Life

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 9

Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s festive yarn goes for all the fuzzy feelings
6 Dec 22 / OperaWire
English National Opera’s It’s a Wonderful Life brings a touch of Christmas magic to the London Coliseum
30 Nov 22 / Opera Online (English)
Can Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ give hope to ENO?
29 Nov 22 / The Article
Life is (too) sweet: ENO brings It's a Wonderful Life to the operatic stage
29 Nov 22 / Bachtrack
In the orchestra pit, Nicole Paiement made her ENO debut, conducting an immaculate and well-balanced band
29 Nov 22 / London Unattached
Operatic adaptation is on the side of the angels
28 Nov 22 / The Guardian
Jake Heggie's 2016 opera based on Frank Capra's 1946 film has much to say about theatre, and life, today
28 Nov 22 / Broadway World
Heggie and Scheer certainly go all out to hymn the goodness of the common folk
28 Nov 22 / Opera Today
Capra’s sharp-edged sentiment smothered in endless schmaltz
27 Nov 22 / The Arts Desk
The Yeomen of the Guard

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 8

The sad clown and the ingenue
21 Nov 22 / Planet Hugill
ENO stands firm amid extreme funding cuts with a Gilbert and Sullivan staging full of vim and vigour
13 Nov 22 / The Observer
English National Opera presents a new production of The Yeomen of the Guard
13 Nov 22 / Opera Online (English)
ENO has the success it needed
13 Nov 22 / iNews
Gilbert & Sullivan Beefeaters triumph at the ENO
9 Nov 22 / The Article
Gilbert & Sullivan flourish at the Coliseum
8 Nov 22 / London Unattached
Updated to 1953, and with an Aussie Elsie, this good-looking production misses too many opportunities
7 Nov 22 / Limelight
Tonal uncertainties but G&S update has plenty to enjoy
5 Nov 22 / The Guardian
Tosca

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 16

Overall a first class production
27 Oct 22 / London News Online
This Tosca is superb, and a win for English language opera
22 Oct 22 / Reaction
Pity and terror - a powerful, moving adaptation of Puccini
15 Oct 22 / The Critic
Sinéad Campbell-Wallace shines in Christof Loy’s insightful production
11 Oct 22 / OperaWire
Christof Loy digs for psychological depth in ENO’s time-shifting new Puccini production
9 Oct 22 / The Observer
English National Opera launched its new season with grand opera grandly staged
9 Oct 22 / Classical Source
Twists and tweaks abound in Christof Loy’s new well cast Tosca for ENO
6 Oct 22 / Seen and Heard
The Diva gets her revenge in St Martin’s Lane
4 Oct 22 / London Unattached
ENO's new Tosca has conceptual flaws, but delivers on the music
4 Oct 22 / Bachtrack
Christof Loy presents a new production of Tosca at the London Coliseum
3 Oct 22 / Opera Online (English)
Loy's production is visually lavish and combines theatrical grandeur with metatheatrical playfulness
3 Oct 22 / Opera Today
Theatrical grandeur
3 Oct 22 / Planet Hugill
Christof Loy’s production is immediate and inspiring
3 Oct 22 / Evening Standard
Dramatic, erotic and musical perfection
3 Oct 22 / The Article
Gloriously sung and full of grand passion, this is gripping theatre
2 Oct 22 / The Guardian
Powerful singing and playing, but mixed historical periods mute the drama
1 Oct 22 / The Arts Desk
English National Opera give ‘defiant’ curtain call
The main cast of ENO’s ‘Tosca’ appeared on stage at the end of the performance wearing t-shirts that read ‘Choose Opera’ in response to the Arts Council England funding decision from earlier that day.
The Handmaid's Tale

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 11

Kate Lindsey produces a role dominating performance as The Handmaid
24 Apr 22 / OperaWire
Strong performances offset the misery in ENO’s new production of Poul Ruders’s opera
17 Apr 22 / The Observer
Hopelessness runs through the story like a muddy stream
14 Apr 22 / Church Times
A stark and effective production of The Handmaid’s Tale at the London Coliseum
14 Apr 22 / Opera Online (English)
A muddled musical fable of misogyny
13 Apr 22 / The Article
Brilliant new production of Poul Ruders’s The Handmaid’s Tale at English National Opera
13 Apr 22 / Seen and Heard
A stomach-turningly horrifying Margaret Atwood adaptation
12 Apr 22 / iNews
ENO’s production of Atwood’s dystopia is chilling but slow to convince
11 Apr 22 / The Guardian
The eclectic score is driven forward with ceaseless dynamism
11 Apr 22 / Opera Today
Overwhelming power in Annilese Miskimmon's new production of Poul Ruders's opera
10 Apr 22 / The Arts Desk
A topical tale: Gilead returns to the Coliseum stage
10 Apr 22 / Bachtrack
Exploring Gilead is ‘more important than ever'
The Handmaid’s Tale comes to the English National Opera.
‘I believe in making opera ordinary’
English National Opera’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon on her new production of The Handmaid's Tale based on Margaret Atwood’s classic – and why things are changing for women in opera.
Così fan tutte

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 5

ENO’s Così fan tutte is undeniably entertaining in a sort of overload-like way
21 Mar 22 / Seen and Heard
First revival of Phelim McDermott’s Così fan tutte at the London Coliseum
21 Mar 22 / Opera Online (English)
Laughing with Mozart
19 Mar 22 / Express
This candyfloss show lacks substance
16 Mar 22 / iNews
Elegant and fleet
16 Mar 22 / The Stage
The Cunning Little Vixen

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 11

A stylish and arresting new production from Jamie Manton
2 Mar 22 / OperaWire
Janáček’s music holds court at ENO
27 Feb 22 / The Observer
Sally Matthews shone in the title role, her bell-like soprano emotionally adaptive to a variety of situations
26 Feb 22 / Opera Today
Phantasmagoria as Man is pitted against Nature in ENO’s new The Cunning Little Vixen
25 Feb 22 / Seen and Heard
Cluttered, confused and a little bit dull
24 Feb 22 / iNews
An ill-conceived production at the Coliseum disappoints
24 Feb 22 / Music OMH
Jamie Manton’s new production of The Cunning Little Vixen at the London Coliseum
23 Feb 22 / Opera Online (English)
A fine tail: new Cunning Little Vixen at English National Opera
23 Feb 22 / Bachtrack
Exquisite beauty in the music of Janaček’s Vixen
23 Feb 22 / The Article
Colourful staging takes Janáček’s opera to the dark side
22 Feb 22 / The Guardian
Lack of pace and focus can’t sink Janáček’s paean to the natural order
22 Feb 22 / The Arts Desk
La bohème

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 10

Nadine Benjamin triumphs in ENO’s La bohème
21 Feb 22 / Opera Today
Jonathan Miller’s production of Puccini’s La bohème returns to ENO
11 Feb 22 / Classical Source
La bohème returns to ENO
9 Feb 22 / Opera Today
Irish Mimi’s debut in ‘La Bohème’ leaves not a dry eye at the Coliseum
9 Feb 22 / The Article
Fifth Revival of Jonathan Miller’s La bohème at the London Coliseum
8 Feb 22 / Opera Online (English)
Jonathan Miller's production of Puccini's La bohème is in fine fettle as it returns to the London Coliseum
7 Feb 22 / Planet Hugill
English National Opera’s expertly revived, strongly sung and fluidly conducted La bohème
5 Feb 22 / Seen and Heard
A captivating, playful performance with the orchestra on superb form
4 Feb 22 / The Stage
If you don’t leave an emotional wreck, there’s something wrong
4 Feb 22 / iNews
Chilly revival of Jonathan Miller's Bohème at English National Opera
4 Feb 22 / Bachtrack
Die Walküre

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 15

Walkiria sin Loge
15 Dec 21 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish)
Many of the great set pieces of this opera fell flat
2 Dec 21 / Opera Journal
The ENO orchestra under Martyn Brabbins really got its aggregated teeth into this score
30 Nov 21 / The Critics' Circle
Richard Jones directs this new, his third, staging, and it is a provocative one
24 Nov 21 / Classical Source
The pride of the Valkyries meets municipal bureaucracy
24 Nov 21 / The Article
Matthew Rose leads a terrific cast but ENO’s staging lacks fire
23 Nov 21 / iNews
Tamped down pyrotechnics aside, this new Ring looks promising
23 Nov 21 / Evening Standard
ENO’s Die Walküre is hobbled by a half-hearted production
23 Nov 21 / Seen and Heard
A long awaited but disappointing Valkyrie by the ENO
23 Nov 21 / Music OMH
A striking, uneven start to ENO’s Ring cycle
22 Nov 21 / The Guardian
The Met Opera’s next ‘Ring’ will be a sea change
22 Nov 21 / New York Times
A hollow-hearted new co-production with the Met gets off to a standing start
22 Nov 21 / Limelight
The Valkyrie heralds the start of a new Ring Cycle at the London Coliseum
22 Nov 21 / Opera Online (English)
Richard Jones’ second London Ring falters at the first fence
21 Nov 21 / Bachtrack
Fitfully flickering flames
21 Nov 21 / The Arts Desk
‘About as big as it gets’
Behind the scenes of Wagner’s The Valkyrie at English National Opera.
The stakes are sky-high for a ‘Ring’ coming to the Met Opera
For Richard Jones, the director of a staging that will open in London and later travel to New York, this is a third attempt at Wagner’s epic.
Satyagraha

English National Opera


No. of reviews: 11

There is plenty to enjoy in McDermott's staging
11 Nov 21 / Opera Journal
A spectacular realization of Phillip Glass’ political meditation on the life of Gandhi
20 Oct 21 / OperaWire
Glass’ operas are unlike anything else
20 Oct 21 / Brinkwire
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Performance schedule
Mozart
28 Feb to 30 Mar 2024

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