ENO’s next season will have just one new show

ENO’s next season will have just one new show

Opera

norman lebrecht

May 17, 2023

Artistic director Annilese Miskimmon has quietly unfolded English National Opera’s next season, a season put together under the shadow of an Arts Council guillotine. It is, inevitably, impoverished. It contains:

– The UK premiere of Marina Abramović’s 7 Deaths of Maria Callas receives an exciting UK premiere.
– A semi-staged concert of Bartók’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle.
– The return of David Alden’s production of Britten’s Peter Grimes.
– Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe.
– Peter Konwitschny’s condensation of Verdi’s La Traviata.
– Miskimmon’s staging of The Handmaid’s Tale.
– Jonathan Miller’s 1987 The Barber of Seville.
– Simon McBurney’s The Magic Flute.
– David Alden’s reading of Janáček’s Jenůfa.

Miskimmon (pic) says: ‘This past season has been challenging following the Arts Council’s removal of the ENO’s NPO status but also incredibly rewarding with sell out, critically acclaimed productions across a huge breadth of repertoire. We are thrilled that 64% of our audience has been new to the ENO – the highest recorded in the last six years – including record numbers of Under 35 and Under 21 attendees. We’re looking forward to an exciting and dynamic future.’

Comments

  • Charlotte Halton says:

    Lots of people do go to the opera for a nice night out. Revivals of successful productions do have a place.

  • Lawrence Kershaw says:

    Actually, under the circumstances – both current and 24/25 onwards financial ‘uncertainty’ – I think it’s quite an achievement to have put this together. I know from personal knowledge how precarious things were even as recently as January of this year. A bit of support wouldn’t go amiss.

    • Glynne Williams says:

      Totally agree. Shall we look at the endless productions of La Bohème at the major opera houses (not to mention La Traviata – crowd pleasers both)? Well done ENO for the forthcoming season!

    • Will says:

      My thoughts exactly!

    • Una says:

      Could not agree. more. A few more matinées – say one for each show – would mean I amd many could travel up and down in a day from Leeds as hotels are very expensive, even the Premier Inns.

  • Ron Lawson says:

    Manchester was never going to be able to support a resident opera company. They turned down the chance to have opera north here: which then went to Leeds. A nice idea in theory because we have lost Glyndebourne Touring now & no longer receive Welsh National but ENO is an invaluable asset to London.

  • James Cook says:

    They could have had one of my operas

  • Peter geall says:

    Several of these certainly float my boat. And with so many new opera goers it’s good to include several classics

  • MMcGrath says:

    Why do we care how many NEW shows there are and why put ENO down for having “only” one? We don’t always need to pour money into NEW when the existing repertory is still wonderful.
    Let’s instead thank the stars that there ARE shows being revived at ENO – hopefully with good rehearsals, good casts and good attendance.
    I will be attending each one to show my solidarity.

  • Jenougha says:

    All this company have left under such unqualified leadership: History. A sad farewell season of past successes (and their one token female director). What a shame they have no leadership to dream a new future. We shall watch them slowly fizzle and die like Scottish Opera now. Congratulations Harry Brunjes, Stuart Murphy, Annalise Miskimmon and Martyn Brabbins. World class failures.

  • bored muso says:

    That’s one show too many..

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