The Olivier score: John Berry 4, Covent Garden 2
mainThe annual theatre awards tilt heavily in favour of the artistic director that the Arts Council got fired from English National Opera. Berry commissioned four of the shortlisted performances. Then he got sacked.
He is unlikely to be invited to the awards dinner.
Two of the ENO nominees have since rebelled against his successors. Mar Wigglesworth resigned as music director and Stuart Skelton said the wrong people are now running the Coliseum.
Here’s the shortlist:
Best new opera production
4.48 Psychosis at the Lyric Hammersmith
*Akhnaten at London Coliseum
Così Fan Tutte at Royal Opera House
*Lulu at London Coliseum
Outstanding achievement in opera
Renée Fleming for her performance in Der Rosenkavalier at the Royal Opera House
*Stuart Skelton for his performance in Tristan and Isolde at London Coliseum
*Mark Wigglesworth for his conducting of Don Giovanni and Lulu at London Coliseum
I’m rooting for 4.48 Psychosis.
ENO always gets lots of nominations for the theatre awards whenever its in crisis.
in living memory, when has it not been in crisis?
Yes, it’s been going on for years, even when my own singing teacher was there in the 80s as a leading baritone. But it’s never been short on artistic value and for innovative productions whatever about what goes on behind the scenes – and always affordable. Well done ENO! And if you don’t like opera in English, then go to the many other places. I love ENO. They didn’t like Berry, they don’t like this lot – what’s new?
Yes, it’s been going on for years, even when my own singing teacher was there in the 80s as a leading baritone. But it’s never been short on artistic value and admired for innovative productions whatever about what goes on behind the scenes – and always affordable. Well done ENO! And if you don’t like opera in English, then go to the many other places. I love ENO. They didn’t like Berry, they don’t like this lot – what’s new?