English National Opera
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Image:London-coliseum.jpg English National Opera (ENO), located at the Coliseum Theatre in St. Martin's Lane is the national opera company of England, and one of two opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. It is a world-class company, as famous for attracting talented lesser-known singers as it is for its modern productions and groundbreaking setting of opera. ENO currently mounts twenty productions a year with an annual audience of 450,000.
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History
In 1898, Lilian Baylis presented a series of opera recitals at the Old Vic theatre. Some ten years later, she established a theatre company there, initially performing 'cut-down' versions of Shakespeare's plays. Having added a small group of dancers to the company (a group which later separated from Vic-Wells and renamed: The Royal Ballet); Sadler's Wells Theatre opens and the Vic-Wells Opera Company is formed.
After closures during the Second World War, Sadler's Wells re-opened with Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, introducing the first English opera composer since Purcell to receive international acclaim. In 1968, Sadler's Wells Opera moved from Sadler's Wells Theatre to the Coliseum; six years later, the company was renamed English National Opera.
In 1984, ENO was the first British opera company to tour the United States, and in 1990 was the first major foreign opera company to tour the former Soviet Union. After acquiring the freehold to the London Coliseum, the company embarked on a four-year restoration programme in 2004. While the Coliseum was undergoing these changes, ENO temporarily made its home in the Barbican Centre.
Repertoire
ENO performs all operas in English, although in June 2005 the decision was made to introduce surtitles at the London Coliseum during the 2005/2006 Sky & Artsworld Season. In the May - December season 2005, ENO shall be mounting The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, The Magic Flute, The Carmelites, Salome, Madama Butterfly, Xerxes and Billy Budd. The Company will also hire out the Coliseum for various other events by visiting artists and companies (eg Australian Ballet; Lauryn Hill).
Home
- See also the article on the Coliseum Theatre.
The Coliseum Theatre, near Trafalgar Square, is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres, opening in 1904. Built by Frank Matcham, a famous theatrical architect who designed two famous London theatres: the London Palladium and the London Coliseum. It underwent extensive renovations between 2000 and 2004 and has the widest proscenium arch in London as well as being one of the earliest to have electric lighting. It was built with a revolving stage although this was rarely used.
It was the creation of the most powerful theatre manager of the day, Oswald Stoll, and the foremost theatre architect, Frank Matcham. Their ambition was to build the largest and finest 'People's palace of entertainment' of its age. English National Opera moved into the theatre in 1968. In 1992, ENO bought the freehold for £12.8m.
Education
eno baylis is the education department of ENO. They involve around 12,000 people every year in a wide range of projects, events, courses and performances, with a goal of developing creative responses to opera and music theatre; making new work with communities and exploring individual creativity as a means of providing access to ENO's productions; and encouraging learning and development through participation of artists and collaboration of resources.
Ring Cycle
An interesting complete Ring cycle was begun in 2004. The production is notable for its use of contemporary minimalist sets and costumes. Many of the scenes look like rooms from Ikea and indeed the production is sponsored by the MFI furniture company. Some critics have described Phyllida Lloyd's Cycle as superior to that at the Royal Opera House in almost every way, although many others thought it was muddled and that its "relentlessly trivialising" approach served only to belittle Wagner's cycle. It was also poorly sung and conducted.
For the first time in 30 years Wagner's Ring returned to the stage in English, coinciding with the Company's 30th anniversary as English National Opera. Following staged concerts over the past three Seasons, ENO Music Director Paul Daniel led the Company in a new production by Phyllida Lloyd, designed by Richard Hudson with lighting by Simon Mills, performed in the new ENO translation by Jeremy Sams.
The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie and Siegfried were all staged in 2004, the Coliseum Centenary Year, while the production of Twilight of the Gods completed the new Cycle in Spring 2005.
Gilbert and Sullivan Opera
In the English National Opera's 1987 production of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera "The Mikado", the role of the "Lord High Executioner" was performed by comedians Eric Idle and Bill Oddie (with Bill Oddie replacing Eric Idle in the role).