ENO presents important contemporary works, including The Death of Klinghoffer, The Passenger and Caligula, at the heart of an ambitious season which shows the unique way in which opera can explore the politically and socially charged issues of our day.

Four operas by living composers

John Adams’s The Death of Klinghoffer – The award-winning director Tom Morris (War Horse) directs the London stage premiere of this poetic retelling of the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking which was a flashpoint in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Contemporary German composers come to the fore:

Detlev Glanert’s Caligula –Young firebrand director Benedict Andrews (ENO’s The Return of Ulysses) unleashes an incendiary mix of power and politics, focusing on the self-destructive nature of the political dictator.  

Wolfgang Rihm’s Jakob Lenz – Award-winning rising star Sam Brown directs this enthralling and thought-provoking exposé of how society makes pariahs of schizophrenics.

A season finale to mark London 2012:

Damon Albarn’s Doctor Dee – The Blur and Gorillaz frontman ponders British ritual and symbolism as he revisits the life of the influential Elizabethan John Dee. Rufus Norris (ENO’s Don Giovanni) directs the London premiere as part of the London 2012 Festival to mark the capital’s hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

John Berry, ENO Artistic Director says, “British talent, led by our brilliant music director Edward Gardner, is at the core of this thought-provoking season. ENO’s 2011/12 Season sets out to demonstrate that opera has never been more relevant or accessible.”

11 New Productions

ENO offers one of its most ambitious seasons with a range of works taken from the classic and contemporary repertoire.

As well as The Death of Klinghoffer, Caligula, Jakob Lenz and Doctor Dee, David Pountney directs the UK premiere of Mieczysław Weinberg’s masterpiece, The Passenger, which examines the terrible power the Holocaust holds over its victims and perpetrators.

There are striking interpretations of The Marriage of Figaro, Castor and Pollux (ENO’s first-ever Rameau staging), Eugene Onegin, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Flying Dutchman and Billy Budd.

British Talent

A wealth of British talent is featured across the season.

Award-winning British directors Richard Jones, Jonathan Kent, David McVicar, Rufus Norris, David Pountney, Fiona Shaw and Deborah Warner return to ENO. Sam Brown and Tom Morris make their ENO directing debuts with new productions.

British conductors of international repute Edward Gardner (ENO Music Director), Sir Richard Armstrong, Christian Curnyn and Paul Daniel lead ENO’s orchestra and chorus.

Barry Banks, Sarah Connolly, Alan Opie, Iain Paterson, Amanda Roocroft, Christine Rice, Claire Rutter, Brindley Sherratt, Andrew Shore, Toby Spence and Sir John Tomlinson are among the cream of British singers set to thrill audiences.

They are joined by ENO Young Singers Sophie Bevan, Benedict Nelson, Nicky Spence and Kate Valentine.

A New Partnership

ENO has formed an artistic partnership with Hampstead Theatre to collaborate on a new production of Jakob Lenz, directed by rising star Sam Brown in the theatre’s flexible auditorium.

International Talent

The season features world-class talent from outside Britain, including directors David Alden, Benedict Andrews, Barrie Kosky, set designers Johan Engels and Paul Steinberg, and conductor Oleg Caetani.

ENO continues its artistic partnerships with the Metropolitan Opera, New York, and the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, as well as co-producing relationships with other international opera houses and festivals. 

Popular Revivals

ENO brings back highly popular productions of Jonathan Miller’s The Elixir of Love, Catherine Malfitano’s Tosca, David McVicar’s Der Rosenkavalier and Anthony Minghella’s Madam Butterfly.

For further press information or images please contact:

Liz Barrett

Head of Press

02078459261

ebarrett@eno.org

ENO 2011/12 season

The Elixir of Love, Donizetti , opens 15 September 2011

The Passenger, Weinberg, opens 19 September 2011

The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart, opens 5 October 2011

Castor and Pollux, Rameau, opens 24 October 2011 

Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky, opens 12 November 2011

Tosca, Puccini, opens 26 November 2011  

Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss, opens 28 January 2012 

The Tales of Hoffmann, Offenbach, opens 10 February 2012 

The Death of Klinghoffer, John Adams, opens 25 February 2012  

Jakob Lenz, Wolfgang Rihm, opens 17 April 2012, Hampstead Theatre

The Flying Dutchman, Wagner, opens 28 April 2012

Madam Butterfly, Puccini, opens 8 May 2012 

Caligula, Detlev Glanert, opens 25 May 2012 

Billy Budd, Britten, opens 18 June 2012 

Doctor Dee, Damon Albarn, opens 25 June 2012 (press night 26 June)

Editors Notes

ENO is creating the future of opera by:

·         Producing distinctive, contemporary and highly theatrical work which is world class

·         Working with creative talent from across the arts

·         Developing and supporting British talent

·         Making opera for everyone