This exciting new production marks the much-anticipated ENO debut of critically acclaimed Russian director Dmitri Tcherniakov. Conducted by ENO Music Director Edward Gardner, leading international baritone Bruno Caproni sings the title-role with Brindley Sherratt as Fiesco. This production launches a new artistic partnership between ENO and the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich.

As one of the most sought-after and exciting opera and theatre directors in Europe, Dmitri Tcherniakov has collaborated with some of the world’s most celebrated conductors. Invited to the Mariinsky Theatre in 2000, he worked with Valery Gergiev and his Kirov forces on A Life for the Tsar and Tristan and Isolde among others. He directed Boris Godunov with Daniel Barenboim and collaborated with him and the Berlin State Opera and La Scala to produce The Gambler.  He has worked with Kent Nagano on two productions at the Bayerische Staatsoper; Khovanshchina and Dialogues des Carmelites. Tcherniakov is also a set and costume designer on many of the operas he directs, including this Simon Boccanegra. Lighting design is by Gleb Filshtinsky, reuniting him with Tcherniakov, with whom he frequently collaborated at the Mariinsky. Simon Boccanegra is ENO’s ninth collaboration with a major international opera house this season.

Against a backdrop of civil war and political intrigue, Simon Boccanegra is Verdi’s searing tale of a Genoan who rises to become Duke. The opera, while imbued with tragedy, is also a story of hope as the two central characters overcome their political feuds and private grief to place familial and civic love ahead of their own desires.  Master of dramatic expression, Verdi’s later works are among some of the most important in the repertoire today.

This is  the third large-scale company work in the current season to be conducted by ENO’s Music Director, Edward Gardner, following Gounod’s Faust and Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust. Under his musical direction, ENO has presented a series of stellar productions, including Boris Godunov, Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, Der Rosenkavalier, Riders to the Sea, Punch and Judy, Peter Grimes and Death in Venice at ENO and most recently at La Scala. He received the Royal Philharmonic Society Award in 2008 for Best Conductor and in 2009 the Olivier award for Outstanding Achievement. This exciting production sees Gardner and Tcherniakov collaborate for the first time.

Gardner conducts a strong cast with leading Verdi baritone Bruno Caproni as Simon Boccanegra, who appears frequently in leading opera houses around the world singing the major Verdi and Puccini baritone roles. Rena Harms makes both her ENO and role debut as Amelia Boccanegra while Brindley Sherratt sings the role of Fiesco, with Peter Auty and Roland Wood taking the roles of Gabriele Adorno and Paolo Albiani, and Mark Richardson as Pietro.

Simon Boccanegra opens at the London Coliseum on 8 June 2011 for 10 performances - 8, 10, 16, 18, 22, 28 June & 5, 7 July at 7.30pm and 2, 9 July at 6.30pm.

A co-production with Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich

Operastars: Childcare activities for ages 7-12, 18 June at 7pm

Join the conversation live: Pre-performance discussion, 16 June, at 5.30pm – 6.30pm:

 http://www.eno.org/see-whats-on/see-whats-on-talks.php

Notes to the Editors:

ENO is a full time producing company creating the future of opera:

·         ENO has a world class reputation for distinctive, contemporary and highly theatrical opera

·         At the heart of ENO’s work is a commitment to developing new audiences and nurturing British talent

·         ENO believes opera should be for everyone

·         ENO works with a wealth of creative talent from across the arts

For further press information please contact:

Liz Barrett

Head of Press

02078459261

ebarrett@eno.org