‘Warner’s command of the Coliseum’s wide stage is masterful.’

Acclaimed international director Deborah Warner and ENO have developed a strong creative partnership in recent years which has produced landmark and critically acclaimed reinterpretations ofThe Messiah, St John Passion and Death In Venice.

The director, who the Sunday Times credited with “making theatre that is an adventure, a journey of the mind”, returns to ENO to stage a new production of Tchaikovsky’s lyrical masterpiece Eugene Onegin.

Warner is reunited with ENO Music Director Edward Gardner for the first time since collaborating on Death in Venice, which, following a successful run at ENO travelled to Milan’s La Scala earlier this year.Onegin, a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, will mark Warner’s debut at the New York opera house in 2013.

Deborah Warner said, “I am thrilled to be directing this great opera with the team that I worked with on Death in Venice and the wonderful company here at ENO. It is especially exciting to be working closely with Edward Gardner once more.

Eugene Onegin stretches the resources of any Opera House to its limits - the challenge is legendary - but the rewards for an audience in this masterpiece of music theatre are extraordinary. It is a privilege to be given this opportunity to work together with the ENO and the Met on this new production.”

Young and sheltered Tatyana falls hopelessly in love with the older, disenchanted Onegin, friend of her sister Olga’s fiancé. Onegin does not return her love and instead masochistically flirts with Olga. Victims of circumstance and unrequited love, the four ill-fated lovers play out their tragic tale, leading to a duel with desperate consequences as hedonistic Onegin realises only too late what he has lost.

Warner’s career began in 1987 with the RSC and she is known for her interpretation of the works of Shakespeare, Brecht, Büchner and Ibsen. She has worked in theatre, film and television, winning multiple awards, including two Oliviers. Her opera directing for ENO includes the celebrated Death in Venice in 2007, which has been recently staged at La Scala, and Messiah in 2009.

ENO Music Director Edward Gardner conducts this major company work after a hugely successful turn at this year’s BBC Proms and Last Night of the Proms. Warner is joined by set designer and long-time collaborator Tom Pye, whose previous work with the director includes Mother Courage and Happy Days at the National Theatre. Completing the artistic team is costume designer Chloe Oblensky, lighting designer Jean Kalman, choreographer Kim Brandstrup and video directors Finn Ross & Ian William-Galloway.

Singing the title role of Onegin is Norwegian baritone Audun Iversen, who made his French debut singing the role for Opéra Lille. This will be his ENO debut. Amanda Echalaz, whose last role at ENO as the eponymous Heroine in Catherine Malfitano’s Tosca received much praise, is singing the role of Tatyana. Leading British tenor Toby Spence returns to ENO as Lensky with Diana Montague as Madame Larina,and Brindley Sherratt as Prince Gremin after a much lauded performance as Fiesco in last season’s Simon Boccangera. ENO Young Singer Claudia Huckle sings the role as Olga, with Catherine Wyn-Rogers as as Filipievna, David Stout as Zaretsky,and Adrian Thompson as Monsieur Triquet.

Eugene Onegin opens at the London Coliseum on 12 November for 8 performances – 12, 15, 18, 23, 25, 29 at 7pm & 3 December at 6pm and 20 November at 3pm

Pre-performance talk, Tuesday 15 November 5.15-6pm, £5

A Co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, New York

New Production supported by ENO’s Women in Opera syndicate and the Friends of ENO

Notes to Editors:

·Staging contemporary highly theatrical work which is world class

·Working with creative talent from across the arts

·Reaching new audiences

·Developing and supporting British talent

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