English National Opera (ENO) today announced the first wave of plans for a major new partnership between the company and the city-region of Greater Manchester for the next three years, enabling ENO to be firmly established within Greater Manchester by 2029.
The ENO Greater Manchester partnership, which includes projects across the city-region, covers every aspect of opera production and celebrates new possibilities for the artform. This announcement represents the beginning of longer-term strategic partnerships with venues and organisations across Greater Manchester. It will include major contemporary works, new work development in opera, presenting ENO signature classics, interdisciplinary experimentations, creating operatic experiences by, with and for communities, and developing the opera-makers of today and tomorrow.
Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive of English National Opera, said: “The projects we are announcing today mark the first wave of our developing partnership with Greater Manchester, which will be fully implemented by 2029. Working together over the last year, we could not be more clear that Greater Manchester is the right place to put down roots, a place where we can develop, expand and innovate. Where, building on the region’s legendary reputation as the heart of music making in this country, we can make a difference to audiences and communities, help invest in the next generation of talent and break new ground in the future of the artform – locally, nationally and internationally.”
The first wave of projects and partnerships announced today are:
- A new experiential production presented with Factory International, Improbable and Park Avenue Armory New York of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s opera Einstein on the Beach , following the international success of Satyagraha and Akhnaten, directed by Improbable’s Phelim McDermott and premiering in Spring 2027.
- A new production for the UK premiere of Angel’s Bone, the Pulitzer prize-winning contemporary opera by Chinese American composer Du Yun and librettist Royce Vavrek, which draws inspiration from a range of musical genres from classical to cabaret and punk. It’s a dark fable exploring modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Produced by ENO in collaboration with Factory International, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and presented at Aviva Studios in May 2026.
- Marking the beginning of a new partnership with Lowry, ENO’s production of Benjamin Britten’s classic comic ensemble opera Albert Herring , performed with the Orchestra of English National Opera, will open in October 2025.
- A newly staged concert version of Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Chorus and Orchestra of ENO, will be presented at The Bridgewater Hall in February 2026.
- The creation of a Greater Manchester Youth Opera Company in partnership with Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub, working with young people aged 13-19 from across the city-region from backgrounds underrepresented and underserved in the arts. ENO will work with Royal Northern College of Music and a range of other partners to pilot the project beginning in September 2025. This ensemble singing programme will broaden access to creating opera, strengthen and diversify the sector talent pipeline, and invest in the opera-makers of the future.
- PERFECT PITCH, a celebration of opera and community football in a co-creation between Salford-based outdoor arts specialists, Walk the Plank, ENO, community groups and local football teams in the city-region. This large-scale participation programme will explore the impact that mass singing has on team performance and spectator experience, starting in Summer 2025.
- A city-region wide expansion of ENO Breathe, ENO’s award-winning creative health programme, originally created for people recovering from COVID-19 with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. ENO is working with NHS Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to pioneer a new iteration of the ENO Breathe programme to support people living with other respiratory conditions, including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma. This programme forms part of the Creative Health Greater Manchester Place Partnership, funded by Arts Council England through its National Lottery funded Place Partnership Fund. From Autumn 2024.
- The establishment of new work development programmes, designed to champion innovation in opera-making. Working with a range of partners from across the city-region and beyond, these programmes will support the development of new voices and stories in opera, providing an engine room for the commissioning of new work. The Royal Northern College of Music and ENO will launch a Creative Incubator, providing space, mentoring and performance platforms for artists and composers to develop new operatic work that reflects Greater Manchester’s communities, drawing on the region’s diverse musical traditions. Opera Factory GM will see ENO and Factory International co-create an ongoing series of cross-disciplinary research and development labs designed to explore new forms of opera, from innovations in mixed reality to immersive environments. Launching in Spring 2026.
- ENO Engage, ENO’s learning and participation department, will expand their national free music-making programme Finish This…, designed for primary, secondary and SEND schools to the city-region, working with 30 schools across Greater Manchester this academic year, with further expansion in 2025/26. The project aligns with the national curriculum and brings a fusion of opera, film and animation into the classroom, as a creative springboard for collaborative composition work.
- Collaboration with Factory International through its award-winning Factory Academy training programme, offering vocational training opportunities in opera for young people living in Greater Manchester from backgrounds underrepresented in the arts. From Spring 2025, participants will develop skills in technical roles and producing, working with ENO and Factory International on a range of joint opportunities, including as part of the creative and technical teams delivering Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach.
- The University of Manchester and ENO will work together on Tuning into Opera. This invites the people of Greater Manchester to explore the opportunities for the artform and discuss what it means to have an opera company based in the city-region. ENO and University of Manchester will bring a range of perspectives together, including artists, local communities, researchers and the wider sector to examine how the artform can and must continue to grow. A jointly funded role will be recruited, enabling on-the-ground research with new audiences, ensuring that diverse communities can inform and shape these conversations. The first public conversation event will take place at Manchester International Festival at Aviva Studios in July 2025.
- A special performance will be presented for Manchester Classical festival at The Bridgewater Hall in Summer 2025, in a collaboration between the Chorus of English National Opera and The Hallé.
Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of English National Opera, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to share our plans after many months of discussions. We are truly grateful for the inspirational support we have received from so many people and organisations in Greater Manchester to achieve this – our first expression of our future programme together.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Greater Manchester has always been at the heart of the UK music scene, with a legacy and energy that’s second to none. We’re thrilled to welcome English National Opera to our city-region, as a partner in our ambition to inspire the younger generation and create real opportunities for our young people. Music is at the heart of our creative history. This move will bring fantastic opportunities for the development of opera across Greater Manchester.”
ENO’s Greater Manchester partnerships and programme will continue to develop alongside the continuation of annual seasons at the London Coliseum, and ENO’s nationwide education and health programmes.
Further details, ticket information and on sale dates will be announced in due course.
Quotes:
Sir Chris Bryant, Arts Minister:
“English National Opera’s plans for their work in Manchester are exciting and inspiring – they will help to ensure that arts and culture are no longer the preserve of a privileged few by giving opera a permanent home in the city and engaging directly with local communities.
The arts have the power to make a huge difference to people’s lives and these new plans announced by English National Opera and Greater Manchester will be fantastic for the people in the city and the wider area. I encourage people all across the region to make the most of this exciting new opportunity.”
Darren Henley, CEO, Arts Council England:
“The plans and programme announced by ENO today are truly electrifying, in scale, scope and ambition. It’s thrilling to anticipate this innovative, exceptional work being staged here in Manchester – and to know that, from here, that work will reach out to touch audiences around the world.”
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council:
“As one of Europe’s fastest growing cities with the largest creative economy in Europe after London, we’re a city that embraces culture and the arts. These are a massive part of what makes Manchester the place it is and make a significant contribution to the city’s economy.
We’ve been really excited for what ENO’s partnership with Manchester and the wider city-region is going to bring and this first wave of project and programme announcements sound amazing with opportunities across the board for learning and for skills development within our communities, as well as for audiences. It’s exactly what we were hoping for from the partnership and we can’t wait to see how this develops and where our collaboration takes us in the future.”
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Greater Manchester:
“I am thrilled to welcome the English National Opera to Greater Manchester, embarking on an inspiring partnership that will bring new cultural experiences and opportunities to our region. This initiative celebrates our city-region’s longstanding reputation as a leader in the arts and music, expanding it to include the rich, transformative world of opera. From creating a Youth Opera Company and collaborating with local football teams to launching new health and wellness programmes like ENO Breathe, this partnership underscores our commitment to inclusive, community-centred culture. By supporting young talent and providing training in the creative industries, ENO’s presence here will offer opportunities that reach across generations and backgrounds. Together, we’re not just making opera more accessible – we’re reimagining it as a vibrant part of Greater Manchester’s future.”
Julia Fawcett OBE, CEO, Lowry:
“Lowry is delighted to welcome English National Opera to Greater Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to bring the magic of opera to even more people across the North West, opening the doors for new and diverse audiences to experience and enjoy this incredible art form. This partnership will create unforgettable performances, support local talent, and connect with communities, ensuring opera becomes a vibrant and accessible part of cultural life for everyone.”
Dr Manisha Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Greater Manchester:
“We are proud of our commitment to becoming the world’s first creative health city region – with Greater Manchester continuing to lead the way in harnessing the power of culture and creativity to address health inequalities. The expansion of ENO Breathe in Greater Manchester will help us to find new, creative ways of supporting residents living with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma. People living with COPD experience some of the starkest health inequalities in our city region and so we welcome this partnership to explore how creative, community-based approaches can address barriers to support experienced by those people most in need.
ENO Breathe will make a significant contribution to Live Well – Greater Manchester’s shared commitment to everyday support in every neighbourhood, changing how we work with communities and in public services to grow opportunities for everyone. As well as generating wider learning on the ways creative, community-rooted approaches can effectively support the health and wellbeing of people with respiratory disease.”
Adam Szabo, Director, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra:
“We are thrilled to be joining this brilliant cohort of collaborators from across the arts ecology of the North, working closely with ENO as they settle into this new chapter as a company. It is an exciting time to be working as a part of the cultural landscape of Greater Manchester, and we look forward to the courageous and inspiring artistic projects that will be the born out of these new partnerships.”
Sue Harrison and John Stephens, Co-Chairs, Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub Board:
“We are delighted that the Music Hub has formed this exciting partnership with ENO. We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people in our areas have access to the best possible opportunities to participate and excel in a wide range of musical genres. This collaboration means that youngsters across the region will be able to explore and enjoy all aspects of opera, working alongside leading practitioners from ENO. It is a fantastic opportunity for the children, young people and communities that we serve.”
John McGrath, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, Factory International:
“We are delighted to welcome ENO to Greater Manchester, and to be developing a significant partnership with them, exploring the future of opera and music theatre at Aviva Studios. Alongside truly exciting new production of Angel’s Bone, Einstein on the Beach, and new works in the future, we also very much look forward to working with the ENO to develop training and employment opportunities for the people of Manchester through Factory Academy.”
Manus Carey, Deputy Principal (Performance and Programmes), RNCM:
“ENO is recognised as one of the most innovative opera companies in the world and we are proud to welcome them to Manchester and to announce our exciting new partnership. The RNCM has a long history of providing young musicians, composers, and singers with unrivalled opportunities to develop their craft with leading organisations across the industry, and we are looking forward to working with ENO to further enhance this through the development of our joint Creative Incubator Programme.”
David Butcher, Chief Executive, The Hallé:
“We are delighted to be welcoming the ENO to Greater Manchester’s cultural family. This is a city of collaboration, with a rich and diverse musical offering, so it seems absolutely fitting that they will be joining us as part of the Manchester Classical festival in June 2025. This is a great opportunity to see how we can collectively offer new creative experiences to our audiences, and we very much look forward to working together on this, and a number of unique and exciting future projects with the Hallé.”
Andrew Bolt, CEO, The Bridgewater Hall:
“We are thrilled and excited by the prospect of our new collaboration with ENO. For the first time Manchester audiences will be able to attend opera performances by this iconic national company, from the stage of the City’s beautiful Bridgewater Hall.”
Professor John McAuliffe, Director of Creative Manchester, The University of Manchester:
“The University of Manchester is delighted to be working in partnership with colleagues at ENO, as part of their move to the city-region. Together, we are planning a shared programme of work that will look at opera as part of Greater Manchester’s cultural landscape, listening for the sound of new collaboration and creating more opportunities for our students, staff, artists and research in creative health across the music sector.”
Liz Pugh, Creative Producer and Co-founder, Walk the Plank:
“At Walk the Plank, we have always enjoyed bringing people into contact with amazing artists and working together to make rich cultural experiences in public space. ENO have a reputation for taking artistic risks and we are excited to join forces with them to explore the phenomenon of chants and songs from the terraces. And we’d be delighted to hear from any amateur teams or committed fans who would like to be part of the team too, working with ENO and Walk the Plank.”