English National Opera (ENO) and Grange Park Opera (GPO) are delighted to announce a five-year orchestral partnership with the award-winning Orchestra of English National Opera (ENO). Commencing next summer (2026), this dynamic pairing will take audiences through Richard Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle with annual performances of each of the four operas: Das Rheingold (2026), Die Walküre (2027), Siegfried (2028) and Götterdämmerung (2029), before concluding with the entire Ring Cycle in 2030.

The agreement will also see the Orchestra of ENO performing an additional opera each summer season, with Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Verdi’s ever-popular Don Carlo and Otello slated for Grange Park Opera’s ambitious programme.   

Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive Officer of English National Opera, comments: “Following the success of Mazeppa this summer, we are delighted to be continuing our orchestral partnership with Grange Park Opera for their Ring Cycle. The Orchestra of ENO are a group of highly versatile and acclaimed musicians, and we look forward to continuing to showcase their talent throughout the summer season with this exciting new partnership.”  

For aficionados, the news carries added excitement as having the Orchestra of ENO play means that GPO will be the UK’s only summer season with a full 70-strong opera orchestra. 

Founder of Grange Park Opera, Wasfi Kani CBE says: “Members of the Orchestra of English National Opera are sensational musicians with opera in their bones. We are very lucky to have them grace our orchestra pit with their dynamism and deep understanding of opera”. 

Grange Park Opera’s Ring Cycle will be directed and designed by Charles Edwards, who was critically acclaimed in 2023 for his staging of Tristan und Isolde. Conductors for the Cycle will include Anthony Negus, one of the leading Wagnerian exponents of our day, and his protege Harry Sever. 

The cast features renowned singers, including bass-baritone James Rutherford (Wotan), leading mezzo soprano Christine Rice (Fricka), charismatic baritone David Stout (Alberich), award-winning bass Matthew Rose (Fasolt) and one of today’s most prominent Wagnerian sopranos, Rachel Nicholls (Freia & Brunnhilde).