English National Opera

Take a look at what everyone got up to in the second half of the #ENOBaylis Summer Youth Project. We chatted with some of the project participants about what they’d enjoyed about their experience.
The ENO Baylis Summer Youth Project is for young people with an interest in music, drama, creative writing and design.
Open to anyone aged 13-18, all levels of experience welcome.
... Young people from across London have the opportunity to work together with a professional director, composer, designer and performers from ENO to develop your creative skills and create a new piece of music theatre.
www.eno.org/…/youth-progra…/eno-bayli s-summer-youth-project/
See More

We're thrilled to announce that Simon Russell Beale will be the offstage voice of Paul Bunyan in our #ENOStudioLive production at Wilton's Music Hall. Here he is recording the part of the 'lumberjack with the 3.7 mile-stride'!
Just a few tickets left... www.eno.org/…/eno-studio-live-continues -benjamin-brittens-…/

‪Wishing everyone a very happy #InternationalFrienshipDay from everyone at ENO! Here are some of our favourite friendships in opera... ‬ What’s your favourite opera friendship? Let us know in the comments!

We sat down with the wonderful Teddy Lamb, who started here as an intern in 2014 and is now an invaluable part of the Communications team, to hear all about their favourite memories from over the years here... from #ENOIolanthe to Sunset Boulevard and everything in between! #50YearsofOpera

We are halfway through our #ENOBaylis Summer Youth Project which is taking a look at censorship and responding to #EffigiesofWickedness. We sat down with some of the participants to chat about how they're finding the project so far...
The ENO Baylis Summer Youth Project is for young people with an interest in music, drama, creative writing and design.
Open to anyone aged 13-18, all levels of experience welcome.
... Young people from across London have the opportunity to work together with a professional director, composer, designer and performers from ENO to develop your creative skills and create a new piece of music theatre.
See More

Britten's War Requiem is one of the greatest choral works of the twentieth century.
Find out more about Britten's 'act of reparation' and what inspired the piece:

#ENOHarewoodArtist Matthew Durkan sat down with us for week 30 of #50YearsofOpera to tell us about his favourite memories at the London Coliseum one of which was a real family affair!

Always wanted to know how everyone on stage gets into costume for every performance? Part 3 of our Costume video series shows just how much work goes into making sure the costumes look just as the designer intended on stage...

Part 2 of our Costume video series looks at how our Costume Department go about making designs a reality. Watch out for a cameo from the brilliant Sir John Tomlinson talking about what makes costumes easier to sing in...

Following this week's #50YearsofOpera video with our Head of Millinery, Megan, take a wider look at everything that goes on in the busy and bustling Costume Department of ENO!
Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3...

Meet ENO's head milliner Megan Bearup. Hats, headpieces and masks, Megan creates all of the headwear that you see on stage! We had a sit down with her for week 29 of #50YearsofOpera and learned all about some of her favourite ENO productions!

For the last 400 years, operas have been based around themes of real human emotion. Most predominantly, love.
From two impoverished bohemians, to lovers who can only be together in death, we’ve chosen some of opera’s greatest love stories.

We loved chatting with ENO legend Sir John Tomlinson about the many varied roles he has sung with us over the years. Watch his #50YearsofOpera video here...

#ENOHarewoodArtist Soraya Mafi talked to us about some of her favourite roles she's sung at ENO and also the very first thing she ever saw at 'the Coli'! #50YearsofOpera

Our friends over at SWAP'ra have brought together a remarkable line-up of brilliant women for their upcoming fundraising gala. Take a look at the programme and find out more here: http://www.operahollandpark.com/swapra-ga la-2018/

We are officially half way through #50YearsofOpera! We are marking the occasion with a video of Alan Opie OBE who is also celebrating 50 years at English National Opera this year. He talked us through some of his favourite roles that he has sung with us over the years...

It's week 25 of #50YearsofOpera and we sat down with Emma Kerr‏ who told us about her favourite memories of the London Coliseum - including seeing those famous lions at the top of the auditorium for the first time...

Did you know Handel's Acis and Galatea is based on two mythical Greek lovers?
Take a look at some of the best-known operas based on Greek and Roman myths and legends:

Will you be seeing your first ENO opera this season?
We've put together a beginner's guide to opera to help you feel at ease when you come to visit us!

What a great night we had at the ENO last night.

Seeing the Marriage of Figaro for the first time I was completely blown away by the cast and the orchestra who worked brilliantly as they seamlessly wove in and out of the hilarious antics of The Count, Susanna, Figaro, Charabino and the wonderful and astounding Countess not to mention a the blind man who had me roaring with laughter.(can't remember his name )

A brilliant performance I highly recommend.

Went to the 'Bat Out Of Hell' Musical with my partner and our two son's. I am a big Meatloaf fan, insisted on going to watch the musical, wasn't sure if We had made the right decision in taking our sons 11 and 6 year old respectively? However we were all totally blown away by the musical!! So much so we would all like to go again, unfortunately time is not going to allow us to do this, as it ends soon!!! Really great musical!!! Highly recommended!!!

Went to see bat out of hell with my husband as a birthday treat. What can I say. It was amazing and the cast where amazing as well. I would say it's the best musical I have ever seen. The only draw back was that's the theatre was so hot. Would have been nice to have had air con

Went to see Bat out of Hell, well what can I say - amazing, brilliant, astounding. OK the plot was a bit thin, but I really didn't care. The music, singing and choreography were exceptional. I was hooked from the beginning. Can't believe 3 hours went so quickly. I know the show is finishing soon at the ENO, and moving to Canada. Hope you are back in the UK soon as would love to see it again

Went to see Bat out of Hell yesterday, it was a fantastic show, the music was great as were the special effects. Would love to see the real Meatloaf in concert but this was definitely the next best thing, so glad I went.

Watched ‘Chess’ last night. What an excellent production it was. Fabulous cast and music. Thank you

Watched the nutcracker the performance and performers were phenomenal, beautiful and magical show xxx

Very funny performance of G&S Iolanthe. Highly recommended.

Truly amazing "Bat out of Hell." So good my daughter and I saw it three times in 3 weeks. Definitely going again when it returns in 2018. Excellent venue. Had seats in Dress Circle, then Upper Circle and finally Balcony on Monday 21st. Best view ever from the Balcony.

Thoroughly enjoyed the new production of Chess the Musical at ENO last night complete with acrobats, fire eaters and huge chorus. I saw the original in the 80s with Elaine Paige (showing my age now) and it was great to see a new interpretation. With all the current Russian tensions and also the fact that the American chess player happens to be called Frederick Trumper (think Tim Rice had a premonition there!) it still seemed quite relevant. Fantastic cast and band, especially Cassidy Janson and Tim Howar, but top star performance has to go to Michael Ball - in a serious role this time - who just makes it look and sound so easy. Only slight tiny negative (apart from the fierce ENO A/C) was that I was not entirely convinced by the band raised at the top/back of stage instead of the pit. Generally it was fine, but I felt that some singers (esp. MB) would have liked a little more artistic license in places which was probably difficult when you are all watching TV screens and the conductor can't see/hear you breathing. A small point in an otherwise really excellent performance, well done to all involved and go and see it if you can. On at ENO until 1st June.

The theatre itself is a lovely theatre. Very pretty and decorated well with painted ceiling. Bat out of Hell the musical, what can i say. I have been to 30 or more musicals but this one blew me away, gone top of the pile. Such energy and the singing was out of this world. I would have turned back round and seen it again. I think if it had stayed in the West end it would have run for a long time. Please bring it back.

The choir in Satygraha was stupendous. One of the most amazing choir performaces I ever heard.

Marvellous job also of orchestra and conductor

Thanks for a very enjoyable performance of Marriage of Figaro, the pre performance chat and post performance social with the cast and a G&T! Lovely evening

Such an awesome setting The London Coliseum to see one of the greatest ballerina’s that I’ve ever seen, ‘Amore’ with Svetlana Zakharova.

Saw Bat out of hell on 5th August with my wife and our friend Amazing show,great cast,great music. We had front row seats and got completely drawn into the whole show especially the last scene of the first half (Bat out of hell) with all the mist coming over the stage to where we were seated.

Would love to see the show again if it came back to London.

The theatre is beautiful inside. Our only negative was being told we could not take our drink in. Maybe as a courtesy it should had been stated on your tickets that no food or drinks allowed. We had only just brought it for our train journey home!

One of my favourite haunts in Londonium. I thoroughly enjoyed Iolanthe Final Dress on Monday night 12/II/2018, and experiencing the late Paul Gareth Brown's creations was the more poignant.

Never been to the ENO, in all time been going to London, have been five times this year to see the amazing Jim Steinmans Bat Out Of Hell the musical, the theatre is beautiful, a perfect setting for this musical, the staff were lovely, chatted to a few of them, especially when they remembered me, the musical itself is a work of art, been waiting a long time to see the music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf put in to a musical/rock opera, was not disappointed, the cast were magnificent,such talent in one show, I really hope they all go far in their careers, which I have no doubt they will as all greatly talented,plus as I said the theatre was a perfect setting, always look round you and up at ceilings,when in a theatre, amazing. I would love to go back and see an opera.

Last Saturday June 2nd I went to see Chess in the afternoon. It was absolutely stunning. The music, the voices, the setting....it was beautiful!

It was my 4th Chess. After the promotional tour in 1985 in Amsterdam (Concertgebouw, with everyone that's on the original album), the musical in 1987 in London (Prince Edward Theatre), a Dutch version in 1994 in Amsterdam (Carré) and now, after 24 years the musical in the London Coliseum.

Never expected to see it ever again.....

I truly hope it will become available on cd or dvd. Or next year again on stage!

Intriguing, enthralling, awesome. Cast were outstanding!

I went to see Bat out of Hell musical here yesterday .Everything about the show was brilliant!! Wish I could do it all again We had a great view from the stalls and I loved the layout of the theatre

I reckon that you could engage Jai McDowall to play Anatoly in Chess as he had all the credentials required to play this role.( not that i am biased in any way)

I have to admit to being a bit worried as I love meatloaf and was concerned I would hate others singing his songs. I went for the 1st time on June 5th and was hooked from the 1st song. Amazing show and cast can't fault it in any way. Was so impressed we booked tickets again for august 5th and still loved it as much if not more �.

Staff were fab too and very helpful as my mum has trouble walking and made sure we could use the lift.

Fantastic new production of CHESS-A*

Fantastic Chess performance today - thank you to all the crew and cast who made it possible!

Congratulations on a superb Marriage of Figaro. Great performances all round but Lucy Crowe's countess was absolutely stunning - what a beautiful voice. A wonderful production of the greatest opera.

Congratulations ENO on a superb production of Iolanthe!

Delightful troupe of fairies contrasting with the hilarious antics of the peers. Strong cast of principals complimenting one another and excellent singing throughout. Sets and costumes innovative and the whole production full of fresh interpretation All in all a show not to be missed. This is ENO at its best!

#ENOIolanthe

CHESS...some critics have not been kind to this production. I am not a critic. But, i have served on the Olivier awards panel and done my stint in drana school. So, i am not unfamiliar with theatre.



Being a fan of the original i never thought i would see another large production of Chess so this was a bit of a personal event. I handed over my £210 for 2 seats and the ticket price set my expectations high. Very high.



I was completely blown away. The show is sensational. True, the book is a bit weak, who cares? The rest is fabulous. It was a delight to hear a musical so beautifully sung and supported by a fabulous orchestra. Every element was perfect.



A lot of musicals run into pacing issues in Act 2. Not in this production. There is a beautiful choral number that introduces the final chess game. This is seriously stunning. This also introduces the final segment where every note from this moment on is spell binding. Michael Ball triumphs in this section. As do the whole cast.



Once again I find myself thinking I will never see Chess like this again. So, this week I handed over another hard earned £210 and we went again. It was just as good.



Thank you ENO. Thank you the whole cast. I now need a recording but thanks to the critics I bet the show will simply fade away. A real shame.

Best opera in the world. La Traviata is brilliant. Perfect for first time opera goers

Wonderful music of course! Alfredo was wonderful. First set much too busy! Last set bonkers. I enjoyed it despite the reviews. Lots of empty seats sadly.

Lucky enough to have sat on all levels, balcony back row feels like your sloping forward but for the price ok, best seats for me was lower dress circle, was a very good experience each time

Went to Iolanthe last Saturday night and was appalled to see the prancing queen of a peer (the one fluttering the blue hankie). This is an offensive caricature that has no place on a stage in 2018.

My seats were not advertised as 'restricted view' never the less the top half of the stage was obscured by the overhang. I was constantly interrupted by staff walking in and out, with an exit/evtrance door directly behind me, allowing the light from the foyer to flood into the darkened auditorium. The staff regularly whispered loudly sharing jokes and gossip throughout , despite several stern looks that we're merely acknowledged by them shrugging their shoulders and giggling. To add insult to injury their radios went off twice during the performance as seemingly they lacked the skill to mute or turn them down. On the plus side the staff member operating the lift was friendly and engaging, it's unfortunate her colleagues lacked her professionalism. The ENO should perhaps consider that after spending a sufficent amount on seeing a performance their patrons may have an expectation they can experience such without wittering endless redudundant commentary by their staff.

Why is the sound balance so bad ..for the first 20 minutes all we can hear is the orchestra ....not really what you would expect from such a prestigious outfit luke the ENO??

The worst customer service I have ever experienced. Payment was not going through online for a reason unknown, so I rang for help, after being on hold for over 20mins, they didn’t even attempt to investigate why payment wasn’t going through. The staff member was adamant I was at fault and that I was doing things wrong. I had just been paid so there was no financial problem. My bank clarified that the venue were at fault. I have also worked in a box office so I know how these kind of systems work. There was no need to be so rude, a call back once they’d worked out the problem would have been one option for them.

I emailed the complaint email and have had nothing back. Very disappointed.

The storyline was non existent why dont the lost age? Why do the gas bottles get turned on to electrocute a prisoner? What is in the pool of water to miraculously change the fathers attitude and how do the two main characters even know each other? I thought the music was fantastic but most of the characters dancing in the background were not needed. I cant believe this has any of the good reviews it has. Definitely one to avoid.

The show was amazing but the theatre was HOT, uncomfortable & the door staff where rude! If you have rules around brining in your own drinks or sweets, publish that as no other theatre does! Also be consistent in checking as loads of people just put them in pockets and bottom of bags so got them in anyway - is however had to "throw away" all our treats!!!!

I was shocked last night when I received an extremely violent and unprovoked physical threat from a fellow customer, and the person was allowed to simply return to their seat. Not surprisingly, I was too concerned for my safety and that of my 68 year old mother to stay for the rest of the performance. I was also concerned for the safety of other patrons as this was clearly a very violent person.



Given the amount of violent deaths that have taken place in public places in the UK this year, does ENO feel that this was an appropriate response? Does ENO prioritise 'not making a fuss' over the safety of their customers? And will this customer be allowed back to potentially be violent towards other patrons in the future? Perhaps staff would benefit from some basic security training in order to ensure that customers at ENO can enjoy the basic level of safety that they should expect from a London venue?

I have been attending at least 6 separate productions, both opera and ballet..and I have always left during the first interval! The quality and management of the ENO is astoundingly underwhelming and mediocre! Go to the royal opera house!

I arrived 2 minutes before the show started - you know London is not very traffic friendly even when you plan your journey- and there was queue at the box office for collecting the ticket. After 5 minutes I got my ticket and a lady walked me to a tiny basement with a tv screen - more little the one I have in my house, telling me to watch the first 30 minutes of Traviata from the screen. When I got there, the screen was black, there were 7 chairs available already taken. I asked the lady if there was a chance to let me in as the show has not started and she treated me like an idiot. THIS IS ENO!!!

Never never never again!