After an extensive search the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has appointed David Burbidge CBE as its Chair, succeeding Bridget Blow CBE who stands down after completing her successful six-year term of office.

David recently led Coventry’s successful bid to win the UK City of Culture title for 2021, and continues his role as Chairman of the Coventry City of Culture Trust.  He has previously served as Chairman of the Belgrade Theatre and Coventry Cathedral Development Trust, as a trustee of the RSC, and on the development boards of Garsington Opera and Compton Verney.  He holds a CBE for services to cultural philanthropy having led five multi-million-pound fundraising campaigns including the Central Campaign for the £112 million rebuilding of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

In his business career David was Managing Director of Burbidge & Son (a manufacturer of bespoke quality kitchen and bathroom furniture, of which he remains Chairman), Chairman of Burbidge Capital Ltd and a director of Coventry Building Society.  He was High Sheriff of the West Midlands in 1990-91, is a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, and holds two honorary doctorates.

Bridget Blow CBE commented “David is a nationally-admired advocate for the arts and will bring to the CBSO strong governance experience and a formidable fundraising track record.  I have enjoyed my time as Chair immensely and am pleased to be leaving the orchestra in such capable hands”.

During Bridget Blow’s time as Chair the CBSO has maintained its position as one of the world’s great orchestras and the flagship of musical life in Birmingham and the Midlands despite a challenging series of cuts to national and regional funding for the arts. As well as sustaining a wide-ranging concert programme at Symphony Hall and expanding its work in the region’s communities and schools, the CBSO has also more than doubled its fundraised income during this period.  In February 2016 the organisation appointed Mirga Gražinyt?-Tyla (described by BBC Music Magazine as “Europe’s most exciting young conductor”) as its Music Director, and her work to date has won global acclaim.

Stephen Maddock OBE, Chief Executive added “Bridget Blow has been a transformative Chair, having modernised our governance and helped us to significantly strengthen our finances over the last six years.  We are delighted that David has agreed to join us as we build on her legacy.  These are challenging times, but we have great opportunities ahead in the run-up to our centenary in 2020 and David promises to be an outstanding champion for our work.”

David Burbidge CBE said “I am honoured to have been invited to become Chair of the CBSO. I will do all that I can to secure and enhance the standing of our region’s world-class orchestra.”

Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted to welcome David as the Chair of CBSO. His extensive knowledge and commitment to arts and culture has been key to shaping the cultural landscape of the Midlands including Coventry securing the City of Culture 2021 title.

“CBSO has an outstanding national and international reputation and his wealth of experience working in business, heritage and culture will stand him in good stead to continue their excellent work.

“Bridget has been instrumental in leading the orchestra over the past six years. These are exciting times for Birmingham as we approach the CBSO’s centenary in 2020 and the Commonwealth Games 2022 and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for top-class music in the city.”

In an exciting change to its usual summer main scale season, WNO will present the world première of a new commission, Rhondda Rips It Up!

Rhondda Rips It Up! is unlike anything previously presented by WNO. Performed in a classic music hall style, with original songs inspired by the suffragette slogans, this tongue-in-cheek production takes audiences on a whirlwind tour of the inspiring activist’s mission.

This production will tell the story of the remarkable suffragette, Margaret Haig Thomas, who tirelessly campaigned for equal rights for women. The show will premiere in Haig Thomas’s home town of Newport before touring Wales and England during summer and autumn 2018.

The production marks the centenary of the first, partial women’s suffrage bill of 1918 and will feature an all-female cast and creative team, and is composed by Elena Langer with a libretto by Emma Jenkins and will be led by director Caroline Clegg and music director Nicola Rose.

Soprano Lesley Garrett stars as Master of Ceremonies (Emcee) and Madeleine Shaw as Lady Rhondda joined by female members of the WNO Chorus performing all the roles including the male politicians of the time.

On the opening day of the tour Thursday 7 June WNO will host a symposium in Newport on the challenges faced by women in the classical music world. The tour will also be accompanied by extensive programme of free community and youth projects on protest, rebellion and human rights and an ambitious digital project bringing Lady Rhondda to life through a Mixed Reality (MR) installation.

We will presenting a series of films showing the progress of the production. To watch episode 1 please click the link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAMNnrKVn3Q

Stuart Murphy, former Director of Sky Entertainment Channels, has been appointed Chief Executive of English National Opera (ENO). He will take up the post on the 3 April, joining Daniel Kramer and Martyn Brabbins on ENO’s leadership team. He succeeds Cressida Pollock who announced in September last year that she would be stepping down from the role this summer.

In 2013 Stuart took charge of all Entertainment Channels at Sky, including Sky 1, Sky Living, Sky Arts and Sky Atlantic. Under his tenure Sky won its first Emmy Awards and Oscar nominations as well as multiple BAFTA’s, British Comedy Awards and Royal Television Society Awards. He oversaw the substantial expansion of Sky Arts, increasing the channel’s commissioning budget by more than 40% and turning it into the biggest on-demand library of arts and cultural content in Europe. Stuart spearheaded Sky’s huge increase in investment in original productions, the budget for which tripled during his tenure.

In senior management positions at both Sky and the BBC, Stuart has brought to the screen some of the UK’s best-loved titles, from Penny Dreadful, Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year Competition and Torchwood through to Little Britain and Game of Thrones.  He was on the board of BBC TV, the Executive of Sky and was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2016.

Dr Harry Brunjes, Chairman of ENO, said:

“I have been thrilled by the calibre of the candidates who applied for this position, and know that Stuart’s history of enabling great creativity alongside his commercial acumen will perfectly complement ENO’s artistic and musical excellence. We were impressed by the significant growth in both Sky’s audience and output under Stuart’s direction, and by his proven ability to unite and motivate his teams through a clear and inspiring vision. Under the leadership of Cressida Pollock, and through the hard work of every single member of the company, ENO has regained its financial stability and position in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. I look forward to seeing the company continue to prosper and grow with Stuart at the helm.”

Speaking of his appointment, Stuart Murphy said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive of English National Opera. For a long time now I have wanted to pursue my passion for classical music and opera in a professional capacity, and so it is a privilege to lead an organisation that is so committed to world-class artistic, musical and technical excellence. I very much look forward to joining Daniel, Martyn and the whole ENO team. I am personally committed to ensuring that ENO continues to develop new audiences, new partnerships and on new platforms in order to ensure that the company remains as thrilling and vital now as it was when it was first founded.”

Daniel Kramer, Artistic Director of ENO, said:

“I am very excited that Stuart will be joining ENO. His decades of experience working with award-winning creative teams and enabling world-class work against a background of challenging financial realities will be hugely valuable at ENO. I look forward to working with him from April.”

Martyn Brabbins, Music Director of ENO, said:

“Stuart Murphy impressed me as a man of great integrity. He has the confidence borne of being a highly successful leader, while at the same time he displays a refreshing humility in his willingness to listen and learn from all those around him. We are looking forward to the new dynamism he will bring to ENO at this time of renewed energy within the company.”

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:

“Stuart will bring a wealth of experience and energy to the role, building on all the dedication and hard work of Cressida and the team which has enabled English National Opera to return to our National Portfolio.”

Daniel Kramer directs his first opera as ENO Artistic Director, a sweepingly romantic interpretation of La traviata

Opens Friday 16 March at 7.30pm at the London Coliseum (10 performances)

Daniel Kramer will direct his first opera as English National Opera’s Artistic Director this spring. This production of La traviata, which played to sold-out houses following its premiere at Theater Basel, is a sweepingly romantic take on one of opera’s most heartbreaking stories. Irish soprano Claudia Boyle will perform the role of Violetta alongside South African tenor Lukhanyo Moyake as Alfredo. Singing the role of Giorgio Germont is Alan Opie, who celebrates 50 years since he first sang with ENO.

Daniel Kramer said:

‘Almost every note of Verdi’s masterpiece raises up the life of a women who has been deemed dishonourable by society. Through La traviata, Verdi invites us to listen to the magnanimous love of a character who makes a sacrifice which few others would be willing or able to consider. His music is, for me, a love letter to the tender and graceful Violetta.

I believe that our core audience come to ENO wanting to have new light shed upon these well-loved classics. This is also one of my key passions when directing opera or theatre, and has informed our approach to this intensely moving story of love and sacrifice.  

As our world continues to confront the treatment of women in our society we have worked to share the story of a woman who, despite her heartbreaking circumstances, rises above the judgmental and abusive world around her and passes through her life with integrity and grace.’  

Daniel Kramer was appointed Artistic Director of English National Opera in April 2016, taking up the position in August that year. His work with ENO extends backs to 2008. He was selected as part of ENO’s young director’s initiative for which he directed Punch and Judy at the Young Vic which subsequently won the South Bank Show Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. Daniel returned to ENO in 2009 to direct Bartok’s Duke Bluebeard’s Castle at the London Coliseum and Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, conducted by former ENO Music Director Edward Gardner and designed by Anish Kapoor. He has been an Associate at the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill and the Young Vic, and a Creative Associate at the Royal Shakespeare Company. The 18/19 season, launched on the 1 May, will be the first that he has curated as ENO Artistic Director.

The ephemeral, image-conscious world of the courtesan Violetta will be brought to life through the designs of Lizzie Clachan, one of the most acclaimed set designers currently working in London theatre. She has recently been praised for her ‘extraordinary’ (The Guardian) work on the Young Vic’s Yerma, and for the National Theatre’s As You Like It.

Claudia Boyle will sing Violetta, the eponymous ‘fallen woman’. A fomer member of the Salzburger Festpiel’s Young Singers Project, her international profile has been dramatically raised through highly-acclaimed performances in London, Berlin, Rome and New York. For ENO Claudia has previously sung the roles of Leïla in The Pearl Fishers (2016) and a ‘standout’ (The Guardian) Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance (2015).

Up-and-coming tenor Lukhanyo Moyake makes his UK debut as Alfredo. South Africa’s representative in 2017’s BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, Lukhanyo has been performing at the Cape Town Opera Company since his graduation in 2010. His roles there include Alfredo in La traviata, Jaquino in Fidelio and Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress. In 2015 and 2016 he was a finalist of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition (held in Amsterdam) and was also placed third in the Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition (held in Germany).

ENO legend and internationally acclaimed baritone Alan Opie will return for his second ENO engagement of the season. He follows his debut in the comic role of Doctor Bartolo (The Barber of Seville) with Violetta’s controlling father, Giorgio Germont. Alan’s previous performances in this role have been described as ‘full of feeling’ (The Guardian) and ‘consistently compelling’ (WhatsOnStage).

Rising young British conductor Leo McFall will make his ENO debut with this production. Winner of the 2015 German Conductor’s Prize, he is among the foremost conductors of his generation, and received much praise for his performances with the Glyndebourne Tour and with Opera North. He will be assisted by ENO Mackerras Conducting Fellow Toby Purser, who will also conduct the performance on the 11 April.

La traviata opens on Friday 16 March at 7.30pm at the London Coliseum for 10 performances: 16, 22, 24, 28 March and 3, 5, 11, 13 April at 7.30pm, 31 March at 6.30pm and 8 April at 3pm.

500 tickets for £20 or less are available for each performance. Tickets start from £12.

A co-production with Theater Basel

English National Opera (ENO) is delighted to announce the casts for Acis and Galatea and Paul Bunyan, 2018’s two ENO Studio Live productions. ENO Studio Live forms part of ENO Outside which takes ENO’s work to arts-engaged audiences that may not have considered opera before, presenting the immense power of opera in more intimate studio and theatre environments.

Acis and Galatea will take place at ENO’s historic rehearsal studios, Lilian Baylis House. Paul Bunyan will be ENO’s first collaboration with Wilton’s Music Hall. Both pieces are being performed by ENO for the very first time and celebrate the integral roles that Handel and Britten have played in the company’s history.

We are also thrilled to share that exceptional young singers Rowan Pierce, Alex Otterburn and William Morgan will become ENO Harewood Artists with immediate effect. The ENO Harewood Artist programme was established in 1998 as a means of providing a full-time training and performance scheme for exceptionally talented singers at the beginning of their careers. They will join current ENO Harewood Artists Andri Björn Róbertsson, Katie Coventry, Eleanor Dennis, Matthew Durkan, David Ireland, Rhian Lois, Elgan Llyr Thomas, Soraya Mafi, Samantha Price, Božidar Smiljani?, Katie Stevenson and David Webb.

Acis and Galatea (six performances, 9-16 June 2018, Lilian Baylis House)
George Frideric Handel
John Gay

Directed by Sarah Tipple, designed by Justin Nardella and conducted by Nicholas Ansdell Evans, Acis and Galatea features four exciting young British singers. Tenor Alexander Sprague and soprano Lucy Hall sing the title roles. ENO Harewood Artist Matthew Durkan sings the role of Polyphemus and Bradley Smithmakes his ENO debut as Damon.

Acis – Alexander Sprague

Galatea – Lucy Hall

Polyphemus – Matthew Durkan

Damon – Bradley Smith

Paul Bunyan (six performances, 3-8 September, Wilton’s Music Hall)
Benjamin Britten
W. H. Auden

Directed by Jamie Manton, designed by Camilla Clarke and conducted by Matthew Kofi Waldren, Paul Bunyan will be a celebration of ENO’s exceptional emerging and in-house talent. Roles will be sung by ENO Harewood Artists (Elgan Llyr Thomas, Rowan Pierce, William Morgan) and members of ENO’s award-winning Chorus.

Johnny Inkslinger – Elgan Llyr Thomas

Tiny – Rowan Pierce

Hot Biscuit Slim – William Morgan

Fido – Claire Pendleton

Moppett – Ella Kirkpatrick

Poppett – Lydia Marchione

Sam Sharkey – Graeme Lauren

Ben Benny – Trevor Bowes

Andy Anderson / Cronie – Adam Sullivan

Pete Peterson / Cronie – Geraint Hylton

Jen Jenson / Cronie – Paul Sheehan

Cross Crosshaulson / Cronie – Andrew Tinkler

John Shears – Robert Winslade Anderson

Western Union Boy – David Newman

Quartet of the Defeated – Michael Burke, Morag Boyle, David Newman, Paul Sheehan

Solo Lumberjacks – Paul Sheehan, Ronald Nairne and Pablo Strong

Wild Geese – Claire Mitcher, Rebecca Stockland, Susanna Tudor-Thomas

Young Trees – Joanne Appleby, Amy Sedgwick, Pablo Strong

Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu joins the European Young Leaders’ programme class of 2018, organised under the patronage of Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission

Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu joins the European Young Leaders (EYL40) programme class of 2018, organised under the patronage of Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. Led by Friends of Europe, EYL40 is a unique, inventive and multi-stakeholder programme that aims to promote a European identity by engaging the continent’s most promising talents that will shape Europe’s future.

Based on the premise that a group of talented leaders from different backgrounds, sectors and European countries can offer new responses to international challenges, it brings together established professionals under the age of 40 who have made their mark in a wide range of fields such as politics, science, business, media NGOs, the arts and civil society. Those selected to participate are creative, committed to changing the world, and have demonstrated potential to reach the highest levels of their chosen profession.

As part of the programme, Dariescu joins other members of the Class of 2018 and alumni for two European seminars, encouraging ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking in open, constructive discussions: from 8-10 March in Warsaw and 13-15 September 2018 (location to be announced).

Alexandra Dariescu said: ‘I am thrilled and humbled to be part of the European Young Leaders (EYL40) and feel very privileged to join such an incredible group of leaders from all over Europe. I hope through the discussions and fantastic activities programme in Warsaw we will be able to identify solutions in creating a more unified, perceptive and prosperous Europe.’

Dariescu also participates in the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s fifth international Reflective Conservatoire Conference Tuesday 20-Friday 23 February 2018: this year’s theme is ‘Artists as Citizens.’ She sits on Vice-Principal & Director of Guildhall Innovation Professor Helena Gaunt’s welcome panel on the opening day, and, as an alumna of their Creative Entrepreneurs scheme, joins others from the course in discussing their work and professional trajectory before performing at the end of the session.

Dariescu has also been selected to present her project The Nutcracker and I, by Alexandra Dariescu at the Classical:NEXT conference, held in Rotterdam on 16-19 May 2019, as part of their annual Project Pitches initiative. Each of the 14 participants have nine minutes to present and answer questions in front of leading and influential members of the music industry, allowing an insight into the most intriguing and innovative developments in the sector.

She wants to challenge the traditional concert format and reach out to new audiences who might not have considered coming to a classical concert before. She has devised a ground-breaking 50-minute live multi-media performance piece for piano soloist, ballerina and digital animation.

Dariescu has created her own personal take on this much-loved story which sees herself re-imagined as Clara: from little girl dreaming to concert pianist. On stage is a grand piano, played by Dariescu herself, and a ballerina behind a see-through gauze screen. Projected onto the gauze and bringing the story to life are exquisite digital animations, all hand drawn and created in advance by Yeast Culture. They follow the music and engage live with the pianist and ballerina as they ‘dance’ across the screen. The audience feel like they are actually in and a part of the Nutcracker story.

Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet music features throughout and includes favourites such as Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Arabian Dance, Chinese Dance, Pas de Deux, and the Flower Waltz in 15 virtuosic arrangements by Mikhail Pletnev, Stepan Esipoff, Percy Grainger and three brand new variations by Gavin Sutherland.

Having received its world premiere on 19 December 2017 on the Guildhall School’s Alumni Recital Series at Milton Court, it is also being released as a special book and CD on Signum Records and will include all 15 piano transcriptions with narration by Lindsey Russell, story by Jessica Duchen, artwork created by YeastCulture and illustrated by Adam Smith.

For complete listings for Alexandra’s schedule, please visit http://alexandradariescu.com/ or Alexandra’s general management Konzertdirektion Schmid http://kdschmid.de/artistdetail/items/alexandra-dariescu.html.