English National Opera can confirm that a deal to change ENO chorus contracts has been reached with Equity.

The settlement will see the ENO Chorus move to a nine-month contract to reflect the length of future seasons at the London Coliseum. These contracts will run from August – April (inclusive). During the months of May – July, when the company performs outside of its home venue, ENO Chorus members will be offered work on a first refusal basis. The Chorus will reduce in number for 44 members to 40 from August 2016. The new chorus pay package will come into effect from 1 August 2017.

Cressida Pollock, Chief Executive of ENO, said, “I am delighted that we have been able to reach a deal with Equity. We recognise the fundamental importance of the ENO Chorus in delivering world-class opera. We listened to the concerns of the Chorus and have reached a fair compromise that preserves the permanent ensemble, focussing on our London Coliseum season, whilst ensuring that we have the building blocks in place to increase our outside work. This settlement will contribute to the wider changes in our business model, to ensure that ENO becomes a more financially resilient organisation, able to move forward on a reduced public subsidy.”

Harry Brunjes, Chairman of ENO, commented, “On behalf of the ENO Board I would like to thank Cressida and the ENO Chorus for their hard work in reaching this compromise. We are now looking forward to the future, and to working together to ensure that our great organisation thrives for decades to come.”

PARIS

The cast of Garsington Opera’s outstanding production of Fidelio, staged to critical acclaim in 2014, will perform a semi-staged concert performance in Paris on 24 November 2016 in the renowned concert hall of the Philharmonie de Paris.  The orchestra, Orchestre de chambre de Paris will be conducted by its Music Director, and Artistic Director of Garsington Opera, Douglas Boyd. The original cast including Rebecca von Lipinski (Leonore), Peter Wedd (Florestan), Stephen Richardson (Rocco), Sam Furness (Jaquino) and Jennifer France (Marzelline) will be joined by Andrew Foster-Williams (Pizarro), Bradley Travis (Don Fernando) and the Chœur de chambre accentus from Paris.  It will be directed, with video, by Peter Mumford.

On 27 June 2017, Garsington Opera’s production of Le nozze di Figaro staged in the 2017 season, with principals and chorus from Garsington Opera will be given a semi-staged concert performance in the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées with the Orchestre de chambre de Paris conducted by its Music Director, Douglas Boyd.

SANTA FE

In 2018 Garsington Opera will present Capriccio in collaboration with Santa Fe Opera.  It will be directed by Tim Albery, designed by Tobias Hoheisel  and conducted by Douglas Boyd. The production will be seen at Santa Fe in their forthcoming 2016 season.

Douglas Boyd said: I am particularly thrilled to be bringing Garsington Opera to Paris where I am the Music Director of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris and to be collaborating with one of the world’s greatest summer opera festivals – Santa Fe Opera.  These are very important developments reflecting our ambitions to broaden our reach as we continue to grow artistically as an international summer opera festival.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is delighted to announce that Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla has been appointed as its 12th Music Director, with effect from September 2016 for an initial three-year period.

Gražinyte-Tyla made her debut with the CBSO in July 2015 and impressed the Orchestra so much that she returned last month to conduct a specially arranged concert featuring works by Debussy, Schumann and Sibelius. Following an extensive search process led by a committee made up of CBSO musicians, board members and management, and with strong support from Orchestra and audience alike, a unanimous decision was made by the board of trustees to invite Gražinyte-Tyla to be the CBSO’s next Music Director. She succeeds Andris Nelsons, who held the position from 2008-2015.

The CBSO is known for performing the widest range of orchestral and choral music, and Gražinyte-Tyla will continue this tradition in her role as Music Director. Her artistic plans with the CBSO will range widely from Mozart and Haydn to 20^thcentury classics and works by living composers. Coming from the strong choral traditions of the Baltic states (her father is a choir conductor in Lithuania), and following her role in Salzburg, she will also lead opera projects in Birmingham and will work closely with Simon Halsey CBE, CBSO Chorus Director, on projects with the CBSO’s internationally renowned choruses. Full details of the CBSO’s 2016-17 concert season in Symphony Hall, Birmingham will be announced in April 2016.

Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla said:

‘Every single musician of the CBSO is an artist with great individuality and sense of responsibility. They are driven to be one of the world’s leading orchestras and their shared spirit for team work helps them to achieve this. I felt so at ease working with the Orchestra at the CBSO Centre and at Symphony Hall and I can’t wait to get started and to call these my homes too. I am also very excited about working with the CBSO family including its brilliant choirs led by Simon Halsey, and  getting involved with its extensive learning and participation programme both locally and further afield. I believe we will be a great team and really look forward to making music together.’

CBSO Chief Executive Stephen Maddock commented:

‘We are absolutely delighted to be appointing Mirga as the CBSO’s next Music Director. There was an instant chemistry between Mirga and our musicians, and the excitement in Symphony Hall at her concerts both on stage and in the audience was palpable. The CBSO is world-famous for its track record in finding brilliant young conducting talent: Sir Simon Rattle, appointed at just 25 years old, held the post for 18 years before moving to the Berlin Philharmonic. He passed the baton to the superbly talented Sakari Oramo (appointed at 30), who is now with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Andris Nelsons (appointed at 28) had seven wonderful years here and has gone on to lead the Boston Symphony and Leipzig Gewandhaus orchestras. Mirga is 29 and is thrilling audiences wherever she goes: we can’t wait to start making music with her.’

Gražinyte-Tyla has been Music Director of the Salzburg Landestheater since 2015. She is currently the Assistant Conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where she was a Dudamel Fellow in 2012-13, and she takes up a new post of Associate Conductor from July 2016. She won the prestigious Salzburg Festival Young Conductors Award in 2012.

Garsington Opera’s 2016 season, from 3 June to 17 July, will present Tchaikovsky’s powerful Eugene Onegin, Mozart’s great opera seria Idomeneo, Rossini’s sparkling L’italiana in Algeri, and an innovative collaboration with Rambert, one of Britain’s leading dance companies, with a unique realisation of Haydn’s The Creation combining music and dance.

Garsington Opera welcomes celebrated British artists of international distinction. Toby Spence (tenor) and Roderick Williams (baritone) make both title role and festival debuts, the former in Idomeneo and the latterEugene Onegin.  Michael Boyd (director), former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company andTom Piper (designer), praised for his commemorative poppy installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Redat the Tower of London, produce Eugene Onegin, conducted by Douglas Boyd (Garsington Opera’s Artistic Director).  Tim Albery (director) and Hannah Clark (designer), whose recent designs for Queen Anne at the RSC were critically acclaimed, produce Idomeneo with leading Swedish conductor Tobias Ringborg.  Will Tuckett (director), director of The Royal Ballet’s acclaimed production of Elizabeth, and George Souglides(designer) combine with distinguished Rossini expert David Parry (conductor) for a new production of L’italiana in Algeri.

Garsington Opera continues its policy of seeking out the very best singers from around the world and showcasing rising stars from Britain.  The distinguished Garsington Opera Orchestra, many of whom have been with the company for over 20 years, will be joined by the Garsington Opera Chorus, comprising emerging talent from the UK and beyond.

EUGENE ONEGIN

Based on Russian poet and author Alexander Pushkin’s novella, Tchaikovsky’s powerful and moving opera about youth and first love features British baritone Roderick Williams making his debut in the title role and Welsh soprano Natalya Romaniw making her role debut as the young heroine Tatyana.  Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Jurgita Adamonyt? sings Olga and Cardiff Singer of the World 2015 finalist Ukrainian tenor Oleksiy Palchykov sings Lensky.  The role of Prince Gremin is sung by international bass Brindley Sherratt.  They are joined by Louise Winter (Larina), Kathleen Wilkinson(Filippyevna) and Mark Wilde (Triquet).  Douglas Boyd conducts with Michael Boyd, a fluent Russian speaker, directing and Tom Piper designing.

IDOMENEO

War hero Idomeneo, to be sung by international opera star Toby Spence making his debut in the title role, promises the gods he will sacrifice the first person he sees in return for a safe passage. That person is his son Idamante, to be sung by Australian mezzo-soprano Caitlin Hulcup.  Added to the anguished love triangle between his son, the Trojan princess Ilia, performed by rising star Louise Alder, and Greek princess Elettra sung by Rebecca von Lipinski, a terrible struggle ensues between fatherly devotion, staying true to a promise and young love.  Timothy Robinson (Arbace), Robert Murray(High Priest) and Nicholas Masters (Neptune) complete the cast.  Swedish Tobias Ringborg conducts with distinguished international opera director Tim Albery directing with designs by Hannah Clark.

L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI

Written at the height of Rossini’s inventive powers, madness, hilarity and a sense of the surreal permeate the opera with the courageous heroine Isabella at the centre of a maelstrom of confusion, suffused throughout with humour and tenderness.Ezgi Kutlu sings the young Isabella searching for her beloved Lindoro sung by the Brazilian tenor Luciano Botelho.  The blustering Mustafà is performed by Quirijn de Lang and his long-suffering wife Elvira by rising star Mary Bevan.  They are joined by Geoffrey Dolton (Taddeo), Katie Bray (Zulma) and Božidar Smiljani? (Haly).  Conductor David Parry returns to conduct his thirteenth Rossini opera for Garsington with Olivier award-winner Will Tuckett directing and George Souglides designing.

THE CREATION

Conductor Douglas Boyd, Garsington Opera’s Artistic Director, collaborates with Mark Baldwin, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Rambert, to bring an inspiring realisation of  The Creation through music and dance.  40 dancers from Rambert and the Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance will be joined on stage by Garsington Opera’s orchestra and chorus with soloists Sarah Tynan (soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor) and Neal Davies (bass).  Designs by renowned visual artist Pablo Bronstein, whose site specific work for the Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain opens in April, will add a spectacular visual dimension to Haydn’s music.

Surely the most enjoyable way to enlighten the chilly winter days. 

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – Thursday 18th February 7:30pm at the Assembly Rooms

Steven Devine director

Ian Bostridge tenor

Telemann – Ouverture in F major TWV55: F3 (excerpts)
Telemann – Ich weiss, dass meine Erlöser lebt from Cantata TWV1:873
Telemann – So stehet ein Berg Gottes from Der Tod Jesu TWV 5:6
Handel – Concerto Grosso in E minor, Op 6 No 3
Handel – Scherza infida from Ariodante
Handel – Love sounds th’alarm from Acis and Galatea
Handel – Motet: Silete venti
Handel – Water Music Suite No 1 in F major (excerpts)

Rachel Podger – Friday 19th February 1:00pm at the Guildhall

Rachel Podger violin

J S Bach – Sonata No 1 in G minor BWV 1001
J S Bach – Partita No 1 in B minor BWV 1002
J S Bach – Partita in G minor after the Partita for flute BWV 1013

Florilegium – Friday 19th February 7:30pm at the Assembly Rooms

Ashley Solomon director/flute/recorder
Bojan Cicic violin
Terence Charlston harpsichord

J S Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G major BWV 1048
Vivaldi – Concerto in C major for two flutes RV 533
J S Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 5 in D major BWV 1050
Telemann – Ouverture and Conclusion in E minor from Musique de table Part 1
J S Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 4 in G major BWV 1049

Mahan Esfahani – Saturday 20th February 11:00am at the Guildhall

Mahan Esfahani harpsichord

Peter Phillips – Pavan (1580)
Giles Farnaby – Farmer’s Paven
Richard Farnaby – Nobody’s Gigge
J S Bach – French Suite No 4 in E flat major BWV 815
J S Bach – French Suite No 6 in E major BWV 817
François Couperin– Les vieux seigneurs; Les jeunes seigneurs
J S Bach – French Suite No 5 in G major BWV 816

Academy of Ancient Music – Saturday 20th February 7:30pm at Bath Abbey

Richard Egarr director
Mary Bevan soprano

(NB no interval – ends c. 9.15 pm)

J S Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in F major BWV 1046
Vivaldi – Motet: In turbato mare irato RV 627
J S Bach – Wedding Cantata: Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten BWV 202
Vivaldi – Concerto alla Rustica in G major RV 151
Vivaldi – Concerto in D major for violin, 2 oboes and 2 horns RV 562

• Conductors Toby Purser and Matthew Waldren appointed as joint recipients of the ENO Charles Mackerras Fellowship. This is the first time that the award will be shared by two conductors.
• The award is a joint initiative between ENO and the Philip Loubser Foundation, and celebrates the legacy of Sir Charles Mackerras.
• The ENO Charles Mackerras Fellowship offers exceptionally talented young conductors the opportunity to work and develop at ENO, mentored by ENO Music Director Mark Wigglesworth.
• Former recipients of the ENO Charles Mackerras Fellowship include inaugural recipient Gergely Madaras and current ENO Charles Mackerras Fellow Fergus Macleod.

English National Opera (ENO) today (26 January 2016) announced conductors Toby Purser and Matthew Waldren as the joint recipients of the ENO Charles Mackerras Fellowship. They will take up their positions in September 2016. Both Toby and Matthew will have the opportunity to assist on ENO productions, and will have full access to the casting, staging and production departments at ENO alongside the opportunity to travel with the Music Director and make important contacts across the international opera scene.

A final shortlist of six international candidates interviewed and auditioned for the Fellowship in January at Henry Wood Hall. The auditions involved rehearsing with singers and the ENO Orchestra, who also provided feedback on each candidate. On the panel were Mark Wigglesworth (ENO Music Director), Martin Fitzpatrick (ENO Head of Music), Sophie Joyce (ENO Head of Casting), Susan Bullock (singer), Janice Graham (ENO Orchestra leader) and David Nice (arts journalist). ENO Senior Artistic Advisor John McMurray, Michael Loubser and three board members from the Philip Loubser Foundation also oversaw the process in an advisory capacity.

Matthew Waldren said: “Having assisted at ENO last year, I am thrilled to have been asked to return to the Company as a Sir Charles Mackerras Fellow. To work further with this world-class orchestra, chorus and team of musicians – and to be supported and guided by Mark Wigglesworth – will be an absolute privilege. I relish the opportunity of contributing to the artistic excellence of ENO, and look forward to embracing the many opportunities that this Fellowship presents.”

Toby Purser said: “Having had the pleasure and privilege of both assisting and conducting at ENO, I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to begin a more formal relationship with the Company. The chance to work with this wonderful Company, its superb orchestra and chorus and in this beautiful theatre under the guidance of Mark Wigglesworth and the ENO team is one that I am already looking forward to eagerly.”

ENO Music Director Mark Wigglesworth said: “The English National Opera and the Philip Loubser Foundation partnership is unique in enabling seriously gifted conductors a real opportunity to develop. The panel was unanimous that both Matthew Waldren and Toby Purser revealed the right combination of potential and skill to benefit from this amazing opportunity, and so sharing the Fellowship was the inevitable and exciting outcome of this year’s audition process. I look forward to welcoming these two exceptional talents to English National Opera.”

Phelim McDermott returns to ENO to direct a once-in-a-generation staging of Philip Glass’s iconic opera

Improbable Theatre Company’s Artistic Director Phelim McDermott returns to ENO to direct Philip Glass’s Akhnaten. This iconic opera received its UK premiere at ENO in 1985 and has not been performed fully-staged in the UK since ENO’s 1987 revival. One of the most exciting cultural events of 2016, The Guardian has described these performances as “a once-in-a-generation chance to hear Glass’s score in the theatrical flesh”.

Watching Akhnaten is a visually spectacular and powerfully mesmerising experience. The opera explores the life and religious convictions of the Egyptian pharaoh, and uses texts drawn from ancient hymns, prayers, letters and inscriptions sung in their original Egyptian, Hebrew and Akkadian. It forms the last of Philip Glass’s trilogy of ‘portrait’ operas in which he explores the lives of great historical figures in the fields of science (Einstein), politics (Gandhi) and religion (Akhnaten).

The UK premiere of the opera by ENO in 1985 marked the beginning of a very special relationship between Philip Glass and the Company. Phelim McDermott, described by The Guardian as “one of the most energising and provocative forces in British theatre”, has since directed the London premiere of Glass’s Satyagraha (2007) and the UK premiere of The Perfect American (2013) for ENO. Described by The Times as “a masterwork of theatrical intensity and integrity”, the UK premiere of Satyagraha broke box office records for contemporary opera, making it the most popular contemporary work to have been performed by ENO.

Conductor Karen Kamensek, Music Director at Hannover’s Staatstheater since 2011, makes her ENO debut. An expert in the work of Philip Glass, she premiered his work Orphée with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra in New York. She has also conducted the world premiere of Glass’s Les Enfants Terribles at the Spoleto Festival in the USA, and his music for Büchner’s play Woyzeck at the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo will return to the London Coliseum to take the title role in this production. Winner of Placido Domingo’s Operalia competition in 2013, he made his ENO debut in Peter Sellars’s 2015 production of The Indian Queen; his performance as Ixbalanqué was described as “superb” by theartsdesk.com.

British Mezzo soprano Emma Carrington will make her ENO and role debuts as Akhnaten’s wife, Nefertiti. She has previously performed at opera houses in the UK and around the world, including with Opera North, Welsh National Opera, Grange Park Opera and at the Buxton Festival.

English soprano Rebecca Bottone will sing the role of Queen Tye, Akhnaten’s Mother, for the first time. She has previously appeared at English National Opera in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers (2006, 2007) and Ligeti’s Grand Macabre (2009).

British baritone James Cleverton returns to ENO to debut the role of General and future Pharaoh, Horemhab. He first performed with ENO in 2009 singing the role of Oppenheimer in Penny Woolcock’s production of John Adams’s Doctor Atomic.

Clive Bayley will sing the bass role of Aye, Nefertiti’s father and advisor to the Pharaoh, for the first time. His regular appearances with ENO include an “impressive” (The Stage) performance as Daland in The Flying Dutchman and “outstanding vocally and dramatically” (The Daily Mail) appearances as Coppelius in The Tales of Hoffmann (both 2012).

Completing the cast are Colin Judson as the High Priest of Amon and Clare Eggington, Alexa Mason, Rosie Lomas, Anna Huntley, Katie Bray and Victoria Gray as the six Daughters of Akhnaten.