Nicholas Hytner’s critically-acclaimed 1985 production of Xerxes, the oldest production in ENO’s repertoire, returns this season with an all-British cast reinforcing ENO’s “unrivalled reputation as the world’s leading house for Handel” (The Sunday Times).
Winner of the 1985 Olivier Award for outstanding new production, Xerxes features spectacular designs by David Fielding with lighting by Paul Pyant evoking Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in the 18th century.
Michael Hofstetter leads the ENO chorus and orchestra following his successful house debut conducting Peter Konwitschny’s La traviata in 2013.
Over the past 29 years, the title role of Xerxes has been played by some of the world’s most outstanding mezzo-sopranos including Ann Murray in 1985 and 1988, Louise Winter in 1994 and Sarah Connolly in 1998 and 2002, whose international career was launched by the role. For this revival, internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Alice Coote sings the title role for the first time.
Counter tenor Andrew Watts plays Arsamenes. Soprano Sarah Tynan sings the role of Romilda. Sarah was an ENO Harewood Artist and later became an ENO Company Principal, a position she held until 2007. In their first Handelian roles ENO Harewood Artists Rhian Lois and Catherine Young are Atalanta (Romilda’s naughty sister) and Amastris (Xerxes jilted fiancée) respectively. Rhian has recently played Adele in Christopher Alden’s Die Fledermaus in September 2013 and First Niece in David Alden’s critically acclaimed revival of Peter Grimes in January 2014. Catherine took part in ENO Baylis Opera Works programme in 2009-2010, and in September 2010 became an ENO Harewood Artist. She made her professional debut with ENO in June 2011 as Hippolyta in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Bass Neal Davies sings the role of Ariodates, Romilda’s father. Previous roles for ENO include Kolenaty in The Makropoulos Case in 2010. He has also sung at The Royal Opera House, Welsh National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Baritone Adrian Powter plays Elviro, Arsamenes’s servant.
Xerxes opens at the London Coliseum on Monday 15 September for 6 performances – 15, 20, 24, 26 September and 1, 3 October at 7.00pm.