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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n English National Opera Stages New Production of Philip Glass\u2019s Orph\u00e9e<\/em> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Opens Friday 15 November at 7.30pm<\/em> (6 performances)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Following English National Opera\u2019s (ENO) acclaimed Satyagraha<\/em> and the Olivier Award-winning Akhnaten,<\/em> this season brings a new staging of Philip Glass\u2019s Orph<\/em>\u00e9<\/em>e<\/em> to the London Coliseum.<\/p>\n Based on the 1950 Jean Cocteau film of the same name, <\/em>Glass\u2019s mesmerising opera is directed by Netia Jones, \u2018the most imaginative director of opera working in Britain today\u2019 (the Observer), making her ENO debut.<\/p>\n Orph<\/em>\u00e9<\/em>e<\/em> combines live action and projection, including fragments of Cocteau\u2019s celebrated film.<\/p>\n Netia comments: \u2018Orph\u00e9e<\/em> is a mirror of a mirror, or a \u201cmise-en-ab\u00eeme\u201d – an opera of a film of a play of a poem of an opera, in which everything reflects on something else.\u2019<\/p>\n This new production of Orph<\/em>\u00e9<\/em>e<\/em> uses Cocteau\u2019s film as a starting point, reflecting on Cocteau\u2019s fascination with the mechanics and poetics of film, the life of the artist and ideas of success, failure, ambition, immortality and betrayal.<\/p>\n The production forms part of ENO\u2019s Orpheus series, a reimagining of four operas exploring the Orpheus myth in autumn 2019. Each is interpreted by four directors from diverse theatrical disciplines, all in sets by renowned designer Lizzie Clachan.<\/p>\n Poet Orph\u00e9e has become pass\u00e9. Having lost his creative impetus, and becoming implicated in the death of the young and successful poet C\u00e9geste, he becomes obsessed with achieving immortality. Though married to Eurydice, he falls in love with an enigmatic \u2018Princess\u2019 and moves between the worlds of the living and the dead. It is only after the Princess sacrifices herself to make Orph\u00e9e immortal, that he and Eurydice can resume their life together.<\/p>\n Critically acclaimed Nicholas Lester takes the role of Orph\u00e9e. His previous engagements for ENO were as Marcello in La boh<\/em>\u00e8<\/em>me<\/em> and Vicomte Cascada in The Merry Widow<\/em>. He will be joined by another former Merry Widow<\/em> cast member, Sarah Tynan. ENO favourite Sarah sings her second of two Eurydice roles this season, jumping straight in from a performance in Wayne McGregor\u2019s season opener Orpheus and Eurydice, <\/em>in which she delivered a performance \u2018sung with shining clarity\u2019 (Daily Telegraph).<\/p>\n Established star Nicky Spence joins the cast as Heurtebise, the Princess\u2019s chauffeur. Nicky is a former ENO Harewood Artist whom ENO regulars will recognise as Sergeant Johnny Strong from the world premiere of Ian Bell\u2019s Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel<\/em> last season. Soprano Jennifer France makes her ENO debut as the Princess. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music, Jennifer was the recipient of the 2018 Critic\u2019s Circle \u2018Emerging Talent (Voice)\u2019 Award.<\/p>\n Anthony Gregory sings C\u00e9geste, combining his strong tenor with a critically praised timbre. The cast is completed by Clive Bayley as the Judge and Simon Shibambu as the Poet, whilst Rachael Lloyd is Aglaonice and William Morgan sings the Reporter.<\/p>\n Geoffrey Paterson conducts. Lighting design is by Lucy Carter and choreography is by Danielle Agami. Video and animation are by Lightmap. Netia Jones and Emma Jenkins have translated the libretto.<\/p>\n The live photographer is Cordula Treml.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Orph<\/em>\u00e9<\/em>e <\/em>opens Friday 15 February at 19.30 at the London Coliseum for 6 performances: 15, 18, 20, 25, 27, 29 November at 19.30.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 Libretto by the composer based on the film by Jean Cocteau, adaption by Philip Glass edited by Robert Brustein Conductor, Geoffrey Paterson Director, Netia Jones \u00a0 English National Opera Stages New Production of Philip Glass\u2019s Orph\u00e9e \u00a0 Opens Friday … Continue reading