English National Opera

The English National Opera (ENO) is a famous British opera company based in London. It performs at the London Coliseum in St Martin's Lane and is one of the two main opera companies in London, the other being The Royal Opera. What makes the ENO special is that all its performances are sung in English, so more people can enjoy them.

The ENO started in the late 19th century thanks to a kind woman named Emma Cons. She used to put on shows at the Old Vic to help local people. Later, her niece Lilian Baylis took over and built up both theatre and opera groups. These groups grew into the ENO, the Royal National Theatre, and The Royal Ballet.

Baylis bought and fixed up the Sadler's Wells theatre in north London, which was better for opera. The ENO became a permanent group there in the 1930s. During World War II, the theatre closed, and the company traveled to different towns and cities in Britain. After the war, they returned to Sadler's Wells and kept growing. By the 1960s, they needed an even bigger place, so in 1968 they moved to the London Coliseum. They adopted their current name, English National Opera, in 1974.

Over the years, many talented people have worked with the ENO. Famous conductors include Colin Davis, Reginald Goodall, Charles Mackerras, Mark Elder, and Edward Gardner. Well-known directors such as David Pountney, Jonathan Miller, Nicholas Hytner, Phyllida Lloyd, and Calixto Bieito have also created shows for the ENO. Today, the artistic director is Annilese Miskimmon. The ENO performs many kinds of operas, from old works by Monteverdi to new pieces, operetta, and Broadway shows.

History

Foundations

In 1889, Emma Cons, a charitable worker who managed the Old Vic theatre in London, began performing short opera pieces. Though laws at the time made full opera performances difficult, Cons presented condensed versions of famous operas, always sung in English. These performances became very popular. In 1898, she brought in her niece Lilian Baylis to help run the theatre and appointed Charles Corri as musical director. Together, they shared a strong belief in making opera accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy. They worked with very limited resources, using amateur singers and a small orchestra.

Emma Cons passed away in 1912, leaving the Old Vic to Baylis, who dreamed of turning the theatre into a “people’s opera house.” In 1914, Baylis received permission to stage full opera performances. During the years after World War I, her Shakespeare plays drew attention, but opera remained her main focus.

Vic-Wells

By the 1920s, Baylis felt the Old Vic was too small for both theatre and opera. She noticed the empty Sadler’s Wells theatre and decided to use it for opera. With help from donors, she acquired Sadler’s Wells in 1925 and began renovations. By 1931, the newly built theatre could hold 1,640 people. The first opera performed there was Carmen.

Running the new theatre was expensive, and early reviews were mixed. Baylis worked to improve the quality of the opera performances. In 1932, there was a proposal to merge the opera company with another group, but Baylis refused, wanting to keep her audience happy. By 1934, the Old Vic focused on plays, while Sadler’s Wells hosted opera and ballet.

Sadler's Wells Opera

After Baylis passed away in 1937, others took over the theatre’s management. During World War II, Sadler’s Wells was used as a shelter, and the opera company toured with a smaller group of performers. After the war, the company faced challenges but continued to grow.

Coliseum

In 1968, the company moved to the London Coliseum, continuing to perform operas in English. The new location allowed for larger productions and more opportunities to reach new audiences. Over the years, the company has introduced new works and brought opera to wider audiences through various initiatives.

ENO

In the 1970s, the company changed its name to the English National Opera. Since then, it has continued to produce a mix of classic and new operas, working with directors from different backgrounds to create exciting performances. The company has also focused on making opera more accessible, such as by offering free tickets to young people.

The ENO has faced financial and management challenges in recent years. In 2022, funding was reduced, but it was later restored. The company plans to establish a new base outside London while continuing performances at the London Coliseum.

Repertoire

The English National Opera aims to perform classic operas, all sung in English. They have staged famous works by composers like Mozart, Wagner, Puccini, and Verdi. They also focus on making opera feel like a drama, rather than just showing off singing skills.

In addition to these famous operas, the ENO has created new works and helped introduce operas from other countries to British audiences. They have also performed lighter shows, such as musicals and funny operas, including many by Gilbert and Sullivan. Over the years, they have tried out different styles, including Broadway shows, though sometimes these have been challenging to perform in their large theatre.

Recordings

The English National Opera has a long history of making recordings. Early recordings were made by Sadler's Wells singers from the very beginning of the company. In 1972, an LP collection was released, featuring many of these early recordings and a tribute to Lilian Baylis from 1936. Famous singers like Joan Cross, Heddle Nash, Edith Coates, Joan Hammond, Owen Brannigan, Peter Pears, Peter Glossop, and Charles Craig were part of these recordings. Conductors included Lawrance Collingwood, Reginald Goodall, and Michael Mudie.

After World War II, the company recorded excerpts from the opera Simon Boccanegra in 1949 but did not make more recordings until the stereo LP era. In the 1950s and 1960s, they recorded many operas and operettas for EMI, all sung in English. These included Madame Butterfly, Il trovatore, Hansel and Gretel, Die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, The Land of Smiles, La vie parisienne, Orpheus in the Underworld, Iolanthe, La belle Hélène, and The Gypsy Baron. A complete recording of The Mikado was also released in 1962.

Later, EMI recorded excerpts from Twilight of the Gods in both German and English. They also recorded the complete Ring cycle between 1973 and 1977. Chandos Records later reissued these on CD and released a live recording of The Mastersingers from 1968. In the CD era, Chandos Records released many operas sung in English, featuring past and present members of the ENO. Some of these included Lulu, The Makropoulos Affair, Werther, Dialogues of the Carmelites, The Barber of Seville, Rigoletto, Ernani, Otello, and Falstaff, along with live recordings of The Ring and The Mastersingers. Conductors for these recordings included Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Mark Elder, and Paul Daniel.

Education

In 1966, a special course for theatre design was started by Margaret Harris. This course later became known as the Motley Theatre Design Course. In 1985, the ENO Baylis program was created. It helps bring new people to enjoy opera and makes the experience better for current fans. The program offers training for students and young professionals, along with workshops, special projects, discussions, and talks. Today, this is called ENO Engage.

Musical directors

The English National Opera has had many musical directors over the years. Some of the conductors who led the opera company include Charles Corri, Lawrance Collingwood, James Robertson, Alexander Gibson, Colin Davis, Mario Bernardi, Bryan Balkwill, Charles Mackerras, and Sir Charles Groves. These directors helped shape the music and style of the performances.

Music directors

The English National Opera has had several music directors over the years. Some of these directors include Mark Elder, who served from 1979 to 1993, and Sian Edwards, who was director from 1993 to 1995. Others include Paul Daniel, Edward Gardner, Mark Wigglesworth, Martyn Brabbins, and the upcoming director André de Ridder, who will start in autumn 2027.

Artistic directors

The English National Opera has had several artistic directors who help create and guide its performances. John Berry served from 2005 to 2015, followed by Daniel Kramer from 2016 to 2020. Currently, Annilese Miskimmon has been leading the opera since 2020.

Notes, references and sources

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