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English National Opera (ENO), located at the Coliseum Theatre in St. Martin's Lane is the national opera company of England , and one of two opera companies in London , along with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden . It is a world-class company, as famous for attracting talented lesser-known singers as it is for its modern productions and groundbreaking setting of opera. ENO currently mounts twenty productions a year with an annual audience of 450,000. HISTORY In 1898, ); Sadler's Wells Theatre opens and the Vic-Wells Opera Company is formed. After closures during the Second World War , Sadler's Wells re-opened with Benjamin Britten 's '' Peter Grimes '', introducing the first English opera composer since Purcell to receive international acclaim. In 1968, Sadler's Wells Opera moved from Sadler's Wells Theatre to the Coliseum ; six years later, the company was renamed English National Opera. In 1984, ENO was the first British opera company to tour the United States , and in 1990 was the first major foreign opera company to tour the former Soviet Union . After acquiring the freehold to the London Coliseum , the company embarked on a four-year restoration programme in 2004. While the Coliseum was undergoing these changes, ENO temporarily made its home in the Barbican Centre . REPERTOIRE ENO performs all operas in English, although in June 2005 the decision was made to introduce Surtitles at the London Coliseum during the 2005/2006 Sky & Artsworld Season. In the May - December season 2005, ENO mounted The Bitter Tears Of Petra Von Kant , The Magic Flute , The Carmelites , Salome , Madama Butterfly , Xerxes and Billy Budd . HOME See also the article on the Coliseum Theatre . The Coliseum Theatre, near and the London Coliseum . It underwent extensive renovations between 2000 and 2004 and has the widest proscenium arch in London as well as being one of the earliest to have Electric lighting. It was built with a revolving stage although this was rarely used. It was the creation of the most powerful theatre manager of the day, Oswald Stoll, and the foremost theatre architect, Frank Matcham. Their ambition was to build the largest and finest 'People's palace of entertainment' of its age. English National Opera moved into the theatre in 1968. In 1992, ENO bought the Freehold for £12.8m. EDUCATION eno baylis is the education department of ENO. They involve around 12,000 people every year in a wide range of projects, events, courses and performances, with a goal of developing creative responses to opera and music theatre; making new work with communities and exploring individual creativity as a means of providing access to ENO's productions; and encouraging learning and development through participation of artists and collaboration of resources. RING CYCLE The Sadlers Wells/ENO Ring Cycle of the 1970s was a major milestone in the company's development. The then music director, Sir Charles Mackerras , though a sound Wagnerian, had the vision and generosity to cede the baton to Reginald Goodall , who had been a neglected figure on the Covent Garden staff for many years. He was belatedly revealed as a masterly (albeit slow) Wagner conductor. The cycle, with designs by Ralph Koltai , was striking without being gimmicky, and the cast of company members rose to the challenge memorably. A complete live recording was made by EMI, and has been reissued by Chandos Records. For the first time in 30 years Wagner's Ring returned to the stage in English , coinciding with the Company's 30th Anniversary as English National Opera. Following staged concerts over the previous three Seasons, ENO Music Director Paul Daniel led the company in a new production by Phyllida Lloyd, designed by Richard Hudson with Lighting by Simon Mills, performed in the new ENO Translation by Jeremy Sams. '' The Rhinegold '', '' The Valkyrie '' and Siegfried '' were all staged in 2004, the Coliseum centenary year, and the production of '' Twilight Of The Gods '' completed the new cycle in Spring 2005 . The production was notable for its use of Contemporary Minimalist Set s and Costume s. Some critics described Phyllida Lloyd 's Cycle as superior to that at the Royal Opera House in almost every way, although many others thought it was muddled and that its "relentlessly trivialising" approach served only to belittle Wagner's cycle. It was also criticised for being poorly sung and conducted. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN ENO (and its predecessor, Sadler's Wells) has to date staged five of the thirteen extant Gilbert And Sullivan operas. To coincide with the end of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company 's monopoly when the copyright lapsed in 1961 '' Iolanthe '' was staged. '' The Mikado '' followed shortly afterwards. '' Patience '' was the next addition, and was much revived in London, and on tour as far afield as Vienna. In a second, 1987 , production of ''The Mikado'', the role of the Lord High Executioner was performed by comedians Eric Idle and Bill Oddie and latterly by G&S expert Richard Suart . This production is persistently revived. A production of '' Princess Ida '' directed by Ken Russell was a critical and box office failure and ran but briefly. A 2005 production of '' The Pirates Of Penzance '' was received with modified rapture and no revival has been announced. A production of '' The Gondoliers '' is scheduled for 2006. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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