ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA PRESENTS BENJAMIN BRITTEN’S ALBERT HERRING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY
English National Opera (ENO) will present a semi-staged production of Benjamin Britten’s comic opera Albert Herring, directed and designed by Antony McDonald for a limited run: Monday 13 and Thursday 16 October at the London Coliseum and Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22 October at Lowry in Salford, as part of its ongoing partnership with Greater Manchester.
Following the success of ENO’s previous semi-staged productions at the London Coliseum – Gloriana, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and Suor Angelica, this will be the first time in its history that ENO has presented Albert Herring.
In the words of Antony McDonald: “In this pared down production, with its seemingly light-hearted story, simple narrative and variety of musical styles, we are fully able to explore the recurring concern of Britten for the repressed individual pitted against a judgemental and blinkered society.”
The unlikely rebel Albert is played by the young tenor Caspar Singh, following his performance at the opening concert of the BBC Proms. The cast also includes one of this country’s best-loved and most versatile opera stars Sir Willard White playing the role of the hapless Superintendent Budd.
ENO has had a strong connection with the works of Benjamin Britten and has been dedicated to presenting his works to a wider audience. Notably Britten’s first large-scale opera, Peter Grimes, was premiered by Sadler’s Wells Opera (which later became ENO) in 1945. Among other past productions of Britten’s operas are Gloriana (1966), The Rape of Lucretia (1983), Billy Budd (1988), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1995), Death in Venice (2007) and The Turn of the Screw (2024). Albert Herring was premiered in June 1947 at Glyndebourne. With a libretto by Britten’s frequent collaborator Eric Crozier, it is a free adaption of an original story by Guy de Maupassant.
Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of ENO, said:
“We are proud of our long history of presenting the work of Benjamin Britten to a wide audience. From Peter Grimes to Billy Budd and The Turn of the Screw, Britten remains a crucial inspiration for us. And we are especially delighted that we will be able to present this work to Manchester audiences as part of our shared plans with the Greater Manchester region.”
Julia Fawcett OBE, CEO, Lowry, said:
“We are delighted to welcome English National Opera to Greater Manchester and look forward to the forthcoming production of Albert Herring which we are delighted to present direct from London. This landmark moment and partnership will help bring the magic of opera to even more people across the North West, opening doors for new audiences to experience what we know will be an unforgettable performance.”
Albert Herring
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: Eric Crozier
Conductor: Daniel Cohen
Director/Designer: Antony McDonald
Lighting designer: Matthew Richardson
Associate Director: Sophie Daneman
Associate Costume Designer: Ilona Karas
Cast: Emma Bell, Anna Elizabeth Cooper, Dan D’Souza, Carolyn Dobbin, Leah-Marian Jones, Mark Le Brocq, Aoife Miskelly, Natasha Oldbury, Abigail Sinclair, Casper Singh, Eddie Wade, Sir Williard White