Page 106 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

Cornelius, ETO’s Music Director, conducts. Soprano Jenny Stafford, whose previous roles for
English Touring Opera include Despina in Così fan tutte, Melissa in Amadigi, Mimì in La
bohème and soloist in their staging of St John Passion, sings the title role for the first time,
with Gareth Morris as Des Grieux, Aidan Edwards as Lescaut and Edward Hawkins as
Geronte.

The tour also includes a new production of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s
Progress, charting young Tom Rakewell’s journey from unexpected inheritance to ruin – an
initially cynical tale which develops into one of redemption and humanity. Polly
Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, directs this multilayered
production, and musical polymath Jack Sheen, who recently conducted Last Days at the
Royal Opera House, conducts. Tenor Frederick Jones sings the role of Tom Rakewell, a role he
has performed before to critical acclaim – Bachtrack stated that he ‘seemed born to sing
Rakewell, so far did his fine singing and acting make it difficult to recall a more persuasive
interpretation’. Nazan Fikret, fresh from performing Clorinda in ETO’s 2023 production
of Cinderella, stars as Anne Trulove, with Jerome Knox as Nick Shadow and Lauren Young as
Baba.

ETO’s Learning and Participation programme is central to the company’s mission and reaches
over 10,000 people each year through productions in theatres, schools, museums and
libraries. This continues in the Spring 2024 with The Great Stink, the second in ETO’s trilogy
of operas for children exploring climate change and the environment. Set against the
backdrop of the Great Stink of 1858 – when the Thames was so polluted that London was
covered in a foul fog – this fun-filled family opera is brought to life with singers, musicians and
puppets as well as interactive moments where children will get to meet Queen Victoria, Prime
Minister Disraeli and even the Thames herself. Written by Hannah Khalil and composed
by Omar Shahryar, the opera will tour to theatres, libraries and museums across the country.

Robin Norton-Hale, ETO’s General Director, said: ’With their themes of the importance of
love and human connection over greed and isolation, Manon Lescaut and The Rake’s Progress
– and The Great Stink too – have a great deal to say about how we live in an increasingly
divided world. The three operas showcase a variety of musical styles, and I’m delighted that
we have assembled such exciting creative teams to respond to these brilliant composers with
different – and thrilling – approaches to design and staging. At ETO we strive to bring the best
in opera to audiences up and down the country, and this season should have something for
everyone; romance, modernism, puppetry, poetry – and of course excellent music-making’.

Audiences will also be able to experience insights into the world of opera with ETO
Unboxed, a programme of live and digital events exploring the multi-disciplinary and multi-
genre nature of opera covering music, theatre, design, language, movement and more. ETO
Unboxed events will focus on the themes of the temptations of the big city (more details to
be announced soon).