Events, Previews, What's On

English Touring Opera Returns to York Theatre Royal

English Touring Opera present 

Manon Lescaut and The Rake’s Progress 

York Theatre Royal, 19 and 20 Apr 2024

English Touring Opera are returning to York Theatre Royal this April with two operas, Manon Lescaut (19 April) and The Rake’s Progress (20 April). Both operas will be performed in English with English surtitles. They also return to the York Theatre Royal Studio with another opera for children, The Great Stink (20 Apr).

Manon Lescaut was a breakthrough hit for its composer Giacomo Puccini and now Jude Christian, fresh from a critically acclaimed Titus Andronicus at The Globe’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, brings incisive direction and a sharp, poetic new translation to this radical new production, while ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius conducts.

Packed with memorable music and drama, Manon Lescaut is a devastating depiction of a woman wrestling with her desire for love on her own terms and the rigid double standards imposed on her by society. Her struggle will take her through cities, across oceans, and even to prison. Featuring themes of tragedy, betrayal, the ironies of fate and society’s hypocrisy.

Leading the cast are Jenny Stafford (Manon), Aidan Edwards (Lescaut), Gareth Dafydd Morris (Des Grieux), Edwardd Hawkins (Geronte) and Brenton Spiteri (Edmondo).

The second night of English Touring Opera at York Theatre Royal brings Igor Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. Helmed by Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, and the highly regarded conductor and composer Jack Sheen, this new production is a cynical but sympathetic tale of a young man’s fall.

Young Tom Rakewell’s quiet life with his sweetheart Anne is turned upside down when the mysterious Nick Shadow comes to his door with whispers of wealth and luxury. But Tom soon finds out that the Devil finds work for idle hands, and that the promises of London life aren’t what they seem.

Leading the cast of this dark comedic opera are Frederick Jones (Tom Rakewell), Jerome Knox (Nick Shadow) and Nazan Fikret (Anne Truelove) as it explores love, loss, corruption, naivety and hubris.

There are free preshow talks before each show with members of the ETO creative team who will provide insights into the creative process, what to expect and give audience members a chance to ask questions.