Photos: Inside Rehearsals for English National Opera's ANGEL’S BONE

English National Opera (ENO) will present Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone at the London Coliseum in October, following its UK premiere in Greater Manchester in May, marking a bold expression of ENO’s dual-centre model. Angel’s Bone opens at Aviva Studios, Manchester, home of Factory International, on 12 May 2026 before arriving at the London Coliseum on 16 October 2026. ENO’s hugely successful Under 21s scheme continues, offering free opera tickets to all ENO performances at the London Coliseum and at partnering venues in Greater Manchester. Get a first look inside rehearsals w

Angel’s Bone tells the story of Mr and Mrs X.E., a desperate couple longing for a better life who discover two wounded angels in their garden. They set out to nurse them back to health, but what begins as an act of apparent compassion quickly spirals into a disturbing portrait of greed and exploitation, and an unflinching take on human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

Composer, performance artist and activist Du Yun’s electrifying score fuses medieval polyphony, punk, electronics, chamber music and cabaret creating a unique and vital sonic world. With a libretto by playwright and filmmaker Royce Vavrek, Angel’s Bone was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2017 following its acclaimed world premiere in New York and is recognised as one of the most significant operatic works of the past decade. 

Multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Kip Williams makes his UK opera debut. He is joined by Tony and Olivier Award-winning designer Marg Horwell, continuing their long-term creative collaboration, with recent shows including the current production of Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo at the Noel Coward Theatre, The Maids at Donmar Warehouse, and The Picture of Dorian Gray in the West End and on Broadway. Completing the creative team is Jack Knowles as Lighting Designer, Ash J Woodward as Video Designer, and Dominic Bilkey and Joseph Reiser as Co-Sound Designers.

Internationally renowned conductor Baldur Brönniman, who trained at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music and is deeply committed to making classical music relevant in the 21st century, leads the performances.

The UK premiere in Greater Manchester is presented in collaboration with Factory International and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with the London performances performed by the Orchestra of ENO. Manchester-based vocal ensemble Kantos Chamber Choir – renowned for their distinctive sound – will appear in both runs as a guest choir.Each production will be shaped by the venue in which it is performed, creating two distinct experiences for audiences in Greater Manchester and London.

In the role of Mrs X.E. is Scottish mezzo-soprano and singing actress Allison Cook. Performing as her husband, Mr X.E., is British baritone Rodney Earl Clarke. The role of Girl Angel is performed by Swedish cross-genre musician and voice actress Mariam Wallentin, making her ENO debut. Scottish tenor Matthew McKinneyperforms the role of Boy Angel. Winner of the 2024 Kathleen Ferrier Awards, he’s currently a 2025 Jerwood Young Artist with Glyndebourne.  They will be joined by Hong Kong countertenor Keith Pun as Male Soprano. 

Photo credit: Tristram Kenton