Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME

By: Oct. 18, 2015
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Opera's greatest love story, LA BOHEME, will return to ENO's London Coliseum this winter in Jonathan Miller's stunning production, weaving together true love with heartbreak in this enduring and devastating story. Check out photos from the show below!

This much-loved production receives its third revival since its 2009 premiere. Angel Blue, who made her 'knockout ENO debut' (Metro) as Musetta in the 2013 performances of this production, will transition to the role of Mimì for the first time.

Californian soprano Angel Blue will make her role debut as the beautiful seamstress Mimì. A former beauty queen, Angel Blue's pageant titles, which include Miss Hollywood and Miss Southern California, helped her to fund her college education. She has performed in opera houses and with orchestras around the world, including with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Simon Rattle. Personally mentored by Placido Domingo, she first met the world-famous singer when she applied for a place on his Young Artists Programme at Los Angeles Opera.

Her versatile talent has also led to performances in the pop world, and she has shared the stage with artists such as Brian McKnight, the late Donna Summer, Ruben Studdard, Charice, Chaka Khan, Jewel, and Grammy Award-winner David Foster.Angel's first solo album (with pianist Iain Burnside) will be released in October 2014 with Opus Arte under the Rosenblatt Recital Series album collection.

British tenor David Butt Philip makes his ENO debut as Rodolfo, a role he sang to great acclaim for the Glyndebourne Tour in 2011. Winner of the prestigious John Christie Award at Glyndebourne in 2011, he was also a member of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House from 2012-14.

World-renowned American mezzo-soprano Jennifer Holloway will sing the role of Musetta. She made her ENO house debut in 2013, giving a 'star performance' (Financial Times) as Prince Orlofsky in Christopher Alden's 2013 production of Die Fledermaus.

ENO Harewood Artist George von Bergen graduates to the role of Marcello, having previously performed the 'beautifully sung' (The Arts Desk) role of Schaunard in 2013. Company favourite Andrew Shore takes the cameo roles of Benoit and Alcindoro.

Exciting young Italian conductor Gianluca Marcianò made his ENO debut in 2013, conducting a revival of Anthony Minghella's award-winning production of Madam Butterfly. He is the Artistic Director of the Al Bustan Festival in Beirut and has held the title of Musical Director and Principal Conductor of the Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet.

Jonathan Miller's stylish production, with designs by long-standing collaborator Isabella Bywater, retains the original Parisian setting but moves the period forward to the city's demi-monde of the 1930s, as captured in the sepia-tinted photographs of Cartier-Bresson, Kertesz and, most notably, Brassaï. The production is strongly influenced by a selection of 1930s films such as Hôtel du Nord and Atalante which inform the atmospheric nature of the piece.

Jonathan Miller's career has covered a broad spectrum as an author, lecturer, television producer and presenter, and as a theatre, opera and film director. Miller's significant association with ENO stretches back to 1978, when he made his ENO directorial debut with The Marriage of Figaro. This production of La bohème has quickly become an ENO classic, with the Mail on Sunday noting that 'I have never seen [it] better done in a lifetime of bohèmes.' Miller's many iconic and much-loved productions for ENO range from his 1986 staging of The Mikado to his 2010 interpretation of The Elixir of Love.

La bohème opens at the London Coliseum on Wednesday 29 October for 14 performances - Oct 29, Nov 3, 5, 7, 13, 15, 20, 26, 28 & Dec 2, 4, 6 at 7.30pm, Nov 22 at 6.30pm, Nov 30 at 3pm

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Pre-performance talk 3rd November, 5.15-6pm, £5/£2.50 concs

Co-production with Cincinnati Opera

Original production supported by Peter Borender, Mr and Mrs Sid R. Bass and a syndicate of donors to the La bohème appeal

ENO's 2014/15 season spans more than 400 years of opera, from 1607 to 2015, and will be staged in four venues: ENO's home at the London Coliseum, Bristol Old Vic, the Barbican and the Young Vic. The season features four productions by British composers, including two world premieres by living British composers and ENO's first opera for children and families. From terrorism, invasion and despair through to miracles, enlightenment and joy, two millennia of history, four centuries of composition and ENO's 16 dramatic productions together reveal the unique ability of opera to convey what it is to be human.

English National Opera (ENO) is the UK's leading producer of world-class opera, sung in English. Working with the very best talent from across the arts and creative industries, we create distinctive, highly theatrical productions and stage more new work and contemporary opera than any other UK opera company. We champion British and British-trained talent by placing it at the heart of our performances and providing unique development programmes for singers, musicians, composers and conductors. Our productions are seen by audiences across the world thanks to partnerships with its most celebrated opera houses and cinema transmissions by ENO Screen. Through all our activities we aim to make our work enjoyable, accessible and affordable for as many people as possible.

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Duncan Rock, Nicholas Masters, Zach Borichevsky

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Ashley Riches, Duncan Rock, Simon Buteriss, Zach Borichevsky, Nicholas Masters

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Corinne Winters

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Zach Borichevsky

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Corinne Winters

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Simon Butteriss

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME

Photo Coverage: English National Opera's LA BOHEME
Corinne Winters, Zach Borichevsky



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