McBurney's delightfully batty Magic Flute returns to the Coliseum

Rainelle Krause (Queen of the Night) and Norman Reinhardt (Tamino)

Sarah Tynan (Pamina) and David Stout (Papageno)

Norman Reinhardt (Tamino) and Claire Wickes

John Relyea (Sarastro)

By Susannah Moody, 03 March 2024

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Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 28 February 2024

Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

English National Opera

Erina Yashima, Conductor

Simon McBurney, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Nicky Gillibrand, Costume Designer

Jean Kalman, Lighting Designer

English National Opera Orchestra

English National Opera Chorus

Gareth Fry, Sound Design

Finn Ross, Video

Rachael Hewer, Revival Director

Norman Reinhardt, Tamino

Sarah Tynan, Pamina

Rainelle Krause, Queen of the Night

David Stout, Papageno

John Relyea, Sarastro

Carrie-Ann Williams, First Lady

Amy Holyland, Second Lady

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Third Lady

Jonathan Lemalu, The Speaker (Der Sprecher)

Alexandra Oomens, Papagena

Peter Hoare, Monostatos

Ossian Huskinson, Second Armoured Man

Josie Daxter, Choreography

ENO’s Mahagonny: biting, bleak, brilliantly executed satire

David Karlin, 16th February

Never has Brecht and Weill’s satire on the inhumanity of man to man been render with such utter darkness; Simon O’Neill heads up a superb cast.

*****

Taken for a ride: an energetic revival of Così fan tutte at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 6th February

English National Opera's revival of Phelim McDermott’s popular production is a blend of spectacle with some first-class singing, with Lucy Crowe emphasising her Mozartian credentials.

****1

Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to ENO

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Christopher Alden’s Olivier Award-winning production of Handel’s Partenope returns to the Coliseum, but it's the singing that earns the plaudits.

****1

Dead Man Walking at English National Opera: a superb execution

David Karlin, 1st November

Anneliese Miskimmon's ENO production of Jake Heggie and Terence McNally's tale of crime, repentance, compassion and redemption compels from start to finish.

*****

Comedy falls flat in ENO's season opening Cinderella

Mark Valencia, 27th September

Julia Burbach and her designer, Herbert Murauer, are defeated by the wide canyons of the Coliseum stage in their modern-dress Cinderella.

**111

ENO gives Thea Musgrave's Mary, Queen of Scots a worthy performance

Nick Boston, 15th February

Musgrave's powerful depiction of a powerful woman at the mercy of male manipulation receives a strong staging from at ENO.

****1

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Susannah Moody

A London-based journalist and ex-lawyer, Susannah will cheerfully listen to most styles of music. Having trained as an operatic soprano through school and university, she has worked for several opera companies and set up a student opera company where she translated, directed and performed in productions including flash mob opera. Most recently she took part in the ENO Response programme reviewing the company's 2022-2023 season. She also writes about food as The Moody Foodie.