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

Hugh Cutting (Arsace) and Nardus Williams (Partenope)

Jake Ingbar (Armindo)

Partenope

Nardus Williams (Partenope) and Ru Charlesworth (Emilio)

Jake Ingbar (Armindo) and Kate Bray (Rosmira)

By Mark Valencia, 21 November 2025

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“since Handel’s opera is comic in origin, the gloves of good taste are off”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 20 November 2025

Handel, Partenope

English National Opera

Christian Curnyn, Conductor

William Cole, Conductor

Christopher Alden, Director

Andrew Lieberman, Set Designer

Jon Morrell, Costume Designer

Adam Silverman, Lighting Designer

English National Opera Orchestra

English National Opera Chorus

Nardus Williams, Partenope

Hugh Cutting, Arsace

Jake Ingbar, Armindo

Katie Bray, Rosmira

Ru Charlesworth, Emilio

William Thomas, Ormonte

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

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

Kicking down the door: The Marriage of Figaro revived at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 5th February

ENO's revival features a striking performance from Mary Bevan as bride-to-be Susanna, but elements of the staging continue to raise eyebrows.

****1

More reviews...

Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.

Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to English National Opera