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ENO pay tribute to Sir Charles Mackerras

One year after his death, the English National Opera will mount a concert led by extraordinary conductors and singers including the ENO orchestra and chorus to celebrate the musical talent of Charles Mackerras. Described as one of the great polymath music directors of the 20th century, Mackerras conducted some of the world’s most famous orchestras and held the position of director of music at ENO from 1970-1977.

On the stage of the London Coliseum, acclaimed international artists, most of whom worked with Sir Charles and all having a close association with ENO, will create a unique musical event in celebration of Sir Charles’ exceptional life and contribution to music. The evening will include performances by singers including Sir John Tomlinson, Dame Felicity Palmer, Lesley Garrett, Rebecca Evans, Janice Watson, Catherine Wyn Rogers, Diana Montague Jonathan Summers and many others. ENO Music Director Edward Gardner, together with past Music Directors Sir Mark Elder and Paul Daniel, will conduct ENO’s acclaimed Orchestra and Chorus. The evening will be presented by BBC Radio 3 In Tune presenter, Sean Rafferty.

The evening’s programme reflects the repertoire championed by Mackerras and includes operatic arias and choruses from Handel’s Julius Caesar in Egypt, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Idomeneo, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado, Verdi’s Falstaff and Don Carlos, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Britten’s Peter Grimes, Puccini’s Tosca, Janáček’s Jenůfa and Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier.

Edward Gardner said: “We're delighted to be celebrating Sir Charles' work at ENO with this special concert. Many of the singers Sir Charles loved working with will be performing, including Sir John Tomlinson and Dame Felicity Palmer, and three Music Directors of ENO, Sir Mark Elder, Paul Daniel and I will share the podium. The programme, put together with the Mackerras family, will explore the extraordinary breadth of Sir Charles' work with the Company for over 60 years'’.

The concert in honour of Sir Charles Mackerras will take place at London Coliseum on Sunday 26 June 2011 at 7pm. Tickets are priced £8-£45 with all proceeds going to ENO Benevolent Fund.

- by Keith McDonnell

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