ENO Wins Fourth Major Award in Two Months

The Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Music Award for Opera and Music Theatre for the creative ambition of its work during 2008 is added to the South Bank Show Award and Olivier for music director Edward Gardner.

Time and hard work heal, and the lows that ENO experienced a couple of years ago – a run of excruciating work beginning with the now legendary Kismet – are receding in the memory. With recent triumph Doctor Atomic, the innovative After Dido and now a Peter Grimes that deserves a place in the history books, things couldn’t be better for the company.

The immediate future holds much promise too, with a new production of Così fan tutte opening in two weeks and the UK premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de loin to come before the season ends.

Commenting on the string of awards John Berry, Artistic Director of ENO says:

“Winning every available opera award for our work in 2008 demonstrates ENO’s tremendous creativity and puts a spring into our step as we look forward to many more exciting productions during 2009. Every member of the Company deserves an award for their dedication and hard work, without them none of this would be possible.”

Work in 2008, acknowledged in the RPS award, included a highly acclaimed production of Vaughan Williams’ Riders to the Sea, directed by Fiona Shaw, a new production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci by Richard Jones (Pagliacci was also nominated for an Olivier Award) and acclaimed new productions of Der Rosenkavalier and Lucia di Lammermoor.

A programme dedicated to the RPS Music Awards can be heard on BBC Radio 3 on 13 May at 7.00pm. www.rpsmusicawards.com

– Simon Thomas