About This Show

Harrison Birtwistle’s iconic masterpiece retells the Orpheus myth in a non-linear narrative, as the opera’s leading characters appear in three distinct guises.

The Mask of Orpheus is scored for massive orchestral forces, which builds into a three dimensional picture that leads us from inconsolable grief to acceptance and transformation.

ENO Artistic Consultant Daniel Kramer’s staging will be the first in London since its premiere at the London Coliseum over 30 years ago. He is joined by conductor and ENO Music Director Martyn Brabbins, following their collaborations on War Requiem and Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel.

Costume designs are by ‘England’s most outrageous dresser’ (Vogue) Daniel Lismore, while the cast includes several regular ENO artists noted for their expertise in contemporary music: Peter Hoare; Daniel Norman; Susan Bickley; James Cleverton and Robert Hayward.

Show Details

Running Time: 3hr 20min (0 intermissions)
Dates: Opening Night: 18 October 2019 Final Performance: 13 November 2019

Cast

Peter Hoare Orpheus the Man
Daniel Norman Orpheus the Myth/Hades
Marta Fontanals-Simmons Eurydice the Woman
Susan Bickley Eurydice the Myth/Persephone
James Cleverton Aristaeus the Man
Simon Bailey Aristaeus the Myth/Charon
Claron McFadden The Oracle of the Dead/Hecate
Robert Haward The Caller
William Morgan First Priest/Judge of the Dead
David Ireland Second Priest/Judge of the Dead
Simon Wilding Third Priest/Judge of the Dead
Charlotte Shaw First Woman/Fury 1
Katie Coventry Second Woman/Fury 2
Katie Stevenson Third Woman/Fury 3

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