English Touring Opera

English Touring Opera

English Touring Opera bring a season full of the temptations of the big city to Cornwall this spring with new productions of two landmark operas.

Puccini: Manon Lescaut  

What can you do when you have no good choices left to make?

Manon Lescaut is a devastating depiction of a woman wrestling with her desire for love on her own terms, and the rigid double standards imposed on her by society.

Director Jude Christian, fresh from a critically acclaimed Titus Andronicus at London’s Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, brings a razor-sharp new translation to her powerful, dreamlike new production, which is conducted by ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius.

Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress

Young Tom Rakewell abandons his quiet country life when the mysterious Nick Shadow appears at his door promising wealth and luxury. But Tom will have to pay for his naivety, and his devilish new friend doesn’t want his money.

The Rake’s Progress is an exuberant, exhilarating exploration of love and loss, full of compassion, malice and extraordinary music drawing from more than 200 years of operatic history from one of the 20th century’s greatest composers.

ETO’s new production is helmed by Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, and the highly regarded conductor and composer Jack Sheen.

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes, including interval