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The Magic Flute is among the revivals in the ENO 2015/16 season
English National Opera has announced it is cutting ticket prices for its new season as it attempts to secure its financial future.
ENO’s 2015-16 programme includes six new productions and five revivals, with 50% of all tickets reduced in price.
Announcing the new line-up, artistic director John Berry admitted the ENO faced “difficult financial times”.
The organisation was placed under special funding arrangements in February by Arts Council England.
It was told to improve its business model over the next two years or face budget cuts.
The 2015-2016 programme, unveiled on Wednesday, includes popular favourites such as The Barber of Seville, The Mikado, The Magic Flute and Madam Butterfly.
Berry acknowledged that the new season had been reduced in size after cuts last year. “We lost 30% of our arts council grant and there are a huge financial challenges across the whole of the arts and one has to cut our cloth accordingly.
“Maybe it’s a smaller season, but in terms of artistic adventure it feels extremely exciting.”
Madam Butterfly is another revival for the new season
La boheme will be directed by Benedict Andrews
The new season at the London Coliseum opens with Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, conducted by the ENO’s new music director Mark Wigglesworth.
Artist Anish Kapoor will design a new production of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, while Australian director Benedict Andrews – who oversaw Gillian Anderson’s acclaimed performance in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Vic – will direct Puccini’s La boheme.
The new ticket pricing scheme will see 60,000 tickets available for £20 or under, with 100 seats at every show available at the lowest price of £12.
Cressida Pollock, the ENO’s interim chief executive, said it was vital that the company’s work was accessible to the widest possible audience.
“We recognise that we must bring new audiences into the London Coliseum, and ensure they return time and time again by offering an experience like no other, at an affordable price.”
The ENO has had a bumpy ride behind the scenes in 2015 coupled with a string of successes on stage – including two wins at the Olivier Awards and 96% capacity audiences for the recent Sweeney Todd, starring Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel.
BBC