Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with Laura Wilde, Peter Hoare & More for ENO's JENUFA

David Alden's double Olivier Award-winning production of Janá?ek's first opera Jen?fa returns to the London Coliseum. This 'formidable production' (The Guardian), was first seen in 2006.

One of the most popular of Janácek's operas, Jen?fa tells the harrowing story of infanticide and redemption. Based on the original play by Gabriela Preissová, written at the end of the 19th century, the opera explores the stigma of an extra-marital pregnancy. Premiering in Brno in 1904, the work launched Janácek's operatic career.

Alden has updated the opera's original setting from a traditional Moravian village to an isolated 20th century industrial estate in the Eastern Bloc. Last seen at ENO in 2009, it was deemed 'an unmissable show' by the Evening Standard.

The creative team consists of set designer Charles Edwards, lighting designer Adam Silverman and costume designer John Morrell. Mark Wigglesworth conducts, completing his tenure as ENO Music Director.

Laura Wilde makes her European and ENO debut in the title role. She is currently in her final year at The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has sung a number of roles at Lyric Opera of Chicago and has also performed with Arizona Opera.

American mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens returns to ENO to reprise her role as Kostelnicka in this production. She also performed the role of Marilyn Klinghoffer in the acclaimed production of The Death of Klinghoffer for the Company in February 2012 and as Judith in Daniel Kramer's production of Duke Bluebeard's Castle in November 2009.

Bradford-born tenor Peter Hoare will sing the role of Laca Klemen. Peter last performed at English National Opera in the role of Zinovy Ismailov in Dmitri Tcherniakov's five star production of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with the Evening Standard describing his performance as 'excellent'. Other notable roles for the Company include Hermann in The Queen of Spades, Creon in Thebans, Michel in Julietta and Albert Gregor in The Makropulous Case.

ENO Harewood Artist Nicky Spence is Steva Buryja, a role he previously performed at La Monnaie in Belgium. Nicky last performed with the Company as David in Richard Jones's Olivier Award-winning production of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg.

Scottish mezzo-soprano Valerie Reid takes on the role of Grandmother Buryja. For ENO she has sung in numerous productions including La traviata, Juiletta, Peter Grimes, Katya Kabanova, and most recently Christopher Alden's production of Norma.

British bass Graeme Danby sings the dual roles of the Mill Foreman and the Mayor. Graeme is a regular performer at ENO and this season has sung in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and The Mikado. He will also perform in William Kentridge's new production of Lulu in November 2016.

New ENO Harewood Artist Soraya Mafi debuts in the role of Karolka. She made her ENO debut as Edith in Mike's Leigh's production of The Pirates of Penzance (2015) and last appeared with the Company as Papagena in the revival of Simon McBurney's production of The Magic Flute in February 2016. She will sing the role of Mabel in the first revival of Leigh's production of The Pirates of Penzance in February 2017.

Jen?fa opens on Thursday 23 June 2016 at 7.30pm for 6 performances - 23, 28 June at 7.30pm, 1, 6, 8 July at 7.30 pm, 25 June at 6.30pm. Pre-performance talk: Tuesday 28 June 5.15-6pm, £5/£2.50 concs.

500 tickets for £20 or less are available for each performance. Tickets start from £12. www.eno.org.

Photos by Donald Cooper

To post a comment, you must register and login.