Albert Herring

Albert Herring description

Albert Herring explores the place where innocence meets rebellion to cause total chaos.

A first for English National Opera, there's a fresh and witty new take on Benjamin Britten’s beloved coming-of-age comedy in town, hot on the heels of previous popular ENO semi-staged productions Gloriana, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and Suor Angelica. Welcome to Albert Herring, directed and designed by multi-award-winning Antony McDonald (2023 Olivier for Outstanding Achievement in Opera nomination for ROH's Alcina, Set Designer of the Year winner at the 2013 International Opera Awards), and conducted by Daniel Cohen on his ENO debut.

The setting is the little market town of Loxford, the year is 1943, and Lady Billows and her housekeeper Florence Pike rule the roost. When it becomes clear there isn't a single virtuous girl left in the whole town, the May Queen committee decides to think outside the box by making shy greengrocer’s assistant Albert Herring the May King. But innocent Albert’s new social status has unexpected consequences in the shape of a booze-fuelled night of horrid debauchery. No wonder this quirky opera is so popular!

Caspar Singh plays Albert Herring and Emma Bell is Lady Billows, with Carolyn Dobbin as Florence Pike and Aoife Miskelly as Miss Wordsworth. Eddie Wade plays Mr Gedge. Mark Le Brocq is Mr Upfold, Sir Willard White plays Superintendent Budd, Dan D’Souza is Sid, Anna Elizabeth Cooper plays Nancy and Leah-Marian Jones is Mrs Herring. Daniel Cohen is the conductor. Antony McDonald is the director and designer, the lighting designer is Matthew Richardson, and there's associate direction by Sophie Daneman.

Buy Albert Herring tickets for a fresh take on a beloved British comedy opera.

Playing at London Coliseum

St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES GB (venue info)

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