English Touring Opera presents
ETO – Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress
Igor Stravinsky’s brilliantly inventive The Rake’s Progress charts young Tom Rakewell’s journey from an unexpected inheritance to dissolution at the hands of his own naivety and a mysterious new friend.
One of Stravinsky’s crowning achievements in his pioneering career, the opera is a cynical but ultimately humanistic depiction of how the devil finds work for idle hands. The production is helmed by Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, and highly regarded conductor and composer Jack Sheen.
Performed in English with English surtitles.
Pre-Show Talk
Join members of the ETO creative team for a pre-show talk where they will share insights into this new production of The Rake’s Progress. The talk will take place in the auditorium at 6:30PM,.
Hear from ETO’s Spring 2024 company about bringing our upcoming tour to life – find out more about English Touring Opera, this season’s creative process, what you can expect from the evening’s performance. Bring along your questions – there will also be a short Q&A to conclude the talk!
“Spiteri [cover Tom Rakewell] in particular shone out with burnished tone, verbal dexterity and an incisive sense of rhythm”
“Nazan Fikret was very convincing as Ann Trulove singing with purity and personality”
“It suits the fearless vim and vigour of a young cast who here deliver an invigorating set of performances”
Playstosee.com
“Nazan Fikret brings vocal firmness and dexterity to Anne Trulove”
“Jerome Knox’s devilish Nick Shadow excels”
“Lauren Young brings vocal glamour and bags of pizzazz to bearded lady Baba the Turk”
“The chorus works hard and to good effect, while the orchestra is excellent”
“Conductor Jack Sheen ensures that every note of the score hits the spot.”
The Stage
“Jack Sheen conducted with discipline and love, giving Stravinsky’s score both glitter and emotion”
“Musically, the cast really displayed their strengths.”
Planet Hugill
“The vocals were strong in this production.”
“Nazan Fikret as Anne Trulove particularly impressed with her dexterous and versatile soprano. She had excellent range.”
“The staging was playful, imaginative”
“The costumes sumptuous”
“If you get the chance to see this on tour around Britain – go!”
ArtMuse London
“Incisive conducting from Jack Sheen and some fine singing”
Observer
“As Anne Trulove, Nazan Fikret — who sings with model clarity throughout — delivers a beautiful lament-lullaby”
“Admirably played under the direction of Jack Sheen.”
The Times
“Well captured by the ETO orchestra under Jack Sheen.”
“Jerome Knox makes [Nick] Shadow a convincingly chummy companion on Tom’s journey to hell”
“This is a thoughtful production. It should travel well”
Evening Standard
“Polly Graham’s insightful staging combines entertainment with historical and artistic integrity. ”
“Under conductor Jack Sheen, ETO’s musical performance was exemplary. ”
“Their ensemble work was striking both on stage as well as in the orchestra”
“Solo singers, orchestra and chorus would have made Stravinsky happy.”
“ETO’s Rake is insightful, entertaining and of high quality: do not miss it.”
Seen and Heard International
“Fikret [Anne Trulove], who sings with a wonderfully silvery tone and great depth of feeling throughout”
“Several superb performances”
“[Jerome] Knox’s elegant [Nick] Shadow is all the more dangerous for being so plausibly charming, even when he is at his most malevolent”
“[Lauren] Young, meanwhile, makes a really fine Baba, funny, self-assured, tellingly compassionate beneath the self-dramatisation”
“It’s beautifully played with some wonderfully precise, elegant instrumental solos, and the choral singing is first rate.”
Guardian
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