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Kate Valentine debuts as Helena for English National Opera

After her highly acclaimed success in the role of Elisabeth Zimmer in Henze’s Elegy for Young Lover’s, Kate Valentine has recently returned to English National Opera in another role debut, as Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The stellar cast, described by Dominic McHugh of Musical Criticism as “a remarkable line-up”, also includes Iestyn Davies, Sir Willard White and Anna Christy.

Conducted by Leo Hussain, Christopher Alden’s new production has been described by Andrew Clements of The Guardian as “remarkable”, and Andrew Clark of The Financial Times goes further saying that this is “one of the most intoxicating and disturbing ENO shows in recent memory.”

Stephen Jay-Taylor of Opera Britannia comments that “Kate Valentine [was a] vocally game Helena”, and Barry Millington, writing for Evening Standard, thinks that “The quartet of lovers was superbly sung by Allan Clayton, Tamara Gura, Benedict Nelson and Kate Valentine”

Shows will be running at the London Coliseum until the end of June. To find out more about this production and to book tickets, click here.

To watch a video trailer, click here.

[ Original Posting taken from www.rayfieldartists.com ]

ENO announce their 2011/2012 Season

English National Opera have announced their 2011/2012 season, detailing a programme of 15 productions including 4 operas by living conductors and 11 new productions.

This fascinating lineup, in which Kate stars as Countess Almaviva in a new production of The Marriage of Figaro, features of host of established and new British talent.

You can read more on the English National Opera website by clicking here

ENO 2011/2012 Season

The Elixir of Love, Donizetti , opens 15 September 2011

The Passenger, Weinberg, opens 19 September 2011

The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart, opens 5 October 2011

Castor and Pollux, Rameau, opens 24 October 2011

Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky, opens 12 November 2011

Tosca, Puccini, opens 26 November 2011

Der Rosenkavalier, Strauss, opens 28 January 2012

The Tales of Hoffmann, Offenbach, opens 10 February 2012

The Death of Klinghoffer, John Adams, opens 25 February 2012

Jakob Lenz, Wolfgang Rihm, opens 17 April 2012, Hampstead Theatre

The Flying Dutchman, Wagner, opens 28 April 2012

Madam Butterfly, Puccini, opens 8 May 2012

Caligula, Detlev Glanert, opens 25 May 2012

Billy Budd, Britten, opens 18 June 2012

Doctor Dee, Damon Albarn, opens 25 June 2012 (press night 26 June)

‘Elegy for Young Lovers’ nominated for an Olivier!

Fiona Shaw’s celebrated production of Henze’s rarely performed Elegy for Young Lovers has been nominated for Best New Opera Production in this year’s Olivier Awards. This collaboration with the Young Vic is a double triumph for English National Opera, who have also received a nomination for Simon McBurney’s operatic directing debut, A Dog’s Heart.

As Elisabeth Zimmer, Kate enjoyed critical acclaim for her performance alongside a ‘terrific cast’ (Hugh Canning, Opera) and she and her colleagues are thrilled that the production has been recognised in this way.

Keep everything crossed on March the 13th, when the winner will be announced! You can find out more about this and the other nominations at www.olivierawards.com

Furtive Figaro – A Soprano undercover

In addition to her critically acclaimed performance as Countess Almaviva in Scottish Opera’s recent production of ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, Kate Valentine took advantage of her backstage access to film ‘Furtive Figaro’. This candid video podcast series, shot on her iPhone, takes the audience behind the scenes for interviews with cast and crew, as well as revealing some of the production secrets.

All six episodes are available here, or in the Video section of the Media page of this site.

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