Although Stravinsky is most commonly associated with Russian ballet, his opera The Rake’s Progress is a thoroughly English affair, with a storyline taken from William Hogarth’s paintings and a sharp libretto by W.H Auden and his partner Chester Kallman.

Young Tom Rakewell’s quiet life with his sweetheart Anne is turned upside down when the mysterious Nick Shadow comes to his door with tempting whispers of wealth and luxury. But Nick is not all that he seems, and he leads Tom astray, to a terrible fate.

ETO’s new production is directed by Polly Graham, Artistic Director of Longborough Festival Opera, and conducted by Jack Sheen.

Cast

Nazan Fikret, Anne Trulove
Frederick Jones, Tom Rakewell
Jerome Knox, Nick Shadow
Trevor Eliot Bowes, Father Trulove
Lauren Young, Baba
Amy J Payne, Mother Goose
Robin Bailey, Sellem
Masimba Ushe, Keeper of the Madhouse & Ensemble
Ensemble
Julia Mariko, Rachel Speirs, Shafali Jalota, Cicely Hé, Judy Louie Brown, Morgana Warren-Jones, David Horton, Jack Dolan, Sandeep Gurrapadi, Phil Wilcox, Edward Jowle

Tickets £28, concessions £26, plus booking fee, available online or from Gala Theatre Box Office

English Touring Opera are also performing Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini on Monday 25 March. There is a double ticket offer of £46 for both (book both operas in the same transaction at the Gala, and the discount is applied at checkout).

More details about Manon Lescaut