This week, Patricia Bardon, Meredith Arwady and Russell Thomas join forces with director Peter Sellars for English National Opera’s production of John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary. Conducted by Joana Carneiro, the performances run from 21 November to 5 December and mark the world stage premiere of the opera.
Making a return to ENO is Irish mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon, whose last appearance at the Coliseum was as Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), one of her most successful roles, which she also performed at Bayerische Staatsoper, The Metropolitan Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera to great critical success. No stranger to contemporary works, Patricia Bardon also starred in the world premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater at Opéra national de Paris together with Peter Sellars and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Later this season, Patricia performs Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Handel’s Alcina in concert at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall as well as the title role in Carmen with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Following a celebrated debut at ENO as Pasqualita in John Adams’ Doctor Atomic, Meredith Arwady adds the role of Mrs Lovett to her repertoire this season in Madison Opera’s upcoming production of Sweeney Todd. She will also make a return to Europe for performances of Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
Marking his debut at ENO is Russell Thomas as Lazarus, a role he performed at the world premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustav Dudamel. Russell is already enjoying global success with performances as Pollione (Norma) at San Francisco Opera under Nicola Luisotti, Gabriele Adorno (Simon Boccanegra) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden under Antonio Pappano and the title role in Don Carlos with Deutsche Oper Berlin under Donald Runnicles. Later this season, Russell goes on to reprise the role of Pollione at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia and adds the title role in Faust (Michigan Opera Theatre) and Manrico in Il trovatore (Cincinnati Opera) to his repertoire.
