Brand new production images have been released for English National Opera‘s (ENO) presents the UK premiere of Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Angel’s Bone, ahead of its first performance in Manchester tonight.
The production will play four performances at Aviva Studios – home of Factory International – until 16 May, before arriving at the London Coliseum on 16 October 2026.
ENO’s hugely successful Under 21s scheme continues, offering free opera tickets to all ENO performances at the London Coliseum and at partnering venues in Greater Manchester.
The Manchester performances are presented in collaboration with Factory International and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. London performances will be accompanied by the Orchestra of ENO. Manchester-based vocal ensemble Kantos Chamber Choir appears in both runs as guest choir.
Each staging will be shaped by its venue, offering distinct theatrical experiences in Manchester and London.
What Is Angel’s Bone About?
Angel’s Bone tells the story of Mr and Mrs X.E., a struggling couple who discover two wounded angels in their garden. What begins as an apparent act of compassion becomes a chilling exploration of exploitation, greed and modern-day slavery.
With a libretto by Royce Vavrek, the opera confronts human trafficking through surreal allegory. Following its New York premiere, Angel’s Bone won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Music and has since been recognised as one of the defining operatic works of the past decade.
Du Yun’s score fuses medieval polyphony, punk, cabaret, electronics and chamber music, creating a striking contemporary sound world that challenges traditional operatic form.
Creative Team And Cast For Angel’s Bone
Multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Kip Williams makes his UK opera debut, reuniting with Tony and Olivier Award-winning designer Marg Horwell following their recent collaborations on Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo and The Picture of Dorian Gray in the West End and on Broadway.
Completing the creative team is Jack Knowles as Lighting Designer, Ash J Woodward as Video Designer, and Dominic Bilkey and Joseph Reiser as Co-Sound Designers.
Internationally renowned conductor Baldur Brönniman – who trained at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music and is deeply committed to making classical music relevant in the 21st century – leads the performances.
In the role of Mrs X.E. is Scottish mezzo-soprano and singing actress Allison Cook. Performing as her husband, Mr X.E., is British baritone Rodney Earl Clarke. The role of Girl Angel is performed by Swedish cross-genre musician and voice actress Mariam Wallentin, making her ENO debut. Scottish tenor Matthew McKinney performs the role of Boy Angel. They will be joined by Hong Kong countertenor Keith Pun as Male Soprano.
ENO Under 21s Scheme And Skills Development In Manchester
ENO’s popular Under 21s scheme continues across both cities, offering free opera tickets at the London Coliseum and partnering Greater Manchester venues.
Alongside the production, ENO and Factory International extend Factory Academy’s vocational training into opera production. From spring 2026, trainees will undertake paid placements on Angel’s Bone, expanding backstage and technical pathways for young people in Greater Manchester.
This initiative reflects ENO’s commitment to widening access and nurturing the next generation of opera talent.
BBC Radio 3 Broadcast
BBC Radio 3 will record Angel’s Bone at Aviva Studios for broadcast on Opera on 3, airing on Saturday 6 June 2026.
The performance will then be available for a further 30 days on BBC Sounds, making this ground-breaking opera accessible to millions of listeners.
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