Chorus

Soldiers celebrating a victory in battle. A mob of fishermen seeking a scapegoat. Witches plotting in the forest. Sailors, bridesmaids, priests, prisoners… many of opera’s biggest moments belong to the Chorus.

The Chorus of English National Opera is one of the very best operatic ensembles performing in the UK.

At the heart of every ENO production, it brings timeless stories to life through vocal excellence and dramatic instinct.

‘The chorus is undoubtedly the jewel in [ENO’s] crown.’

Guardian, Rossini’s Cinderella (La cenerentola), 2025

Whether performing Mozart or Verdi, Britten or Janáček, the Chorus of ENO masters complex scores and demanding stagecraft to create electrifying performances.

These highly trained singers have collaborated with some of the world’s greatest directors and conductors across more than four centuries of repertoire. They are also the first to interpret some of the best opera written today.

Performing at the highest level, the Chorus of ENO has an exceptional mastery of vocal technique, blending seamlessly with world-class principal singers.

And of course, it’s not just about the singing – there’s also the storytelling and stagecraft. Every season the Chorus is challenged to memorize choreography and master accents, changing costumes from crinolines to rags to uniforms.

The tongue-twisting I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General, performed live during Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, directed by Mike Leigh at the London Coliseum

A live performance of Quando me'n vo' (Musetta's Waltz) live in Jonathan Miller's classic ENO production of Puccini's La bohème.

A live performance of Tripping Hither, Tripping Thither from Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe directed by Cal McCrystal at the London Coliseum

A live performance of 'I've Got a Little List' from Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado

A live performance of Vilja aria from Lehár's The Merry Widow

A live performance of With Strephon for your foe from Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe

‘The real stand-out performances of this revival, however, come from the brilliantly drilled ENO chorus with their witty and stylish choreography.’

Telegraph, Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore, 2025

The ensemble takes very complex productions in its stride, sometimes on a massive scale. Life in the chorus can involve switching smoothly from live performance on stage to singing on camera in a studio to an immersive production at an alternative venue.

Endlessly adaptable, the group constantly navigates sophisticated lighting cues and technically complicated staging.

Alongside opera, the Chorus of ENO also performs concert repertoire, appears on film and television soundtracks, and gives voice to cross-genre and experimental projects.

Taking the stage as a small group or rallying in full force, it has collaborated with artists, orchestras, festivals and cultural organisations across the UK and around the world.

‘ENO’s chorus… are on unbeatable form’

The Stage, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, 2025

World Premieres

The Winter’s Tale (Ryan Wigglesworth)
Marnie (Nico Muhly)
Jack the Ripper: The Women of Whitechapel (Iain Bell)

‘…one of the best opera choruses around’

The Stage, Verdi's Rigoletto, 2024

Hire the Chorus of ENO

Film/TV soundtracks
Live events and ceremonies
Collaborations with orchestras and artists
Site-specific and immersive productions

‘The stars are the chorus, onstage most of the time, who nail Weill’s tricky ensemble writing with a conviction that few opera company choruses worldwide could match.’

Guardian, Kurt Weill’s Rise & Fall of the City of Mahagonny, 2026