On Monday 27 March, the ENO Orchestra and Chorus were joined, under the baton of Martin Fitzpatrick, by Sir John Tomlinson, Christine Rice, Soraya Mafi and David Webb for a glittering evening celebrating the work of English National Opera whilst raising over £250,000 for the company’s work in the fields of Talent Development and Learning and Participation.  The evening was compered by Paul Gambacinni who also took the opportunity to coax comments and contributions from Gala Chair, Jacquie Brunjes, as well as Daniel Kramer, Cressida Pollock, Dr Harry Brunjes, Andrew Shore and Rory Kinnear, all of whom took the opportunity to remind everyone assembled what ENO means to them.

The evening was hosted by the Rosewood Hotel and gave over 200 guests the opportunity to enjoy not only wonderful hospitality but also a variety of contributions from the likes of Artisan du Chocolat, De Beers, Charles Heidsieck and Nicholas Oakwell Couture, amongst others.

The evening also gave us the opportunity to celebrate the end of the Spring Season before the company commences upon its involvement in the musical Carousel as well as the programme of work outside of the Coliseum – at the Hackney Empire, SouthBank Centre and Lilian Baylis House.

Importantly, we have also taken this opportunity to thank those donors and sponsors who have made significant contributions to ENO’s work, for projects in the 2016/17 season as well as for future projects as yet unannounced.  We have also been fortunate, during the course of the last few months to secure support for the company as a whole, endorsing not only the current ‘direction of travel’ but also as an encouragement to others.

Particular thanks, to this end, is extended to :

• The Boltini Trust
• Dr. Harry and Mrs Jacquie Brunjes
• Cockayne – Grants for the Arts
• Citi Group
• Edwardian Hotels, London
• Sir Vernon and Lady Ellis
• Peter and Fiona Espenhahn
• Foyle Foundation
• Talal and Lina Kanafani
• Philip Loubser Foundation
• Mr John Porter
• Premier Medical Group
• The Queen Anne’s Gate Foundation
• Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement
• The Shears Foundation
• Mr Jake and Helene Marie Shafran
• Mr Mark Tousey
• Mr Bruno Wang and Pure Land Foundation
• Patti and George White

…and to the members of the Directors’ Circle, ENO Contemporary, the Coliseum Council, the Friends and Patrons of ENO, the ENO Board, the President’s Committee, Advisory Board and Director’s Emeriti.

Fundraising helps shape the future of this historic organisation. It helps us keep opera accessible and expand and enhance our work in the fields of learning and participation and in talent development. Having to be significantly less dependent on subsidy, we aim to increase our annual fundraising by a third and be better prepared than ever before to plan for the future.  Every donation helps us fulfil these ambitions. There has never been a better time than now to support English National Opera.