ENO Studio Live 2018 concluded on a resoundingly successful note with Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall. Jamie Manton’s production received praise across the board from both audiences and critics, with particular credit going to the ever-spectacular ENO Chorus. Here is a flavour of the responses:

‘an exhilarating experience’

***** The Mail on Sunday

‘could not have been bettered’

***** Bachtrack

‘The sound they make in this tiny place is thrilling’

**** The Guardian

‘a joyful spectacle of youthful exuberance’

**** The Telegraph

‘English National Opera’s chorus, sounding magnificent and demonstrating infallible stagecraft’

**** The Stage

One helluva night out @WiltonMusicHall tonight thanks to @E_N_O #ENOStudioLive @MantonJamie and @BrittenOfficial #PaulBunyan Congratulations to all – soloists, backstage, forestage, producers and a special huge shout out for the great ENO Chorus. Brilliant!

— Deborah Warner (@deborahwarner59) September 8, 2018

Well, what a stunning show #ENOBunyan is: fully deserving of all the plaudits & sell-out sales. #ENOStudioLive remains a truly great initiative because it puts the ensemble – and in particular the matchless @E_N_O Chorus – firmly front and centre. And they’re amazing.

— Adrian (@Adrian_Specs) September 8, 2018

Great ensemble and young artists #ENOStudioLive #ENOBunyan in evocative production gives evidence of strength of @E_N_O ???

— John Johnston (@JohnVecchio) September 3, 2018

I challenge even the most devout arts-haters not to be astounded by @E_N_O‘s Paul Bunyan @WiltonsMusicHall. You sit in one of London’s most elegant halls, surrounded by 70+ 1st-class singers & players. It’s the closest you can get to being an 18th century emperor

— Christopher Douglas (@Chrishdouglas) September 6, 2018

Engaging production of #PaulBunyan by @BrittenOfficial @WiltonMusicHall by @E_N_O and how often to Percy Pigs get passed around the audience during an opera?

— Sarah Bardwell (@sarah_bardwell) September 3, 2018

Studio Live was established to showcase emerging talent and especially the Harewood Artist programme. Harewood Artists Elgan Llŷr Thomas, Rowan Pierce, Matthew Durkan and William Morgan all received praise for their principal roles. Director Jamie Manton has been an ENO staff director on numerous ENO shows, with this as his second show as director after last year’s The Day After.

We are also pleased that the full run at Wilton’s Music Hall, London’s oldest grand music hall, was sold out.