English National Opera has announced a new concert staging of Così fan tutte, presented at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester this February.
The semi-staged production will run for two performances on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February 2026, continuing ENO’s partnership with Greater Manchester.
Internationally renowned conductor Alexander Joel will lead the Orchestra of ENO in Mozart’s sparkling score, with the concert staging directed by Ruth Knight.
The performances follow ENO’s production of Britten’s Albert Herring at The Lowry in October 2025 and mark the company’s return to Manchester.
Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of English National Opera, said: ‘Following ENO’s vibrant run of Britten’s Albert Herring at the Lowry in October 2025, we’re delighted to be returning to Greater Manchester with these semi-staged concert performances of Mozart’s Così fan tutte.’
‘We can’t wait to connect with Manchester audiences once again and hear the glorious music of Mozart’s comic masterpiece in the iconic space of The Bridgewater Hall, performed by the award-winning Orchestra and Chorus of ENO, with world-class operatic artists.’
Andrew Bolt, Chief Executive Officer of The Bridgewater Hall, said: ‘I am delighted to welcome English National Opera to The Bridgewater Hall and to our International Concert Series. These unique performances herald the beginning of an exciting collaboration between our two organisations.’
‘We are excited for the future and the performances to come as they grace the stage of one of the world’s finest concert halls.’
Written at the height of Mozart’s career and first performed in 1790, Così fan tutte is a satirical exploration of love, loyalty and desire, now recognised for its psychological depth and musical brilliance.
Ruth Knight returns to ENO following acclaimed work including Gloriana in 2022 and the BBC Proms concert of Lady Macbeth of Mtensk.
Alexander Joel, who made his ENO debut in 2018 with La bohème, has been praised for drawing ‘ravishing playing’ from the Orchestra of ENO and returns to conduct these performances.
Singing the roles of sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella are soprano Lucy Crowe and mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven.
Lucy Crowe OBE has recently appeared at the Royal Opera House as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte and previously performed the role for ENO.
Taylor Raven makes her ENO debut, following recent appearances including her Metropolitan Opera debut in John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra.
Joining them are tenor Joshua Blue as Ferrando and baritone Darwin Prakash as Guglielmo.
Andrew Foster-Williams sings Don Alfonso, while the role of Despina is performed by Irish soprano Ailish Tynan.
The opera will be performed in English, with surtitles projected above the stage, and tickets start from £25.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
