English National Opera brings Pulitzer-prize winning Angel’s Bone to Aviva Studios

English National Opera brings Du Yun’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone to Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, for its UK premiere this May.

Breaking with operatic tradition and fusing multiple musical genres, spoken word and immersive staging, Angel’s Bone features an electrifying score which blends medieval polyphony, punk, electronics, chamber music and cabaret.

The groundbreaking production tells the story of Mr and Mrs X.E., a desperate couple longing for a better life who discover two wounded angels in their garden. They set out to nurse them back to health, but what begins as an act of apparent compassion quickly spirals into a disturbing portrait of greed and exploitation, and an unflinching take on human trafficking and modern-day slavery.

With a libretto by playwright and filmmaker Royce Vavrek, Angel’s Bone was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2017 following its acclaimed world premiere in New York and is recognised as one of the most significant operatic works of the past decade. The show’s creator, Chinese-American composer, performance artist and activist, Du Yun, was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2019.

Multi-award-winning theatre and opera director Kip Williams makes his UK opera debut with the upcoming run of shows. He is joined by Tony and Olivier Award-winning designer Marg Horwell, continuing their long-term creative collaboration, with recent shows including the current production of Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo at the Noel Coward Theatre, The Maids at Donmar Warehouse, and The Picture of Dorian Gray in the West End and on Broadway.

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.

Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director, English National Opera, said: “Bringing Angel’s Bone to the UK for the first time, premiering in Greater Manchester before coming to London, signals a defining moment for English National Opera. Created across two places and powered by deep collaboration, this production connects exceptional artists and partners while opening our doors to broader audiences than ever before.

“Realising work at this scale in two locations allows us to think differently about how opera is made and shared. It’s about far more than geography – it’s about generating new energy around opera, expanding opportunity and ensuring the artform remains a vital force within the national cultural landscape.”

The UK premiere in Greater Manchester is presented in collaboration with Factory International and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, with the London performances performed by the Orchestra of ENO. Manchester-based vocal ensemble Kantos Chamber Choir – renowned for their distinctive sound – will appear in both runs as a guest choir. Each production will be shaped by the venue in which it is performed, creating two distinct experiences.

Kip Williams, Director, said: “Angel’s Bone is an opera of extraordinary power and revelation – it is as inventive and unique in its form as it is unflinching and urgent in the issues it speaks to. It is an honour to be bringing this work to life for its UK premiere, alongside an extraordinary creative team, a phenomenal cast and the brilliant people at ENO and Factory International. It is also a thrill to be staging this work across two incredible spaces – Aviva Studios and the London Coliseum – a challenge that has allowed my team and I to imagine this opera in radical and distinctive ways for each city, ways that we hope will both thrill and move audiences.”

Angel’s Bone comes to Aviva Studios from Tue 12 May – Sat 16 May. Book your tickets below.