The Seckerson Tapes: Edward Gardner Interview

The English National Opera's whizz-kid chief conductor speaks

by Edward SeckersonSunday, 20 June 2010

Edward Gardner is no longer English National Opera's best kept secret. The former choral scholar and repetiteur goes from strength to strength helming ENO through productive and interesting times. The world's stages are now beckoning. During a break in final rehearsals for Mozart's great opera seria Idomeneo in a new production from multi-media queen Katie Mitchell he talks informally about what being music director of a company like this entails.

Explore topics

Share this article

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 10,000 pieces, we're asking for £3.95 per month or £30 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take an annual subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Opera

Edinburgh International Festival 2019: Eugene Onegin, Komische Oper review - no-holds-barred romanticism Stunning singing in a luxuriant and lovely production

Rinaldo, Glyndebourne Festival review - teenage dreams Stale stereotypes abound in a production that’s a bit past its sell by date

theartsdesk Q&A: composer Alastair White on his new opera ROBE Emerging Scottish talent describes creating layers of reality in his latest work

The Gondoliers, National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company review - charm where it matters A budget trip to Venice, in the liveliest of company

theartsdesk in Dalarna: Rhinegold in a Swedish barn by a lake Intimate Wagner works a treat with a uniformly world-class cast and a 32-piece orchestra

L'Arlesiana, Opera Holland Park review - at last, a rare Italian gem Empathetic performances and conducting help Cilea's pastoral tragedy to soar

War and Peace, Welsh National Opera, Royal Opera House - bold epic weakened by loosely-directed characterisations Strong singing and conducting, but Prokofiev's psychological acuity is ill served

Il Segreto di Susanna/Iolanta, Opera Holland Park review - superb singing, mixed staging A fine double-bill marred by its mismatched halves

Die Zauberflöte, Glyndebourne Festival review – high jinks in the Grand Mozart Hotel Some delicious singing cuts through fanciful upstairs-downstairs frolics

Pavarotti review - enjoyable but superficial survey of a superstar Ron Howard's portrait of the fabled tenor leaves his inner life unexamined

Pick of the BBC Proms 2019 Our classical music/opera reviewers choose their favourites from the next eight weeks

Don Giovanni, Longborough Festival Opera review - Mozart in the urinal Coarsened, disembowelled and only quite well sung

Follow @theartsdesk