Mixing humour, sexuality and seething emotions with dazzling music and soaring singing, Xerxes is an enthralling night of fun, joy and biting social satire. Nicholas Hytner’s iconic production of Handel’s comic masterpiece returns to the London Coliseum stage.
Spectacularly evoking Vauxhall’s pleasure gardens of the eighteenth century, this Olivier Award-winning production centres on the rivalry between Xerxes and his brother Arsamenes for the love of the same woman.
The cast is headed by internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, who sings the title role at ENO for the first time. Star counter-tenor Andrew Watts returns as Arsamenes, alonside Sarah Tynan as Romilda. Michael Hofstetter, who conducted last season’s acclaimed Traviata, returns to the London Coliseum.
Xerxes is sung and surtitled in English