Stefan Herheim’s production of Verdi’s 1855 grand opera, Les Vêpres siciliennes, has been named Best New Opera Production at this year's Olivier Awards, which took place last night.
The production faced off competition from David Bruce’s The Firework-Maker's Daughter at the Royal Opera House, and English National Opera’s Wozzeck at the London Coliseum.
English Touring Opera won the award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for its 'brave and challenging' touring productions at the ROH’s Linbury Studio Theatre. The productions of Tippett’s King Priam and Britten’s Paul Bunyan, both of which are currently touring nationwide, earned the company its first ever Olivier award.
English Touring Opera triumphed over more Royal Opera House nominees: Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Flórez for their performances in Rossini’s La Donna Del Lago, and Plácido Domingo for his title role in Verdi’s Nabucco.
The awards ceremony took place at the Royal Opera House and was accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by David Charles Abell.
The Olivier Awards, which celebrate the best of London’s theatre scene, were established in 1976, and prizes for opera have been included since 1977. Other winners include the production The Book of Mormon (Best New Musical) and actor Rory Kinnear (Best Actor - National Theatre's Othello).
Watch highlights from the awards on ITV Player.
Christina Kenny