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==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
Annilese Miskimmon was born in 1974 in ], ], near ], to Irene and John Miskimmon.<ref name=Observer_Maddocks /><ref name=BBC_Campbell /> She was educated at ] in Bangor.<ref name=BBC_Campbell /> Her father sang in amateur opera, and Miskimmon said in a 2016 interview with '']'' that opera was "central" to her imagination as a child. The first opera that she attended was an amateur performance of '']'' in Belfast, at the age of ten. She said that opera, together with theatre, formed a "safe place for open-minded, creative people from both communities" during the ].<ref name=Observer_Maddocks /> Annilese Miskimmon was born in 1974 in ], ], near ], to Irene and John Miskimmon.<ref name=Observer_Maddocks /><ref name=BBC_Campbell /> She was educated at ] in Bangor.<ref name=BBC_Campbell /> She said in a 2016 interview with '']'' that opera was "central" to her imagination as a child, characterising the form as simply a "really dramatic story with big music".<ref name=Observer_Maddocks /> She sang in the chorus of amateur opera productions in her teens, and she cites her father, who sang in amateur productions with Opera NI and ], as an important influence.<ref name=BBC_Campbell /> The first opera that she attended was an amateur performance of '']'' in Belfast, at the age of ten. She said that opera, together with theatre, formed a "safe place for open-minded, creative people from both communities" during the ].<ref name=Observer_Maddocks />


Miskimmon read English at ] (1992–95), becoming president of the college JCR,<ref name=Christs_Mag /> where she led a campaign to protect first-year students from older ones.<ref name=Times_1994 /> She then went to ] in London, where she studied arts management.<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /> Miskimmon read English at ], ] (1992–95). There she was involved with the college's amateur dramatic society and the university's opera and ] societies, starting to direct theatre and opera. She became president of the college JCR,<ref name=Christs_Mag /> where she led a campaign to protect first-year students from older ones.<ref name=Times_1994 /> She then went to ] in London, where she studied arts management.<ref name=Guardian_Bakare />


==Career== ==Career==
She worked as a producer at ], and then became artistic director at Ireland's ] (2004–12), general manager and artistic director of the ] (2012–17), and director of opera at the ] (2017–20).<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /><ref name=NYT_Marshall /> She was appointed artistic director of the ] in October 2019,<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /><ref name=NYT_Marshall /> taking up the post in May 2020.<ref name=BBC_Campbell /> She worked as a producer at ], and then became artistic director at Ireland's ] (2004–12), general manager and artistic director of the ] (2012–17), and director of opera at the ] (2017–20).<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /><ref name=NYT_Marshall />
She was appointed artistic director of the ] in October 2019,<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /><ref name=NYT_Marshall /> taking up the post in May 2020 during ].<ref name=BBC_Campbell /> During this period, she directed innovative ''Drive and Live'' performances of Puccini's '']'' in the car park of ], London in September 2020.<ref name=BBC_Campbell />


She was elected an honorary fellow of Christ's College in 2024.<ref name=Christs_Mag /> She was elected an honorary fellow of Christ's College in 2024.<ref name=Christs_Mag />

Revision as of 04:55, 21 December 2024

Annilese Miskimmon (born 1974) is a Northern Irish-born opera director who has been the artistic director of English National Opera since 2020. She previously held equivalent posts at Ireland's Opera Theatre Company (2004–12), Danish National Opera (2012–17) and the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet (2017–20).

Early life and education

Annilese Miskimmon was born in 1974 in Bangor, County Down, near Belfast, to Irene and John Miskimmon. She was educated at Glenlola Collegiate School in Bangor. She said in a 2016 interview with The Observer that opera was "central" to her imagination as a child, characterising the form as simply a "really dramatic story with big music". She sang in the chorus of amateur opera productions in her teens, and she cites her father, who sang in amateur productions with Opera NI and Castleward Opera, as an important influence. The first opera that she attended was an amateur performance of The Magic Flute in Belfast, at the age of ten. She said that opera, together with theatre, formed a "safe place for open-minded, creative people from both communities" during the Northern Ireland conflict.

Miskimmon read English at Christ's College, Cambridge (1992–95). There she was involved with the college's amateur dramatic society and the university's opera and Gilbert and Sullivan societies, starting to direct theatre and opera. She became president of the college JCR, where she led a campaign to protect first-year students from older ones. She then went to City University in London, where she studied arts management.

Career

She worked as a producer at Welsh National Opera, and then became artistic director at Ireland's Opera Theatre Company (2004–12), general manager and artistic director of the Danish National Opera (2012–17), and director of opera at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet (2017–20).

She was appointed artistic director of the English National Opera in October 2019, taking up the post in May 2020 during coronavirus lockdown. During this period, she directed innovative Drive and Live performances of Puccini's La Bohème in the car park of Alexandra Palace, London in September 2020.

She was elected an honorary fellow of Christ's College in 2024.

Personal life

Miskimmon is married. As of 2021, she lived in Surrey.

References

  1. ^ Fiona Maddocks (9 October 2016). Annilese Miskimmon: 'From an early age opera helped me escape the Troubles'. The Observer
  2. ^ Tina Campbell (4 April 2021). Annilese Miskimmon: National Opera leading lady 'proud' of NI roots. BBC News Northern Ireland (accessed 20 December 2024)
  3. ^ College News. Christ's College Magazine, pp. 28–29 (2024)
  4. P. H. S. (2 November 1994). No sex please. The Times (65101), p. 18
  5. ^ Lanre Bakare (8 October 2019). English National Opera names Annilese Miskimmon as new artistic director. The Guardian
  6. ^ Alex Marshall (8 October 2019). Beleaguered English National Opera Announces New Artistic Director. New York Times