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| 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 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 /> | ||
| Miskimmon was appointed artistic director of the ] in October 2019, succeeding ];<ref name=Guardian_Bakare /><ref name=NYT_Marshall /> at the time '']'' described her as the only woman to lead an important opera company in Britain.<ref name=Gramophone_Kirkup /> She took up the post in May 2020 during ]; 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 /> | ||
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| <ref name=Christs_Mag>College News. '']'', pp. 28–29 (2024)</ref> | <ref name=Christs_Mag>College News. '']'', pp. 28–29 (2024)</ref> | ||
| <ref name=Gramophone_Kirkup>Sarah Kirkup (9 October 2019). . '']'' (accessed 21 December 2024)</ref> | |||
| <ref name=Guardian_Bakare>Lanre Bakare (8 October 2019). English National Opera names Annilese Miskimmon as new artistic director. '']''</ref> | <ref name=Guardian_Bakare>Lanre Bakare (8 October 2019). English National Opera names Annilese Miskimmon as new artistic director. '']''</ref> | ||
Revision as of 05:24, 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).
Miskimmon was appointed artistic director of the English National Opera in October 2019, succeeding Daniel Kramer; at the time Gramophone described her as the only woman to lead an important opera company in Britain. She took 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
- ^ Fiona Maddocks (9 October 2016). Annilese Miskimmon: 'From an early age opera helped me escape the Troubles'. The Observer
- ^ Tina Campbell (4 April 2021). Annilese Miskimmon: National Opera leading lady 'proud' of NI roots. BBC News Northern Ireland (accessed 20 December 2024)
- ^ College News. Christ's College Magazine, pp. 28–29 (2024)
- P. H. S. (2 November 1994). No sex please. The Times (65101), p. 18
- ^ Lanre Bakare (8 October 2019). English National Opera names Annilese Miskimmon as new artistic director. The Guardian
- ^ Alex Marshall (8 October 2019). Beleaguered English National Opera Announces New Artistic Director. New York Times
- Sarah Kirkup (9 October 2019). Annilese Miskimmon is appointed ENO's new Artistic Director. Gramophone (accessed 21 December 2024)