Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer

It's a Wonderful Life

Christmas is for friends, family and guardian angels.

The classic Christmas story, redefined for a new generation. 

Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer‘s operatic adaptation of the genre-defining Frank Capra film of the same name, the It’s a Wonderful Life opera will transport you to the idyllic little town of Bedford Falls, where it’s a white Christmas – though not everything is merry and bright.

Down-on-his-luck banker George Bailey (Frederick Ballentine) feels like life has passed him by, so when his guardian angel (Danielle de Niese) pays him a visit, George is shown what life in his beloved Bedford Falls would be like without him in it: maybe it’d be a little less wonderful after all?

Aletta Collins makes her ENO debut directing and choreographing, with regular Heggie collaborator Nicole Paiement conducting the ENO Chorus and Orchestra alongside the all-star cast, which includes Gweneth Ann Rand, Jennifer France, Michael Mayes and more.

Create a new holiday tradition with ENO, book your tickets to Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s It’s a Wonderful Life opera at the London Coliseum.

Based on the 1946 Frank Capra movie of the same name (by permission of Paramount Licensing Inc.) and “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera with Co-Commissioners San Francisco Opera and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

'a glittering, melodic score with a gift of a role for soprano Danielle de Niese as goofy guardian angel Clara.'

Guardian

'Feel-good Christmas opera'

Telegraph

'Enchanting'

Financial Times

Running Time
2hrs 40mins

 

 

 

Access

We have an Access Scheme for our audiences with a disability, a health condition, or different access needs to ensure everyone has a comfortable and enjoyable visit.

Tickets
Tickets start at just £10 plus £2.25 booking fee per ticket. A maximum of £9.00 per transaction is charged for Multi-Buy Packages.
Language
Sung in English. Our surtitles system displays sung words above the stage.

Age guidance: 5+

Plesas note there is video content containing flashing, fast moving images. Read our full production guidance.

For more information, please contact the London Coliseum on 020 7845 9300 or box.office@eno.org

Discover It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life 2022/23 Creative Team

It's a Wonderful Life 2022/23 Cast