Way, way back in April, Michael White of the Daily Telegraph queried whether ENO's claim to be presenting "the first full, professional staging" of Vaughan Williams' Pilgrim's Progress in November was actually borne out by fact. He recalled a "bare and simple production, done in black polo-neck shirts" at the Barbican, and another "so simple that you could arguably call it a semi-staging" at Sadlers Wells. Both, in his opinion, were "professional."
Perhaps his words hit the target - in their recent promotional email, above, ENO amended their wording to 'first fully staged production'.
But a couple of professional singers questioned whether even the modified description was accurate. Andrew Finden recalled a Brisbane production and Elizabeth Llewellyn one at the Royal Northern College of Music.
So ENO were prompted to change their tune yet again. The "first British professional full staging" is their latest claim, via Twitter.
So are we there yet? Not quite it seems. The opera premiered at Covent Garden in 1951 (photo below), as per the "more than 60 years" wording in ENO's email.
"First British professional full staging in more than 60 years" isn't exactly snappy. But at least it'd be accurate.
