Ensemble, Guests, Opera Studio & Teams

Charles Edwards

Set Designer

Charles Edwards
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Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and trained at the Central School of Art and Design in London Charles Edwards became one of the most renowned set designers and directors in Europe and the USA, working with companies including the Teatro alla Scala Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, the Komische Oper Berlin and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Productions with David Alden, with whom he also designed the set for Rossini’s La gazza ladra in Frankfurt, have included Jenůfa, Katja Kabanova and Lucia di Lammermoor at English National Opera in London and three early Verdi operas: La battaglia di Legnano, I due Foscari and I lombardi alla prima crociata at Hamburg State Opera. He has also wor ked with David’s brother Christopher Alden, on productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream at English National Opera (Golden Mask Award 2013), The Greek Passion, Gianni Schicchi and Norma (which won the 2012 UK Theatre Award) at Opera North. He made his debut as a director in 2001 with Così fan tutte for Mid-Wales Opera, which was followed by a highly praised production of Elektra at Covent Garden and Handel’s Joshua, Rigoletto, I pagliacci and Oedipus Rex in Leeds. He recently designed and directed Idomeneo and Don Quijote at Grange Park Opera in Northington and Tristan und Isolde at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon.