With this RPS Award English National Opera has won all available opera awards for its work in 2011

The RPS Award for Opera and Music, donated by the Incorporated Society of Musicians, comes after ENO recently received both Olivier Awards for Opera: Outstanding Achievement in Opera for the breadth and diversity of ENO’s artistic programme and Best New Opera Production for Castor and Pollux, and the South Bank Sky Arts Award for The Damnation of Faust.

Toby Spence, who sang Lensky in ENO’s Eugene Onegin won the Singer Award. Two of the other nominated singers performed in ENO productions in 2011: Roderick Williams for his role of Pollux in Castor and Pollux and Michelle Breedt for her role as Liese in The Passenger.

ENO’s production of Eugene Onegin was a great audience and critical success. Directed by Deborah Warner, the production, conducted by ENO Music Director Edward Gardner starred Toby Spence, Amanda Echalaz as Tatyana and Audun Iversen as Onegin.

ENO’s Artistic Director John Berry said, “The RPS Awards are truly special because it is the music profession who have selected the Awards shortlist. This co-production with the Metropolitan Opera was a highlight during an exciting year for ENO and the chemistry between director Deborah Warner and conductor Edward Gardner produced a Eugene Onegin which showcased the whole Company at its very best.”

The RPS Music Awards are given for the finest music making and are decided by independent panels comprised of members of the profession. Since 1989 the awards have recognised not only the calibre of today’s classical musicians but also those who push creative boundaries to produce work which excites and engages audiences. The 13 individual awards honour performers, composers, programmers, communicators as well as inspirational education and outreach work.

The awards, for outstanding achievement in 2011, were presented at the Dorchester Hotel by BBC Radio 3’s Katie Derham and Petroc Trelawny. Tenor John Mark Ainsley presented the silver lyre trophies, and Gareth Malone gave the evening’s keynote speech, talking of the public’s perception of classical music and the importance of participation.