Announced 12 May 2009

The award goes to English National Opera for its creative ambition. No fewer than ten new productions during 2008, together with an innovative partnership with the Young Vic, made a collective impact on London opera audiences and re-established the company’s distinctive artistic identity.
Barbican: Present Voices – operas by Glass, Golijov and Saariaho
Harrison Birtwistle: The Minotaur (ROH)
Independent Opera: Pelléas and Mélisande