 Armstrong stepped down in 1986 after thirteen years as musical director ; he was succeeded by Mackerras , whose association with the company dated back more than thirty years . Among the features of his six @-@ year tenure was an increasing use of surtitles for performances not given in English . In the company 's early days , all operas had been sung in English , but as more international stars began to appear as guest principals the language policy had to be reconsidered : few of the leading names in world opera were interested in relearning their roles in English . WNO steered a middle course between the practices of the two main London companies ; after the 1960s The Royal Opera had generally given operas in the original language , and English National Opera was committed to opera in English . WNO 's practice varied , after its early years . Examples from the 1980s include Wagner 's Tristan und Isolde sung in German , and the Ring in English ; and Verdi 's The Force of Destiny given in English and Otello in Italian . Mackerras was a strong advocate of performance in the original language , with surtitles : " I can 't imagine a greater advance for opera . … What a gift ! It 's like Siegfried understanding the woodbird . " 
 Armstrong stepped down in 1986 after thirteen years as musical director ; he was succeeded by Mackerras , whose association with the company dated back more than thirty years . Among the features of his six @-@ year tenure was an increasing use of surtitles for performances not given in English . In the company <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>early days , all operas <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been sung in English , but as more international stars began to appear as guest principals the language policy had to be reconsidered : few of the leading names in world opera <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> interested in relearning their roles in English . WNO steered a middle course between the practices of the two main London companies ; after the 1960s The Royal Opera <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> generally given operas in the original language , and English National Opera was committed to opera in English . WNO <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>practice varied , after its early years . Examples from the 1980s include Wagner <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>Tristan und Isolde <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>sung</mark></a> in German , and the Ring in English ; and Verdi <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>The Force of Destiny given in English and Otello in Italian . Mackerras was a strong advocate of performance in the original language , with surtitles : " I can 't imagine a greater advance for opera . … What a gift ! It 's like Siegfried understanding the woodbird . " 
Armstrong stepped down in 1986 after thirteen years as musical director ; he was succeeded by Mackerras , whose association with da company dated back more than thirty years . Among the features of his six @-@ year tenure was an increasing use of surtitles for performances not given in English . In tdacompany  early days , alll operas done been sung in English , but as more international stars began to appear as guest principals the language policy had to be reconsidered : few of thdaeading names in world opera was interested in relearning their roles in English . WNO steered a middle course between the practices of the 2 main London companies ; after the 1960s The Royal Opera done generally given operas in the original language , and English National Opera was committed to opera in English . WNO  practice varied , after its early years . Examples from theda80s include Wagner  Tristan und Isolde sang in German , and the dag in English ; and Verdi  The Force of Destiny given in English and Otello in Italian . Mackerras was a strong advocate of performance in the original language , witt surtitles : " I can 't imagine a greater advance fa opera . … What a gift ! It 's like Siegfried understanding the wdabird . "