Opera in Surrey

[Dave2002]

Will it be ready in time?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWfaw4R4_wU&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=April30thvideocampaign-wave1&utm_content=version_A

Grange Park Opera in its new home ....

https://grangeparkopera.co.uk

8th June is the target date.

[David-G]

It had better be! I have tickets for June 11...

[Dave2002]

The floor in the main hall wasn't laid down (mostly) on 25th March, nor were the panels fixed to the sides of any of the balconies. As for seats - good to see them go in towards the end of that video. I think the outside cladding is going to be put on after this season, but most of the inside should be OK for opening night - touching lots of wood.

[Conchis]

I'm seeing Die Walkure in July.

[David-G]

The floor in the main hall wasn't laid down (mostly) on 25th March, nor were the panels fixed to the sides of any of the balconies. As for seats - good to see them go in towards the end of that video. I think the outside cladding is going to be put on after this season, but most of the inside should be OK for opening night - touching lots of wood.

I also was there on March 25th! I thought we were privileged to be shown round by Wasfi Kani herself. The progress since last June was astonishing - but the work still to do seemed rather daunting in the limited time available.

Also, the tour round the house was extremely interesting. In the beautiful spring weather, it was altogether an excellent day out.

[Dave2002]

I also was there on March 25th! I thought we were privileged to be shown round by Wasfi Kani herself. The progress since last June was astonishing - but the work still to do seemed rather daunting in the limited time available.

Also, the tour round the house was extremely interesting. In the beautiful spring weather, it was altogether an excellent day out.

Ah - the lady with the hat! I hope it all works out well.

[Dave2002]

Dress up well - and perhaps warmly!

Word "on the street" (should that be "in the fields"?) is that the performances are going to be very good, and the acoustics are, at present also very good. The sonic qualities will change with large audiences, and later on the interior may be furnished differently, with softer materials so the sound quality may be somewhat softened, but that probably won't happen this year.

However for the immediate performances - starting this week on election day - there may be very limited heating - if any - so even if you are planning to wear your DJ and/or party frock, it may be wise to have jackets, blankets etc., particularly if the evening is forecast to be cold. Another potential hasard, particularly if it rains, is the walk to and from a possibly muddy car park.

This is not to put a dampener on the opening, but rather to reduce the likelihood of audience members finding that they can't cope with the temperature if the weather isn't hot enough. Do bring extra coats, even if you simply leave them in your car if not needed, and maybe wear warm undergarments as well - even though it's notionally summer.

I am looking forward to going, but I hope that it doesn't turn out to be climatically unpleasant. Roll on hotter and dryer weather!

[David-G]

I went to the first night of Jenufa. A terrific evening. Very well sung, convincing performances and a fine production with many well-thought-out details. It is of course a gripping opera and it didn't disappoint. Very fine acoustics in the theatre. We picnicked in a marquee in the orchard, most delightful.

[Lat-Literal]

Have only just spotted this thread. Can anyone advise please if there are going to be several seasons each year or is it just the one.

I have never been to an opera, am unlikely ever to go to one in London, and this venue, while a little distant, looks my best bet.

It is a pity that they are doing Puccini this time around - now sold out - as it is Puccini that I will want and it could now be a while.

[David-G]

Only one season per year. It's a summer thing.

There are still five performances of Tosca to come. The web site says "Call for availability". I am confident that if you phone them purposefully and repeatedly you could find returned tickets.

But there are still tickets available for Jenufa. Why not give it a try? For me, I would pick it over Tosca any day. "Written around the same time as Tosca, ravishing music tells a tale of bitter heart-break, hypocrisy and a treacherous love triangle that tears through the delicate fabric of village life. A fatal decision is made and it cannot be undone."

[Lat-Literal]

Only one season per year. It's a summer thing.

There are still five performances of Tosca to come. The web site says "Call for availability". I am confident that if you phone them purposefully and repeatedly you could find returned tickets.

But there are still tickets available for Jenufa. Why not give it a try? For me, I would pick it over Tosca any day. "Written around the same time as Tosca, ravishing music tells a tale of bitter heart-break, hypocrisy and a treacherous love triangle that tears through the delicate fabric of village life. A fatal decision is made and it cannot be undone."

Thank you, David-G, that is kind of you.

I am open to the idea of calling and to the Janacek and will revisit the website before speaking to them tomorrow morning. Another small problem is that I have a strong preference for the 4pm performances so will have to see. "Tristan" is my only current concession to Wagner. I may explore more of his but only when I feel ready for it.

[David-G]

The singing in this Jenufa was spectacularly good. Hugh Canning says in the Sunday Times today: "... Natalya Romaniw sings her heart out and rends ours with her big-toned, generous, gut-wrenching performance as the young bereaved mother (Jenufa), while Susan Bullock takes ownership of the matriarch ... with her powerfully acted, implacable, yet ultimately no less heart-rending portrayal of the infanticide. Both performances would grace any stage in the world, as would the two fearless tenors ..."

I always think Tristan is one of the most difficult operas for the Wagner-novice. If you are alright with that, I cannot think that you would not enjoy Die Walkure. It is perhaps the greatest of the "Ring" operas (well, perhaps first equal with Gotterdammerung), a great drama - unique in being a double drama, actually, with the arc of the Siegmund-Sieglinde story in Acts 1 and 2 tangling with the Wotan-Brunnhilde story which spans Acts 2 and 3. Some of Wagner's most memorable and most emotional music. I could not resist this and have a ticket for July. The effect in the relatively small "Theatre in the Woods" should be overwhelming. Possibly too overwhelming?

I think that if any of these were to be your first opera, you could not go wrong. But if pushed I would suggest Jenufa, because ultimately we feel for the characters as real people though the music - and because of the warmth that shines through after the catharsis.

[Lat-Literal]

The singing in this Jenufa was spectacularly good. Hugh Canning says in the Sunday Times today: "... Natalya Romaniw sings her heart out and rends ours with her big-toned, generous, gut-wrenching performance as the young bereaved mother (Jenufa), while Susan Bullock takes ownership of the matriarch ... with her powerfully acted, implacable, yet ultimately no less heart-rending portrayal of the infanticide. Both performances would grace any stage in the world, as would the two fearless tenors ..."

I always think Tristan is one of the most difficult operas for the Wagner-novice. If you are alright with that, I cannot think that you would not enjoy Die Walkure. It is perhaps the greatest of the "Ring" operas (well, perhaps first equal with Gotterdammerung), a great drama - unique in being a double drama, actually, with the arc of the Siegmund-Sieglinde story in Acts 1 and 2 tangling with the Wotan-Brunnhilde story which spans Acts 2 and 3. Some of Wagner's most memorable and most emotional music. I could not resist this and have a ticket for July. The effect in the relatively small "Theatre in the Woods" should be overwhelming. Possibly too overwhelming?

I think that if any of these were to be your first opera, you could not go wrong. But if pushed I would suggest Jenufa, because ultimately we feel for the characters as real people though the music - and because of the warmth that shines through after the catharsis.

Thank you - that's great and so encouraging - I am going to make the effort and will let you know how I fare.

[Dave2002]

My earlier warnings about cold and wet have turned out to be wrong in the last few days, though such weather could return. At present I believe that it it likely to be warm - possibly too much so - in the new opera house for the next few days at least. I'm stilll anticipating Tosca and Jenufa in the not too distant future, and I might just persuade myself into the Wagner as well if there are still opportunities.

For a new opera for a new opera goer I'd very much recommend Hamlet by Brett Dean at Glyndebourne or on tour later in the year. That's very gripping.

[Dave2002]

I have now heard and seen both Tosca and Die Walküre. Unlike a few weeks ago, the current weather is not the best for picnicking, and I even reversed my decision to give up vests for the "summer". Of the two performances I'd say that the Wagner is the better of the two, though may not appeal to so many. It is a rather weird plot and goes on for hours, but the final act is brilliant - and I don't just mean the Ride of the Valkyries. Wotan (Thomas Hall) is particularly strong in that act, along with Brunnhilde (Jane Dutton). The Bournemouth SO play very well indeed under Stephen Barlow. The performances of Tosca have been improving over the run, and the Tosca (Ekaterina Metlova) has a lovely voice - but surely she could have been given better direction. I hear reports that Jenufa is very good, but I've not seen it yet.