Grange Park Opera - 2014

CO NTE NT S 3

14 Your Visit

Welcome

4 Performance Calendar

16 Support

6 La Traviata

17 General Information

VERDI

8 Peter Grimes

Britten

10 Queen of Spades 12 Don Quichotte

TCHAIKOVSKY

MASSENET

18 Under 30s 20 Seat Prices 21 Seat Map 22 How to book 23 Booking Form 2014

“ W ITH IT S P I C T U R E SQ U E S U R RO U N D I N G S , G R A N G E PA R K O PE R A I S PE R H A P S TH E M O S T I DY L LI C O P E R A F E S TI VA L O F TH E M A L L” OPER A BRITANNIA

W E LCO M E “Grange Park continues its unstoppable progress,” The Observer Welcome to the 2014 season of Grange Park Opera. One of the cast-iron rules of happiness is the ability to bring magic into your life. These can be moments that are planned months in advance – or serendipitous occasions that for some reason just work.

Opera, possibly the most magical of all art forms, needs to have both qualities. To get the best directors, singers and musicians, Grange Park has to get out the diary years in advance. But what makes this one of the finest opera festivals in Europe, is that sudden injection of magic that happens on the night.

The surroundings – with one of the finest neo-classical buildings in the world – help. Our after-opera parties in the mansion are also unrivalled.

The food in the dining room is superb. But in the end, as with most things, it is people that count – the performers who adore our velvet-lined theatre, the audience who feel they are invited to a performance laid on just for them, and the staff who are on hand to do (almost) anything – from rescuing cars from ditches to helping with a forgotten bow tie.

W E LCO M E TO G R A N G E PA R K O P E R A

A small jewel with big performances

DATE

Start Time

PERFORMANCE

AFTER the opera: open house

gLYNDEBOURNE

Go inside the great house; the bar is open and there is a fur ther performance . . .

Fri 30 MAY 2014

5. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

DUSTY springfield tribute

Sat 31

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

PIANO BAR

EUGENE ONEGIN

Thu 5 JUNE

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

JAZZ

Rosenkavalier

Sat 7

5. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

Sun 8

4. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

PIANO BAR

Rosenkavalier

wed 11

5. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

Fri 13

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

fab beatles

EUGENE ONEGIN

SAT 14

5. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

SUN 15

4. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

PIANO BAR

Rosenkavalier

WED 18

5. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

THU 19

5. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

PIANO BAR

Rosenkavalier

fri 20

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

duran duran tribute band

EUGENE ONEGIN

SAT 21

5. 20 pm

Peter Grimes

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

SUN 22

4. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

PIANO BAR

Rosenkavalier

FRI 27

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

call me blondie

DON GIOVANNI

SAT 28

5. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

PIANO BAR

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA

SUN 29

4. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

PIANO BAR

EUGENE ONEGIN

WED 2 JULY

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

PIANO BAR

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA

FRI 4

5. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

fab beatles

DON GIOVANNI

sat 5

5. 20 pm

LA TRAVIATA

PIANO BAR

EUGENE ONEGIN

SUN 6

4. 20 pm

QUEEN OF SPADES

PIANO BAR

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA

TUE 8

5. 20 pm

QUEEN OF SPADES

PIANO BAR

EUGENE ONEGIN

WED 9

5. 20 pm

DON QUICHOTTE

PIANO BAR

DON GIOVANNI

THU 10

5. 20 pm

QUEEN OF SPADES

jazz

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA

SAT 12

5. 20 pm

QUEEN OF SPADES

PIANO BAR

SUSAN GRITTON

IN

EUGENE ONEGIN

2013

“ Love is a heartbeat throughout the universe ; mysterious . . . altering , the torment and delight of my heart ” Alfredo

Conductor Gianluca Marcianò Director Lindsay Posner Designer Richard Hudson Claire Rutter Violetta Valery

sponsor Mrs Peter Cadbury

Marco Panuccio Alfredo Germont Damiano Salerno Giorgio Germont

sponsor Heike Munro

Olivia Ray Flora Bervoix Alberto Sousa Gaston Timothy Dawkins Baron Douphol Matthew Stiff Doctor Grenvil FRIENDS OF VIOLETTA are sponsored by Nic Bentley Gareth & Janet Davies

L A TR AV I ATA Giuseppe Verdi | Opera in three acts | First performed 1853 Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave based on La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils Generous support from ICAP plc How can one go through life and not see La Traviata? Verdi’s opera isn’t just a three-handkerchief weepie – you need a whole box of tissues. The racy courtesan Violetta has all of Paris in her salon and at her feet. When the handsome but unworldly Alfredo walks into her life, she thinks that at last she has found true love. It doesn’t take long before they move to the country. But will her past life catch up on her?

La Traviata (translation: one who is troubled, deviated, through influences beyond her control) had a “mixed” reception when it was premiered in 1853 at the Venice opera house, La Fenice. After the performance, Verdi famously wrote, “La Traviata last night a failure. Was the fault mine or the singers? Time will tell.” Time has given the opera a huge thumbs-up – last season it was listed as the most performed opera worldwide, and Claire Rutter will follow in the tradition of Maria Callas and more recently, Angela Gheorghiu to sing Violetta’s Sempre libera, one of the most famous arias ever written.

WHEN TO SEE IT Sat 31 May, Thur 5 June, Sun 8 June, Fri 13 June, Fri 20 June, Fri 27 June, Sun 29 June, Wed 2 July, Sat 5 July BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA

“ M an invented morals but tide S have none ” ned keene

Conductor Stephen Barlow Director Jeremy Sams Designer Francis O’Connor CARL TANNER Peter Grimes

sponsors François Freyeisen & Shunichi Kubo

GEORGIA JARMAN Ellen Orford sponsor David McLellan

STEPHEN GADD Captain Balstrode

sponsor Mr & Mrs Richard Morse

ANDREW REES Bob Boles REBECCA DE PONT DAVIES Mrs Sedley GARY GRIFFITHS Ned Keene

sponsors Judith Lawless & Kevin Egan

CLIVE BAYLEY Swallow NIGEL ROBSON Rev Horace Adams

sponsor Hamish Parker (+ two nieces)

PE TE R G R I M E S Benjamin Britten | Opera in three acts | First performed 1945 Libretto by Montagu Slater from George Crabbe’s poem The Borough The production is sponsored by a syndicate led by David & Amanda Leathers An apprentice has died on his watch, and although the verdict is ‘accidental death’, Peter Grimes, the fisherman, is under suspicion by his close-knit gossipy Suffolk village. Only Ellen Orford, a widowed schoolteacher, tries to understand this complex man who doesn’t fit in. She arranges for another young boy to be delivered into Grimes’ care. But disaster is waiting to strike.

One of Britten’s most accessible operas, Peter Grimes was first performed in 1945. The composer had come across George Crabbe’s poem, The Borough, while he was in the United States during the War and reading it reminded Britten of Suffolk and inspired this extraordinarily intense work.

With its tumultuous choruses and surging passion, this production is not to be missed.

WHEN TO SEE IT Fri 30 May, Sat 7 June, Wed 11 June, Sun 15 June, Wed 18 June, Sat 21 June BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SEA INTERLUDES Dawn sponsor Nerissa Guest Morning Star awaits a sponsor Storm sponsor Quentin Black Moonlight sponsor Boltini Foundation

Conductor Gianluca Marcianò Director & DESIGNER Antony McDonald REVIVAL DIRECTOR Peter Relton Carl Tanner Hermann

sponsors Francis & Nathalie Phillimore

“ T wo fi x ed ideas can no more e x ist together in the moral world than two bodies can occupy one and the same place in the physical world” Pushkin

Giselle Allen Lisa Gocha Abuladze Tomsky Stephen Gadd Yeletsky Anne-Marie Owens The Old Countess CAROLYN DOBBIN Polina Anthony Flaum Tchekalinsky

sponsors Diane & Christopher Sheridan

Timothy Dawkins Surin Matthew Stiff Narumov

Q U E E N O F S PA D E S Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky | Opera in three acts | First performed 1890 Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky based on a short story by Alexander Pushkin Hermann is penniless but has his eye on Lisa. When he hears the story of Lisa’s guardian, a mysterious Countess who knows of three cards that will win any game, Hermann becomes obsessed with discovering the secret. Lisa, engaged to the suitable Prince Yeletsky, finds herself increasingly drawn into his irrational world. It is not long before she realises she has taken second place in Hermann’s mind to the secret of the cards.

Tchaikovsky wrote The Queen of Spades in less than two months and decided that it was a masterpiece. Everyone agrees. Moreover, Grange Park Opera’s production, first seen in 2012, was widely acclaimed as more than doing justice to the sensational score and gripping narrative. “This show is a winner,” declared The Times.

WHEN TO SEE IT Sun 6 July, Tue 8 July, Thur 10 July, Sat 12 July BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Conductor Renato Balsadonna Director & DESIGNER Charles Edwards COSTUME Designer Gabrielle Dalton

“ I N A V I LL AG E I N L A M A N C H A , W H O S E N A M E I DO N OT C A R E TO R EC A L L , CLIVE BAYLEY Don Quichotte TH E R E DW E LT N OT SO LO N G AGO A sponsor Ruth Markland G E NTL E M A N O F TH E T Y PE W H O K E E P S A N SARA FULGONI La belle Dulcinée U N U S E D L A N C E , A N O LD S H I E LD, DAVID STOUT A S K I N N Y O LD H O R S E , Sancho Panza sponsor Mr & Mrs Jeremy Farr A N D A G R E Y H O U N D F O R CO U R S I N G ” Cervantes opening lines of Don qUIXOTE

ALBERTO SOUSA Juan

DO N Q U IC H OT TE Jules Massenet | Opera in five acts | First performed 1910 Libretto by Henri Caïn inspired by Le chevalier de la longue figure, a play by Jacques Le Lorrain Based (very loosely) on Cervantes’ epic, Jules Massenet’s opera charts the mishaps of the eponymous knight and his sidekick, Sancho Panza – and dwells on the big themes in life: love and death – and how to woo the Don’s object of desire, the adored Dulcinée. It’s funny, uplifting and tragic all at the same time.

Rather appropriately, Massenet composed most of Don Quichotte in bed, where he was laid up with rheumatism, although allegedly he began work every morning at 4am. Like the Don, he suffered from unrequited love – he was infatuated with the opera singer, Lucy Arbell, who sang Dulcinée at the first performance – and so he knew all about being strapped to a rollercoaster of emotions.

The opera was almost his swan song: two years after its première, Massenet died aged 67.

WHEN TO SEE IT Sat 14 June, Thur 19 June, Sun 22 June, Sat 28 June, Fri 4 July, Wed 9 July BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA

YO U R V I S IT DINING The important bit… The long interval is (almost) as enjoyable as the opera itself. But unlike the performance, when you sit where you are told to and clap in the right places, there are decisions to be made about dining. And it is best if they are made in advance.

MR DEMONCEY’S DINING ROOMS The easiest option is to reserve a table in our dining room, named after Aristide Demoncey, the charismatic head chef at The Grange in the 1890s. The tables are set within the splendour of the neo-classical mansion (tablecloths, gleaming cutlery, flowers, no expense spared…) and we can seat up to 12 at a table without it being a tight squeeze. Menus, wine lists and booking details will be sent with your tickets.

RESERVE A PRIVATE PAVILION Bring your own gourmet picnic and eat it in a private Raj-style pavilion. We can provide tables and chairs, and, for a fee, a porter to carry your hamper from the car park. There are also comfortable tables in the Long Marquee, an enclosed tent.

PICNIC OUTDOORS There’s nothing like bagging the best spot on the grass and having your own Arcadian idyll. There are stylish tables and chairs on the terraces that you are welcome to use. Just make sure you get there first.

AFTERNOON TEA Take an Edwardian tea in the Library (our best china teacups, a pot of tea and a tiered stand of cucumber sandwiches, scones and cakes). Or have tea in a mug in the Long Marquee.

PRE–PERFORMANCE CANAPÉS AND CHAMPAGNE ARE AVAILABLE GOOD NEWS ABOUT BOOKING From January, the various dining options can be booked on the website.

D inner in the restaurant was e xcellent.

E verything gets better & better

S U P P O RT Every time someone buys a ticket, they are supporting Grange Park Opera. To all the members of our audience that come to the festival, see the performance and go home happy, many thanks. Our only revenue comes from ticket sales – that and from the support of donors who want to become more involved and a part of the family – the Grange Park family.

Opera, as we know, doesn’t come cheap. Mounting a production with cut-price costumes, a cut-down orchestra, bargain basement singers… isn’t what Grange Park Opera is all about. All this splendour comes at a price, which is greater than income from tickets. For the festival to continue its upward trajectory, we would be so grateful if you could think about contributing towards the success of Grange Park Opera.

We aim to develop young artists, attract young audiences, introduce lesser-known operas to the repertoire – as well as improving everything that happens at the festival.

HOW TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY SPONSOR A SINGER You needn’t pay for all of them, you can choose just one – or even a bit of them (their arm, their leg … lots of body parts are available). Then meet the artist on the stage after the performance ANNUAL PERSONAL DONORS Around 1,000 people support with gifts of £200 – £1,100 and perhaps come onto the stage afterwards SCHOLARSHIPS Help exceptional post-post-graduate singers to continue singing lessons whilst they establish themselves CORPORATE SPONSORS We welcome donations from corporate businesses from £3,000 AMERICAN GIFTS US donors can make tax-deductible donations.

TRUSTS & FOUNDATIONS Grange Park Opera seeks support for educational and outreach activities info@grangeparkopera.co.uk

G E N E R A L I N F O R M ATI O N WHEN TO ARRIVE Guests arrive from 3.30pm (2.30pm on Sundays) onwards. They walk in the park, eat some of their picnic, have tea in the library or enjoy a glass of champagne before the performance which begins at 5.20pm. (4.20pm on a Sunday) DRESS Guests wear something stylish. Most of the audience wear black tie/long or short dress, but don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd: we encourage creativity.

PICNIC TABLES It is easy to reserve picnic furniture and there are many tables, chairs and benches on the terraces which are available on a first-come-first-served basis. If you bring your own furniture, it can only be used on the lower East Terrace. Please: no barbecues. No erected structures. We aim for elegance at all times.

MAKE A DAY OF IT More than the operas - leave home earlier and savour nearby secrets and a pub lunch. See the wesbite for suggestions.

HOW TO GET HERE A printed map can be downloaded from the website and one will be sent with your tickets.

From A31 / Alresford use postcode SO24 9TQ for the east entrance From M3 use address New Lodge, Grange Park SO24 9TG for the west entrance. These are private houses. Nearby are signs.

TRAINS & TAXIS Arrive on the designated train at Basingstoke (depart Waterloo 1520 arrive 1605) and take advantage of a communal taxi. The taxi rank at Basingstoke is well-attended and the fare roughly ÂŁ30.

Train timetables change so the website will be updated with revised train times. If you are arriving from the south, use Winchester Station.

HELICOPTERS By arrangement 01962 73 73 60 ACCESS We do ask that guests without good mobility are accompanied. On the Booking Form, please indicate (a) whether or not you require wheelchair space (b) if you have other specific seating needs. We should point out that the Grand Tier is not suitable for people with limited mobility. We are very happy to offer guests a wheelchair from the entrance tent if they would like to borrow one. Our website has more details about accessibility throughout Grange Park, and this provides helpful information about drop-off details.

Unfortunately, mobility scooters cannot be used on the terraces due to vertiginous drops. We would be grateful if all scooters are left in the car park.

“ The youthful misconceptions of O pera are easily thrown away after an evening at the G range ”

TIC K E T S F O R U N D E R 3 0 s People of all ages are captivated by opera. It is the most expensive art form but we don’t want ticket prices to be a barrier to younger people falling in love with opera.

They are, after all, the future.

So we have two special schemes: ARE YOU AGED 18-30 ?

Then congratulations, you are a METEOR. And you can buy seats for ÂŁ30 on selected nights.

Please contact Emilia Pountney milly@grangeparkopera.co.uk for more details.

Register free at www.grangeparkopera.co.uk or email info@grangeparkopera.co.uk with your name and date of birth.

ARE YOU AGED 14-25 ? Or a teacher or group leader?

Then you may be eligible for MUSICAL CHAIRS. These are free seats on selected nights for younger people who otherwise could not come to the opera. They are subsidised by charitable trusts and ticket buyers. Apply online or email charlotte@grangeparkopera.co.uk

SEATS

PRICE BAND 1

PRICE BAND 2

SATURDAYS

OTHER DAYS

£75 £90 £135 £165 £180 £145 £135 £75 £90

£65 £80 £125 £155 £170 £135 £125 £65 £80

£1,080 £945 £1,350 £145

£1,000

8 seats

£875 £1,250 £135

7 seats 10 seats

£690 £75 £135 £1,470 £165 £75

£630 £65 £125 £1,370 £155 £65

4 seats + 2 stools

Orchestra Rail ends of front 2 rows Orchestra Rail Stalls Rows C & D Stalls Rows E - K (Excluding Row J) Stalls Row J Quartet Rows L - R Stalls Circle Stalls Stool Tier Side BOXES

NOTES Slightly restricted view of the surtitles Slightly restricted view of the surtitles Seats have arms Seats have arms Extra leg room No arms but excellent view Wheelchair spaces are here Upholstered, with back and foot rest Restricted view of sides of the stage

seats can be removed for more spacious seating

CIRCLE BOXES Circle Box 1 & 6 full box Circle Box 2 & 5 full box Circle Box 3 & 4 full box Circle Box individual seat GRAND TIER BOXES Grand Tier Box 1 & 9 full box GTB 1 & 9 stool GTB 1 & 9 individual seat Grand Tier Box 2 – 8 full box Grand Tier Box individual seat Grand Tier Box 2 – 8 Stool

8 seats + 2 stools

S E AT M A P Tier Sides

09

06

07

08

05

04

03

02

01

Tier Sides

Grand Tier Boxes

Stalls Stools Stalls Circle

01

02

03

04

05

06

Stalls Stools Stalls Circle

Circle Boxes

Quartet Stalls Rows L -R

Stalls Row K Stalls Row J Stalls Rows E - H Stalls Rows C - D Row Ends

Orchestra Rail A - B

Row Ends

SEAT WIDTHS If you are unable to sit comfor tably in a single seat you will need to talk to the Box Office and possibly purchase additional seating.

Some of the loose seating in boxes provides greater flexibility. See website.

H OW TO B OO K 1.

Select the opera

2.

State your 1st choice date

3. Note the price band 4.

State your preferred price

Forms received by TUESDAY 14 JANUARY will be in the First Allocation and these tickets will be sent out by mid-January or sooner. Other tickets will be sent out as quickly as possible.

GENERAL & ONLINE BOOKING OPENS TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2014 at 9.30 am BOX OFFICE

01962 73 73 66 01962 73 73 65

HELP US TO PROCESS YOUR BOOKING QUICKLY • Some evenings are congested so please specify alternative dates and prices. Please number your preferences.

• We will assume that you would prefer a different price on your first choice date rather than your alternative dates. If this is not the case, please write “change date before price” on the form.

• We can only allocate your seats with a friend if the booking is on one form and under one name.

• Keep a copy of this form • If you wish to change your booking, notify us by email box@grangeparkopera.co.uk or in writing by post.

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Caroline Sheahan BOX OFFICE POSTAL ADDRESS 24 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9AQ BOX OFFICE OPENING HOURS OUT OF FESTIVAL Monday - Friday 9.30–5.30

Saturday & Sunday closed DURING FESTIVAL M onday - Friday 9.30–5.30

Saturday & Sunday 9.30–2

G E N E R AL E NQU IRIES

01962 73 73 60

“ I don ' t want realism , I want magic! ” Tennessee Williams