Grange Park Opera 2011

2011 GR A NGE PA RK OPER A

✁ GPO

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n, “The mix is lively and fuout ng and knocks the stu ffi of stu ffi ness” JOA N NA LU MLE Y

CUT UP T HIS BOOK LET

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The theme of this booklet is Coalitions: Heads, Bodies & Legs that can be chopped up and assembled as you wish

✄ The 2010 festival defied the glowering economy and represented a significant step forward for us in terms of the singing, the sets, the orchestra and the resulting alchemy.

There is no resting on our laurels and the 2011 programme is even more ambitious with the milestone of our first ever staged Wagner Tristan & Isolde plus two nights with Bryn Terfel.

It all happens in a very personal intimate way and it all happens thanks to our generous patrons.

✁ 01962 73 73 60 www.grangeparkopera.co.uk info@grangeparkopera.co.uk

◗ THE OPER AS ◗ FUN NIGH TS ◗ REVI EWS ◗ BOO KING TICK E ◗ PERF ORM ANCE CALE NDA

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WHAT SOME SAID ABOUT 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES beautifully conceived and executed show THE GUARDIAN musical standards are impressively high THE SUNDAY TIMES GPO’s Tosca – the pick of the bunch THE OBSERVER superb musical performance, a triumph for Grange Park THE TIMES Grange Park Opera’s splendid cast – a fascinating production Madama Butterfly was marvellous The Hon. Mrs Wheeler-Bennett The production was fabulous and musically glorious Bill Brewer [Capriccio was] almost too powerful for words Rev’d Charles Pickstone Congratulations on the Love for 3 Oranges . . . a triumph Janice Chapman My congratulations on an absolutely superb Madama Butterfly Keith Hann

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We had not heard a better Tosca for many years Raymonde Jay Your Tosca is really superb . . . the most enjoyable of a very large number

that I have seen Rt. Hon. Michael Portillo The Tosca was as good a performance as anywhere in the world Lionel Rosenblatt

ETS ◗ SEAT ING PLANS ◗ AT THE OPER A ◗ GETT ING THER E AR ◗ WAY S TO SUPP ORT

RICHARD WAGNER

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T R ISTA N & ISOLDE MUSIC DRAMA IN THREE ACTS Text by the composer First performance Munich, 10 June 1865 Performances at Grange Park on June 3, 11, 17, 22, 25, 30 July 3 Sung in German with surtitles GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY JAMES HUDLESTON

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Princess Isolde, the reluctant bride of the king of Cornwall, drinks a potion of forgetfulness with her captor, the knight Tristan. But they are misled - they are drinking a drug of enduring love.

THE ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

“The most romantic, achingly puzzling, beautiful and shattering of pieces ever written” STEPHEN FRY

✁ CONDUCTOR Stephen Barlow DIRECTOR / DESIGNER David Fielding LIGHTING DESIGN Wolfgang Goebbel KING MARK of Cornwall Clive Bayley TRISTAN his nephew Richard Berkeley-Steele ISOLDE an Irish Princess Alwyn Mellor BRANGÄNE Sara Fulgoni KURWENAL Tristan’s retainer Stephen Gadd MELOT Andrew Rees A SHEPHERD / A SAILOR Richard Roberts

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ANTONIN DVORAK

RUSA LK A

LYRIC FAIRYTALE IN THREE ACTS

Text by Jaroslav Kvapil after Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué’s Undine First performance National Theatre, Prague, 31 March 1901 Performances at Grange Park on June 15, 18, 23, 26, 28 July 2, 4 Sung in Czech with surtitles SPONSORED BY ROSENBLATT RECITALS

CONDUCTOR Stephen Barlow DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Antony McDonald LIGHTING DESIGN Wolfgang Goebbel MOVEMENT Lucy Burge RUSALKA Anne-Sophie Duprels

The mermaid Rusalka has fallen in love with a human prince who bathes in the lake she inhabits. The witch will grant her wish of a human body – but without the power of speech. The two fall in love. At their wedding celebrations the prince is seduced by a Foreign Princess.

VODNIK her father Clive Bayley

THE ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

THE GAMEKEEPER James McOran-Campbell

THE PRINCE Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts A FOREIGN PRINCESS Janis Kelly JEZIBABA the witch Emma Carrington

KITCHEN BOY Karina Lucas 1ST NYMPH Joana Thomé

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WHAT SOME PAPERS SAID IN 2008 THE FINANCIAL TIMES Anne-Sophie Duprels offers a career-best performance THE SUNDAY TIMES Grange Park’s gem of a Rusalka gives the big boys something to think about . . . ranks as one of the best evenings I have spent in an opera house so far this year

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THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY For this extraordinary Rusalka, I would urge any opera-lover to borrow a bow-tie, remortgage, pack a sandwich and go THE DAILY TELEGRAPH a new peak of achievement for Grange Park

Search youtube Rusalka Grange Park

GIUSEPPE VERDI

R IGOLET TO OPERA IN THREE ACTS

Text by Francesco Maria Piave after Victor Hugo’s Le Roi s’amuse First performance Teatro la Fenice, Venice, 11 March 1851

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Performances at The Grange on June 2, 4, 10, 12, 16, 19, 21, 24 July 1 Sung in Italian with surtitles SPONSORED BY ICAP plc CONDUCTOR Toby Purser DIRECTOR Daniel Slater DESIGNER

Angela Davies CHOREOGRAPHER Ben Wright LIGHTING DESIGN Simon Mills

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“a joyous story, brilliantly told, full of dark heroes and shining heroines” STEPHEN FRY

THE DUKE OF MANTUA Mark Panuccio

RIGOLETTO Damiano Salerno

GILDA Laura Mitchell

SPARAFUCILE Timothy Dawkins

Verdi’s score, packed with melody, wrings out the tragedy of a father’s love for his daughter and her infatuation for a debonair man of status.

MONTERONE Andrew Greenan

THE ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

MADDALENA Carolyn Dobbin

GIOVANNA Karina Lucas

GIACOMO PUCCINI

TOSC A OPERA IN THREE ACTS

Text by Giacosa and Illica after the play by Victorien Sardo First performance Rome, 14 January 1900

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Performances at Nevill Holt given by the Rising Stars on July 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 Based on the 2010 production at The Grange Sung in Italian with surtitles

The opera singer Floria Tosca is devoted to her painter lover Mario Cavaradossi. The chief of police will do anything to win her.

He throws Cavaradossi into jail for harbouring a political activist and does a deal with Tosca. For everyone, the consequences are terrible.

THE ORCHESTRA OF NEVILL HOLT

CONDUCTOR Gianluca Marciano DIRECTOR Lindsay Posner DESIGNER

Peter McIntosh LIGHTING DESIGN Peter Mumford

CHOREOGRAPHER Nikki Woollaston

REVIVAL DIRECTOR Peter Relton CAST TO BE ANNOUNCED

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“what a setting – what a place” BRYN TERFEL

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TWO EVENINGS WITH

BRY N T ER FEL IN RECITAL WITH IAIN BURNSIDE

Bryn Terfel is one of the greatest singers in the world We are very lucky to have him return to Grange Park for two evenings in our intimate theatre

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Not only is it his voice, but also his intense presence that makes the occasion exceptional. He will sing a varied programme (including some lighter offerings) which will be announced on the website nearer the time.

29

J U N E J U N E

LED BY JAMES & BEATRICE LUPTON

27

SUPPORTED BY A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS

M o n D A Y SUPPORTED BY GEOFF & FIONA SQUIRE

W E D N E S D A Y

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WACK Y T I M ES . . .

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COMING TO THE OPER A should be fun so we earm ark SundayS and Tuesdays for the audience – including the men – to dress wackily (if there is such a word)

you could wear AM AZING SHOES or A CR AZY BOW TIE or STRIPES

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or ALL THREE SUNDAY 12 JUNE (Rigoletto) SUNDAY 19 JUNE (Rigoletto) TUESDAY 21 JUNE (Rigoletto) SUNDAY 26 JUNE (Rusalka) TUESDAY 28 JUNE (Rusalka) SUNDAY 3 JULY (Tristan) SUNDAY 10 JULY (Tosca at Nevill Holt) TUESDAY 12 JULY (Tosca at Nevill Holt)

✁ DENIS WIRTH–MILLER & RICHARD CHOPPING The wonderful creatures in this booklet come from a 1946 picture book called Heads Bodies Legs by Denis Wirth-Miller and Richard Chopping. It is one of their earliest works and they both went on to have prolific careers.

Author and illustrator, Richard Wasey Chopping (1917– 2008) is best known for his dust jackets of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels starting with From Russia with Love. He lived for over 60 years with Denis Wirth–Miller (b 1915) at Wivenhoe in Essex where they founded an artist community which counted Francis Bacon as a member. Wirth–Miller was one of Bacon’s closest friends and they worked together on a number of paintings in the 1950s.

In 2005 Denis Wirth-Miller and Richard Chopping were the first couple to register a Civil Partnership in Colchester.

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HOW to book t ick ets

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There is a separate booking form 1, Select the opera 2. State your 1st choice date (listed at the back and on–line) 3. State your preferred price We cannot guarantee first choices because some evenings get congested so . . HELP US TO PROCESS YOUR BOOKING QUICKLY by specifying alternative dates and prices. Please number your preferences clearly. We will assume that you would prefer different price band on your first choice date rather than your alternative dates.

If this is not the case, please write “change date not price” on the form

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GENERAL AND ONLINE BOOKING OPENS TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY BOX OFFICE TELEPHONE 01962 73 73 66 or 73 73 65 OTHER ENQUIRIES 01962 73 73 60 www.grangeparkopera.co.uk BOX OFFICE OPENING HOURS Normal box office hours Mon–Fri 9.30–5.30 Festival box office hours Mon–Fri 9.30–5.30 Sat & Sun 10–2 Box office manager Jan Tuffield

box@grangeparkopera.co.uk

GRANGE PARK OPERA BOX OFFICE, 24 BROAD STREET ALRESFORD SO24 9AQ

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IMPORTANT DATES Forms received by MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 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 OTHER ONLINE SERVICES

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Email confirmation on receipt of your booking form at the office Monthly e-newsletter, late ticket availability and returns Book tickets and dining on-line - early 2011

YOUNG PEOPLE’S TICKETS On selected nights we have some seats for younger people. Please register your email at the box office (box@grangeparkopera.co.uk) and we will be in touch with you in March METEORS £30 SEATS for the UNDER 30s ASTEROIDS £40 SEATS for the UNDER 40s MUSICAL CHAIRS FREE SEATS for young people who otherwise could not come to the opera. When you fill in the Booking Form you can make a contribution towards a free seat for a young person. We ask them to send you a thank you letter. This is the third year we have done this

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SE AT ING PL A NS THE THE ATRE AT G R ANGE PARK

On the website there is a plan and a moving 360 o tour of the theatre The white prices are for Rigoletto and Rusalka The yellow prices are for Bryn Terfel and Tristan

GRAND TIER BOXES are very spacious Box 2–8 8 seats + 2 stools £1,200 £1,400 When split: seat £130 £150 stool £80 £100

TIER SEATS £65 £80 (some with slightly restricted view)

Box 1,9 4 seats + 2 stools £570 £680 When split: seat £110 £130 stool £65 £80 1 (stools with slightly restricted view)

9 8 CIRCLE BOXES Box 3, 4 10 seats £1,100 £1,300 Box 1,2,5,6 8 seats £880 £1,040 When split: £110 £130

1

7

2

6

4

5

3

4

3

5

2

6

STALLS STOOLS £80 £100 stools are upholstered and have backs and a foot rest STALLS CIRCLE £110 £130

ORCHESTRA STALLS £110 £130 PATRON’S ROWS £130 £150 FRONT ORCHESTRA £110 £130 have a restricted view of the surtitle machine

SEAT WIDTHS If you are unable to fit into 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. The website covers this.

CONDITIONS OF SALE (i) If you are unable to use your tickets and we are unable to sell them, we will allow a member of staff to use them. This avoids gaps in the theatre. (ii) Tickets may only be used by the purchaser and may not be sold on (iii) Grange Park Opera is a charity. To make your ticket money work to our best advantage we have split the ticket prices into two parts: one part is a donation and the remainder is liable for VAT. The donation element at Nevill Holt it is £25–£45 and at The Grange it is £30–£70. By doing this there is no additional cost to ticket buyers and more of your ticket money can go towards the operas. Gift Aid regulations mean we can also claim a further amount per ticket from the Inland Revenue. This practice is used by many charities. Without the donation element, we are unable to cover the festival costs. We are legally bound, however, to point out that the donation element is optional (iv) Latecomers will not be admitted to the auditorium and there will be no re-admission, unless there is a suitable pause (v) The management reserves the right to refuse admission or change or cancel the advertised programme and artists TICKETS RETURNED FOR RESALE OR EXCHANGE Tickets may be returned for resale only after all other tickets have been sold. Please contact the box office to check availability prior to returning any tickets.

Grange Park Opera cannot guarantee the sale of any tickets returned regardless of availability or demand. Tickets may be accepted for exchange subject to availability (a minimum of 72 hours notice is required).

RETURNS POLICY Resold tickets are subject to a one-off £10 administration fee, regardless of how many tickets are resold. Monies owed will be ON ACCOUNT for use during the 2012 Festival. It is not possible to issue cheque refunds against resold tickets.

VERY IMPORTANT: You will NOT be notified of a successful resale or an unsuccessful resale prior to the performance. Please ensure you contact the Box Office to check the status of your tickets.

WHEELCHAIRS At The Grange, the wheelchair spaces are in Stalls Circle.

At Nevill Holt they are in Row A.

THE THE ATRE AT NE VILL HOLT Rear Circle le

irc ide C

Front Circle

S

Stalls

Patron’s Rows

PATRON’S ROW £90 STALLS & CIRCLE £75 REAR CIRCLE £50

Side

Circ

le

AT T HE OPER A

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A PICTURE (OR A FILM CLIP) SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS . . .

The website’s film clips include picnic locations, the restaurants, the garden at Nevill Holt and there are many more Guests arrive from 3.30 pm to enjoy a glass of champagne before the performance which begins at 5.20 (4.20 for Tristan).

In 2011 we will introduce some more elaborate TEA & CAKES The 100 minute interval allows for stylish dining in either the restaurant or Indian pavilions.

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Most guests wear evening dress (black tie/long or short dress). Men who do not wish to wear black tie may opt for any stylish alternative.

On Sundays and Tuesdays we encourage the audience to be wacky in their dress (see page 12) The crumbling splendour at The Grange, nestling in an Arcadian landscape, conceals a jewel of a theatre with uniquely levitating chandeliers shimmering with Swarovski crystals.

Nevill Holt has much to invite exploration: the walled kitchen garden with its dipping well and peach houses, the Italian garden with its loggia, the mediaeval cloisters and a spectacular view across the valley.

AT THE GRANGE THE DINING OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1 Dine in the restaurant inside the famous mansion. Sparkling chandeliers combined with crumbling splendour provide a dramatic and unique atmosphere 2 Dine in a private dining room in the mansion 3 Picnic in a private pavilion OR the long marquee OR the Maharini tent OR anywhere in the gardens. Picnickers are offered the following optional services ❉ tables & chairs ❉ a porter to carry your picnic ❉ china & cutlery for your own picnic ❉ the picnic itself (in which case we also provide crockery & cutlery).

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AT NEVILL HOLT THE DINING OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1 Dine in the North Lawn Restaurant 2 Picnic in a private pavilion OR the long marquee OR anywhere in the gardens. Picnickers are offered the following optional services ❉ tables & chairs ❉ a porter to carry your picnic ❉ china & cutlery for your own picnic MENUS, WINE LISTS AND BOOKING FORMS will be sent with your tickets OR you can book online MOBILITY ASSISTANCE (a) An able-bodied person must accompany each guest without good mobility (b) We ask you to indicate on the Booking Form the kind of seating you require. The Grand Tier is not suitable as there are many stairs DOGS IN CARS The head of the car park will take care of your dog for the evening for a modest charge.

HELICOPTERS By arrangement with the Opera Office

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GET T ING TO US GRANGE PARK

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SAT NAV SO24 9TG

is between the M3 and A31 north–east of Winchester.

The nearest village is Northington. NOTE There are two entrances to the Park. The West entrance is used by M3 travellers and the East entrance (on B3046) by A31/Alresford travellers. Once you are close by, follow brown and yellow road signs. Your Sat Nav could send you around the edge of the Park.

TRAINS & TAXIS The closest station is Winchester. There are generally taxis available, however you may wish to book in advance % Wintax 01962 878727 % Carlton cars 01962 878785 % Frances Taxis 01962 884343 % Wessex Cars 01962 877749

NEVILL HOLT

SAT NAV LE16 8EG

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is between the M1 and the A1, north–east of Market Harborough and south-west of Uppingham. The nearest village is Medbourne.

TRAINS & TAXIS The closest station is Market Harborough. Taxis should be booked in advance % A & B Murphys 01858 410210 % Kwik Cabs 01858 468777 % 1st Select Cabs 01858 468500 YOU CAN DOWNLOAD MAPS FROM THE WEBSITE AND WE SEND A PRINTED MAP WITH YOUR TICKETS

A NIGHT IN T HE COUN T RY

G R ANG E PARK FAVOURITE S % % % % % % %

Lime Wood: 023 80 287171 Chewton Glen 01425 275341 Hotel du Vin, Winchester 01962 841 414 Lainston House, Sparsholt 01962 776 088 Tylney Hall, Basingstoke 01256 764 881 Woolpack Inn, Northington 0845 293 8066 Bell Hotel, Alresford 01962 732 429

NE VILL HOLT FAVOURITE S % % % % %

Hambleton Hall 01572 756 991 Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray 01572 787 000 Angel Hotel, Mkt Harborough 01858 462 702 Barnsdale Lodge, Exton, Oakham 01572 724 678 Rushton Hall, Rushton, Kettering 01536 713 001

âœ

PER FOR M A NCE C A LENDA R (WITH GLYNDEBOURNE AND GARSINGTON UNDERNEATH)

Mon

Tue

Wed

Fri

Sat

30

31

1 JUNE

RIGOLETTO

TRISTAN

RIGOLETTO

-

DON GIOVANNI -

-

MEISTERSINGER FLUTE

6

7

8

9

MEISTERSINGER TURCO

-

DON GIOVANNI -

13

14

TURCO

Sun

4

5

DON GIOVANNI TURCO

FLUTE

DON GIOVANNI -

RIGOLETTO

TRISTAN

RIGOLETTO

ELISIR -

MEISTERSINGER -

DON GIOVANNI FLUTE

ELISIR -

RUSALKA

RIGOLETTO

TRISTAN

RUSALKA

RIGOLETTO

MEISTERSINGER -

-

FLUTE

ELISIR -

MEISTERSINGER TURCO

DON GIOVANNI -

RIGOLETTO

TRISTAN

RUSALKA

RIGOLETTO

TRISTAN

RUSALKA

VIVALDI

FLUTE

MEISTERSINGER -

DON GIOVANNI VIVALDI

ELISIR TURCO

DON GIOVANNI VIVALDI

MEISTERSINGER -

BRYN TERFEL

RUSALKA

BRYN TERFEL

TRISTAN

RIGOLETTO

RUSALKA

TRISTAN

FLUTE

DON GIOVANNI TURCO

VIVALDI

ELISIR -

DON GIOVANNI VIVALDI

RINALDO FLUTE

ELISIR TURCO

TOSCA

TOSCA

7

8

TOSCA

TOSCA

-

DON GIOVANNI

ELISIR

-

ELISIR

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20

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Thu

27

RUSALKA

21

28

4

5

VIVALDI

FLUTE

11

TOSCA

12

DON GIOVANNI

15

22

29

6

2

16

23

30

3

10

17

24

1 JULY

11

18

25

2

9

12

19

26

3

10

START TIMES

Performances begin at 5.20 except Tristan which begins at 4.20

WACKY TIMES

On Sundays and Tuesdays, some of the audience wear something wacky: AMAZING SHOES or CRAZY BOW TIE or STRIPES or all of them. See page 12 for more

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TRISTAN

RIGOLETTO

RUSALKA

EXPLANATION . . .

Grange Park performances are colour coded

BRYN TERFEL

date of Grange Park performance

Glyndebourne performance in white Garsington performance in brown

Performances of Tosca are at Nevill Holt (see p9)

TOSCA

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SUPPORT Opera is an expensive business.

We do not receive a penny of public subsidy and our artistic ambitions are growing. We want our operas to be as good as they possibly can be.

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It is the generosity of individuals, foundations and companies that has got us to where we are. If you are not already part of the family, please think about it.

Individual donors support us in the following ways ANNUAL SUPPORT starts at £175. (Around 1,000 people support in this way) SPONSOR AN ARTIST with a gift of between £2,000 – £10,000.

You will be invited to watch a working rehearsal and glimpse the process that leads to the opening night when you have a glass of champagne with your artist. (Around 40 people do this) SPONSOR AN ARIA If there is a particular aria that you love (for example the Liebestod in Tristan), your name can be attached to it.

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MUSICAL CHAIRS When you book seats, you can make a contribution towards a free seat for a young person who otherwise would not come to the opera. We ask them to send you a thank you letter. This is the third year of this initiative.

SCHOLARSHIPS help our younger artists pay for costly singing lessons. We invite gifts starting from £500.

AND FINALLY . . . JOIN THE CURTAINS CLUB The office has simple wording for a codicil to your Will leaving Grange Park Opera a legacy. It is a wonderful gift for future generations of music lovers and is highly tax efficient.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU