Opera Holland Park

To give you a taste of what to expect from our upcoming 2018 Gala (taking place on 14 November at Drapers' Hall), we've put together a gallery of images from our sparkling 2017 Gala. You can find out more about the 2018 Gala here: http://bit.ly/2Af2kid
Images by © Ludovic Robert for Opera Holland Park

Over the bank holiday weekend, our film #HipHop2Opera will be shown on London Live, so make sure you tune in. You can see it at 5pm on Sunday 26 and 2pm on Monday 27 August.

With the Season over, we've started our theatre pack down up at the site. The seating stand is being dismantled and put into storage until #OHP2019, and all the lighting and electrics have been packed away.

Over the summer, we caught up with some of the people who help to make our OHP Seasons run smoothly. One of those was George Jackson, #OHPCosi Associate Conductor. In this video he talks about what his job entails, how he got into conducting, and shares a favourite piece of career advice.

Help us learn more about our audiences for the #OHP2018 Season by filling in this short survey. It should only take five minutes, and you could win four tickets to the first night of one of our 2019 productions! https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QH2SSF2< br>

Now that the #OHP2018 Season has come to a close, we've put together a short blogpost recapping all our favourite highlights from the summer, covering everything from the four mainstage productions to our Inspire programmes. Take a look at everything that's been going on here: http://bit.ly/2mWDrOz

On Wednesday 13 June 2018, we invited almost 1000 children from local schools to come to our inaugural schools matinee, a performance of La traviata by our 2018 Young Artists. Many of the children attending had never been to an opera before, and we spoke to them and the performers involved about their experiences of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goRW0kK4x 6Q

On 13 June, at Opera Holland Park's Hope For Grenfell Memorial Gala in aid of Rugby Portobello Trust, a choir of 200 children and adults from the community, alongside our own chorus, performed ‘Help Me Believe’ – a new piece commissioned by OHP with words and music by Will Todd and Gareth Malone.
Created through a series of workshops over the last few months as part of OHP's Inspire Project, the song is meaningful to the members of the community, who helped write the words, d...escribing their hopes for the future and their desire for remembrance.
Full credits:
‘Help Me Believe’ Conducted by Gareth Malone and performed by the company and the community Created from workshops with members of the Grenfell Community and Opera Holland Park’s Inspire Project Soloists: Ivana Cabagan, Avondale Park Primary School and Alessandro MacKinnon, Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School Words and music by Gareth Malone and Will Todd
See More

The Luna Cinema is coming to Opera Holland Park tomorrow! We've got three screenings of cinematic favourites: The Italian Job with live orchestra on Wednesday 1 August, Notting Hill on Thursday 2 August and Murder on the Orient Express on Friday 3 August. There are still some tickets left, and you can book here: http://www.operahollandpark.com/luna-cine ma-2018/

We've loved having the UK premiere production of #OHPIsabeau on our stage. Here's a look back at some of our favourite images from rehearsals, backstage and the production itself, thanks to our photographers Ali Wright and Robert Workman.

Last night saw the closing night of our "world-class" production of #OHPAriadne. Here's a collage featuring some of our favourite moments from the run, thanks to our brilliant photographers Ali Wright and Robert Workman.

Last week we headed backstage ahead of a performance of Isabeau. From building the set to last minute rehearsals, we captured everything that goes on before the show begins, and we hope you enjoy this sneak peek behind the scenes.
Photos by © Ali Wright for Opera Holland Park.

Last week we went behind the scenes ahead of a performance of #OHPAriadne to see how our singers prepare for Strauss’s backstage comedy. Take a look at the work of the make up, wigs and costume departments, and lots more with this new photo gallery.
Photos by © Ali Wright for Opera Holland Park.

There's just one week to go until the inaugural SWAP'ra Gala, which will take place on Tuesday 31 July at Opera Holland Park. The event will be a celebration of women in opera, and in this video some of the supporters and founders of SWAP'ra tell you why it's not to be missed. See the phenomenal gala line up and book tickets here: http://www.operahollandpark.com/swapra-ga la-2018/

Tomorrow is the OHP Open Day for 2018! Join us between 12-5pm and get an insight into what we get up to at OHP. Try conducting our orchestra, see some of our gorgeous costumes, sing in our scratch chorus, and get a taster of one of our Inspire projects, plus plenty more! Also, if you share a photo of yourself at the event with #OHPOpenDay you could win 2 tickets to one of our upcoming Luna Cinema screenings!

We asked some of our audience members what they thought of our new production of Ariadne auf Naxos. Here's what they said!
A limited number of tickets are still available for #OHPAriadne on Saturday 21 July and Friday 27 July: http://bit.ly/2lzzuPa

The brilliant Alex Otterburn, Harlequin in #OHPAriadne, singing at Leighton House Museum last week. Ariadne auf Naxos is on at OHP until Friday 27 July, with limited tickets available for Saturday 21 and Friday 27 July only: http://bit.ly/2lzzuPa

The first Richard Strauss opera to be performed at Opera Holland Park, Ariadne auf Naxos, opened on 17 July 2018. Get a glimpse of the Scottish Opera co-production with these images from the show.
Photos by © Robert Workman and Ali Wright for Opera Holland Park

Tonight and tomorrow at 5.30pm we have our final two pre-show talks of #OHP2018. Tonight we're joined by Mascagni biographer Roger Flury, who will be examining the history of Mascagni's forgotten opera. Tomorrow opera critic and Strauss biographer Tim Ashley will be talking to us about the wit and poignancy of this Viennese backstage comedy. Entry is free and you don't need a ticket to the evening's opera to come, however we recommend booking ahead for the talks: http://bit.ly/2r2PEUo

Zaza - Holland Park Opera



Leoncavallo is remembered by most for just one opera, Pagliacci in 1892. Yet he regarded Zaza (1900) as the better score. Since the opera's subject concerns the lives of artists scratching a living in Parisian music halls where Leoncavallo himself spent many of his early years working as a struggling artist, his own life experience and the fact that he wrote the libretto lends authenticity to this verisimo opera.



The score is full of Parisian art nouveau colour and even minor characters are painted vividly.



As a work it is by no means perfect. The wonderful first act requires concentration; there is so much detailed 'action' setting the scene, both in the score and enhanced by the complex opening set designed by Alyson Cummins.



The second act loses some focus and would have benefitted from a re-visit by the composer to tighten the flow.



It is in Acts 3 and 4 where those expecting verisimo are richly rewarded with a score of agonising poignancy and drama.



In the hands of the superb direction of Marie Lambert and the sensitive conducting of Peter Robinson the story leaps to life from the first notes.



An alcoholic mother, who despite her addled brain still sees early the inevitable hopelessness of the love affair long before her daughter, a loyal dresser, a supportive yet jealous ex lover, a total shit of a lover using an almost heroic female music hall singer and each individual chorus member given a clear character; Lambert brings to vivid and uncomfortable life a sad human story.



Joel Montero convinces as the gilded turd of a lover. Richard Burkhard is a rich voiced supportive ex lover. But it falls to Anne Sophie Duprels, a Holland Park regular, to provide a full throated and tortured portrayal of a love affair doomed from the outset.



This was a triumph for OHP to whom we should be grateful for bringing this work once again to light.

Would recommend this venue to everyone. Such a wonderful setting - I've seen some truly magical and memorable performances here. A great place to take an opera 'virgin' too as it's that bit less formal. You can book a picnic table and pack your own goodies to including your own alcohol which, as long as you have plastic wine glasses, you can take into the performance - makes a superb evening's entertainment.

What a magical experience for children and adults , a truly beautiful cast, each one bringing magic and excitement to that classic tale. The music was wonderful, well worth a visit. Fflur Wyn you area delight to watch on stage!

Went to see ‘La Traviata’, the young artists’ performance and it was brilliant. Highly recommend it and what a wonderful setting

We live adjacent to Holland Park, and every summer we love to hear such beautiful singing whilst walking through the park on summer evenings. This year attending The Queen of Spades.

This is a unique and magical experience. Maybe opera lovers might complain about bits and bobs but overall is the highlight of my summer in London. I wouldn't miss it for the world/

This charming opera was a delight to the eyes and ears marred only by the chilly wind and the thought of what the election result might be!

They really upped their game in recent years. Wonderful venue and great atmosphere. OK, you don't get the top talent singing as you find at Glyndebourne but you won't feel short-changed either. Go, have fun, enjoy marvellous setting of Holland Park and you get 3 hours of top entertainment for only £50 a ticket.

OHP is a fantastic venue and great for Opera virgins because it's not stuffy. Been going for years and have seen some amazing productions. All part of my summer every year �

My husband and myself went to see La Traviata Young Artists performance...it was amazing! Wonderful singing throughout.....the world of opera is in safe hands if this is anything to go by!

I went to see Die Fledermaus tonight with my family. It was superb, my hands are still hurting from my clapping - loved it, thank you.

Great performance for a small stage. This was a gala performance in aid of Child Bereavement UK. Please visit their web site, they such good work , so please donate.

Don't think opera is for the rich and famous. Everyone can enjoy OHP and I suggest you try it if you haven't already.

Great social night out or make a day of it with a picnic in the park before the show.

You'll never know if you don't try it.

Brilliant Young Artists performance of Don Giovanni last night. Edge of my seat from start to finish.

Beautiful venue and evening. We were visiting from Australia �

A terrific performance of La Rondine by the whole company, in particular Elizabeth Llewellyn and Matteo Lippi. We would highly recommend an evening here in this magical spot. This was a brilliant first night.

A fantastic performance of Don Giovanni on Saturday night.,sensational cast magical orchestra.. and as usual a wonderful evening. The set worked very well and we were transported on to the cruise ship... What an incredible way to start our summer... it's a not to be missed production.. as always.. Holland Park Opera, you have done it again.

As always a beautiful venue and I love coming to the opera here. I'm no snob however a few people got up and came back in during the performance and came in late after the interval. There was an announcement before about latecomers not being admitted. Just saying.

Without a doubt that is the worse interpretation of Suor Angelica I have ever seen and I am appalled that a professional director can not come anywhere near the standard of the performance given by the Farnborough College 6th form girls - not much point in there being a score if it is not followed and Puccini's ideas where completely ignored.

The players and singers tried hard, but could not save this awful production.

If they had been selling a product, it would be return as not fit for purpose.