Every Summer a bit of Glyndebourne comes to London. As the big companies pack up for the season, Holland Park becomes the setting for an ever-expanding programme of operas that can be enjoyed with a picnic among the peacocks who fill the park with their cries. This year OHP has a characteristically enterprising line-up which includes some old favourites and a couple of more unusual offerings.
The season gets off to a start with Verdi's Nabucco (5-23 June) directed by John Fulljames. This alternates (6-22 June) with Janacek's powerful Jenufa, with Anne Sophie Duprels in the title role and Aldo di Toro (impressive in last year's Fedora) as Steva.
A charity gala on 10 July will be Il barbiere di Siviglia(30 June-14 July), directed by Tim Carroll, an eminent theatre director with a long history of opera productions as well. If he does with Rossini's crowd-pleaser what he did for Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's The Globe a few years ago, it'll be a winner. This will play in repertoire with Delibes' seldom-performed Lakme (3-15 July), although everyone knows a tune or two from it (The Flower Duet and Bell Song). The appropriately-named Alison Bell plays the title role.
Another popular favourite is La Traviata (24 July – 11 August), which Elaine Kidd will direct with Kate Ladner as the ailing heroine and Sean Ruane as Alfredo. If the Proms hasn't claimed all your evenings by this time, you might want to give L'amore dei tre Re (27 July – 10 August) a try. This is the real rarity of the season, a slice of verismo tragedy with a Puccinian feel. Written by Italo Montemezzi, it was first performed in 1913 and has a juicy cast, including the much-feted young soprano Amanda Echalaz (currently playing Tatiana in ETO's Eugene Onegin) and tenor Julian Gavin. Tickets for this are sure to be in demand, so book early or miss out.
All operas are sung in the original language with surtitles. They are performed under a canopy so if you choose a date that turns out to have typically British weather, you'll stay dry.
Tickets prices range from £10-£46 and are bookable from 10 April on 0845 230 9769 or online at www.operahollandpark.com (booking fee for both).
Opera Holland Park is now sponsored by Korn Ferry International.
