41036 wgh opera season brochure 2021b

2021

41036 wgh_Opera season brochure 2021b 30/04/2021 13:42

Book Now on www.westgreenhouseopera.co.uk or call 01252 848676

Illustration of our new Theatre designed by Fielden CleggBradley Studios.



After a year of huge uncertainty foreveryone in the Arts, we have beenworking tirelessly at West Green HouseOpera to bring you a wonderful but safeseason of opera and concerts this July!

We are delighted to announce that thisyear will be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacularfor our audiences. We are moving ourentire programmed season to the LakeField at West Green House Gardens, withall the staged and concert performancestaking place on a specially constructedstage on the island in the middle of ourlake! You can look forward to exquisitelighting in our beautiful gardens as abackdrop to our stunning performanceswith a state-of-the-art sound system.

Tchaikovsky’s “EUGENE ONEGIN” haslong been on our wish list to perform andwe are delighted that such a noteddirector as John Ramster will direct. TheRussian specialist Lada Valesova willconduct our orchestra for the first time.Besides its beautiful music, dance isintegral to this opera and so ballet comesto our stage. Another first!

Long ignored and nearly forgotten untilrecently, Puccini’s light and lustrous “LARONDINE” (The Swallow) is a re-discovered gem. Under the direction ofRichard Studer with Jonathan Lynessconducting (our wonderful nearly in-houseteam who have been with us since theopera’s inception in 1990) have created awhimsical and witty production.

Set in Paris at the time of La Belle Epoch isthe Lerner and Loewe musical of “GIGI”,which will be performed “In Concert”under the direction of ChristopherLuscombe, a director we have longed towelcome to West Green House Opera.

Then we are thrilled that the magnificentChapel Choir of Winchester College willsupport soloists from “The Sixteen”, KirstyHopkins and Mark Dobell, in bringing forthe first time Howard Goodall’s“INVICTUS: A PASSION” to our stage.This piece is fifty-five minutes long and willbe the principal piece in a full evening ofwonderful choral music.

Our informal Lunchtime Concerts will thisyear take place in our Green House, whereour principal artists perform their favouritesongs and Tom Lowe presents his “Aroundthe World in 18 Arias”, featuring acompilation of arias we all love, inspired bythe adventures of Phileas Fogg.

Finally, at long last we are able to confirmthat Roberto Recchia will come to Englandto bring his internationally acclaimedproduction of Pergolesi’s mini masterpieceLa Serva Padrona (The Maid as Mistress). Agrumpy old bachelor is in love and in thrallto his maid and decides he must ridhimself of her to cure him of his ardour.BUT the feisty and ingenious maid has herown ideas about who’s boss!

This is an hilarious treat that’s not to bemissed!


Theatre on the LakeSaturday 24th July Sunday 25th July7pm

Composer: Giacomo PucciniLibretto: Giuseppe AdamiDirector/Designer: Richard StuderConductor: Jonathan LynessWest Green House Orchestra

An opera in three Acts Sung in ItalianSurtitles

La Rondine was commissioned bythe Karlstheatre, Vienna to be anoperetta but Puccini counteredand delivered instead a comicopera in 1913.

The event of World War 1 causedthe premiere to be transferred toMonte Carlo where it was initiallysuccessful, but was thendenounced by the French Press asan “enemy opera“ and closed. Ithas only been in recent years thatthis “gem“, as Puccini described it,has been rediscovered.

Set against the glamour of earlytwentieth century Paris, the scoreis influenced by the times’ populardance rhythms. The elegant


LA RONDINE Magda and her lover dance to afoxtrot and the rhythms of thewaltz, the polka and the tango areall interwoven into Puccini’ssoaring melodies.

This work is sometimes likened toLa Traviata for it is again a lovestory between a lady with a pastand a young, innocent man. HereMagda knows this love isunsuitable so like the Swallow (LaRondine) she flies away.

Ticket prices: Saturday July 24th - £160 / £120 / £95 / £75 Sunday July 25th - £140 / £120 / £95 / £75

Interval Dining 70 Minutes



EUGENE ONEGIN

This opera’s beautiful music, verymuch based on Russian folkmelodies and its enchanting dancescenes, is a work we have longwished to stage at West GreenHouse.

Ticket prices: Saturday July 31st - £160 / £120 / £95 / £75 Sunday August 1st - £140 / £120 / £95 / £75

Interval dining 70 minutes

Theatre on the LakeSaturday 31st July Sunday 1st August6pm

Composer: Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyLibrettist: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovskybased on a story by AlexanderPushkinDirector: John RamsterDesigner: Richard StuderConductor: Lada ValesovaWest Green House Orchestra

An opera in three Acts Sung in RussianSurtitles

This is Tchaikovsky’s best lovedopera; a journey from what couldhave been to what might havebeen.

We meet a young Tatyana quietlyliving in the country, till thedashing Onegin arrives, coldlyrejecting her young love.

Years later a sad and depressedOnegin again meets Tatyana, nowmarried and part of the RussianImperial Court; only this time it isshe who rejects him.



Theatre on the LakeFriday 23rd July7pm

Composer: Howard GoodallDirector: Howard Ionascu

In what is to be a major productionfor West Green House Opera,Howard Goodall’s emotionallycharged Choral/Orchestral work,‘Invictus: a Passion’, comes to usunder the direction of HowardIonascu with the fifty voices of TheChapel Choir of WinchesterCollege.

With soloists from “The Sixteen”,Kirsty Hopkins and Mark Dobelland a Chamber Orchestra, this

work addresses the universalmessages contained in one of themost powerful religious stories.

‘Invictus’ will be the principal workin this evening’s programme ofchoral music.

Howard Goodall is one of Britain’sbest known composers of choralmusic but we also know him for hisTV and film scores, especially suchshows as “The Vicar of Dibley”,“QI”, “Mr Bean” and “Blackadder“.

Ticket prices:Friday July 23rd £75 / £65 / £55

Please note: There will not be a long dininginterval but a short 20 minute interval.

INVICTUS: A PASSION



Theatre on the LakeFriday 30th July7pm

Composer: Frederick LoeweBook and Lyrics: Alan Jay LernerBased on a novella by ColetteDirector: Christopher LuscombeConductor: Anthony KrausOrchestra: The BritishPhilharmonic Concert Orchestra

‘Gigi’ is about a scandalousromantic young love but it is also ahard look at the business realitiesof life.

The young Gigi is being trained inthe family business to become askilled high society courtesan thatcan choose the perfect cigar orjudge a genuine gem. But is thisthe life for her? A family friend,the older but rich and handsomeboulevardier Gaston, finds thatGigi is the only “non boring”woman he knows!

Set in the decadent but elegant1900’s Paris, this all-time favouritemusical is filled with such beloved

tunes as the effervescent “TheNight They Invented Champagne”,the romantic “Gigi”, the nostalgic“Ah, I Remember It Well“ and theclassic “Thank Heaven For LittleGirls.”

Ticket prices:Friday, 30th July £85 / £75 / £65

Interval dining 70 minutes

GIGI IN CONCERT



The Lake Field 28th July 2021 12pm

Composer: Giovanni BattistaPergolesi Libretto: Gennaro Federico afterthe play by Jacopo Angello Nelli Director: Roberto Recchia

A grumpy old bachelor is in loveand in thrall to his maid anddecides he must rid himself of herto cure him of his ardour.

BUT the feisty and ingenious maidhas her own ideas about who’sboss!

Roberto Recchia’s riotousproduction of Pergolesi’s miniaturemasterpiece La Serva Padrona(The Maid as Mistress) will haveyou laughing until it hurts!

This is an absolute gem and not tobe missed!

Ticket price:£55 adults

LA SERVA PADRONA

You are welcome to bring yourown picnic or why not book one ofour West Green Picnics orAfternoon Tea in a Box to eat atyour table?


Photo credit: Robert Day


AROUND THE WORLD IN 18 ARIAS GreenhouseSaturday 24th July Saturday 31st July12 noon (the gardens close at 4pm)

Based on Phileas Fogg’s epicjourney, we are delighted topresent a rollicking hour of opera,operetta and song from across theglobe.

We begin in Paris with a song atMaxim’s, then on to Japan withPuccini, Kurt Weill's Berlin andmany more destinations formusical bon-bons sung by SimoneIbbett-Brown, a singer we are sopleased to welcome to WestGreen and Tom Lowe a favourite

on our Opera stage. It’s a showthat will appeal to the seasonedopera lover and the novice alike.

Do bring a picnic to enjoy by thelake in the designated area by theMr Mann statue. Please bringpicnic blankets or tables and chairs.Alternatively reserve a table in oneof our Lakeside Pavilions for yourpicnic or book one of our WestGreen Picnics or Afternoon Tea in abox. Gardens close at 4pm. Tablesavailable 11am to 3pm £55.

Ticket prices: £35 adults / £15 children



GreenhouseSunday 25th JulySunday 1st August12 noon (the gardens close at 4pm)

At 12 noon the music commencesand we invite you to join us in theGreenhouse for an hour longconcert in the company of some ofthe principals from this season’sWest Green House Opera (twosingers each Sunday) as theypresent a concert of their favouritemusic from opera to musicals,accompanied by a guest pianist.

There is no better way to spend arelaxed and informal Sunday in thisglorious Garden setting and tointroduce the younger members ofthe family to the music we all love.

Do bring a picnic to enjoy by thelake in the designated area by theMr Mann statue. Please bringpicnic blankets or tables and chairs.Alternatively reserve a table in oneof our Lakeside Pavilions for yourpicnic or book one of our WestGreen Picnics or Afternoon Tea in abox. Gardens close at 4pm. Tablesavailable 11am to 3pm £55.

Ticket prices:£35 adults / £15 children

THE LUNCHTIME PROMS



YOUR WEST GREEN HOUSEOPERA EXPERIENCEALL PERFORMANCES AREUNDERCOVER

• Arriving and ParkingWe have a large car park adjacent tothe garden with level paths into thegarden. Our “Opera Angels” and ourWest Green House Golf Buggies, willbe on hand to assist anyone withmobility difficulties and to bring youand your picnics to the Lakeside for abeautiful evening of music and dining.

• Dress CodeOur preferred dress code for eveningperformances is Black Tie. The dresscode for daytime events is SmartCasual.

BEFORE THE OPERA

• Afternoon Tea in a box is availablefor pre-booking to be collected at5pm. Please call 01252 844611 tobook.

• Gin by the lake - There is time to enjoya glass of our own West Green Housegin infused with herbs and flowers fromthe garden and stroll around the fourwalled gardens at West Green House, avisitor attraction in their own right andregarded as one of England’s finest.

• Discover the gardens - You may wishto stroll further and discover theclassical gardens with follies andchinoiserie bridges that follow the lakeor see the greenhouses bursting withflowers.

• Toilets are located in the AliceCourtyard, and in the Lakefield.

PERFORMANCES COMMENCE

La Rondine 7pmEugene Onegin 6pmGigi in concert 7pmLa Serva Padrona 12pmInvictus: a Passion 7pm

THEATRES

For this year only, the theatres are bythe lake and in the greenhouse.



INTERVAL DINING

• The West Green House Opera Picnicoffers three delicious courses, freshlyprepared by our West Green Housechefs, ready for your collection. Forthe full menu, visitwww.westgreenhouseopera.co.uk. Tobook please call 01252 844611.

• Bring your own Picnic All ticketholders are welcome to bring theirown picnics into the Gardens andenjoy it at their table.

Refunds and Exchanges – Tickets willonly be refunded, shared or exchangedin exceptional circumstances. If anexchange or alteration is agreed it will besubject to a £10 handling charge.

YOUR WEST GREEN HOUSEOPERA EXPERIENCE

COVID-19 STATEMENT

Like everyone in the field of theperforming arts, we are carefullymonitoring the COVID-19 situation andwill take all possible measures thissummer to ensure the safety ofaudiences, performers and staff in linewith Public Health England’s guidance.Our seating arrangements andprogramme may be modified to adhereto the most current governmentguidelines in place in 2021.

In view of the above we are unable tohost the Aria Club or provide Fine Diningthis Opera Season.



GARDEN MAP



AFTER THE PERFORMANCE

The after-show spectacular – followingthe performance, the gardens aremagnificently lit to become a show intheir own right. Please do allow time toenjoy our “extra performance” beforeheading home.

The lighting is designed each year byNeil Daykin and his team, turning thelake, fountains and gardens into aglittering illuminated wonderland. Thereis also time for a final hot coffee or fizzbefore our gardens shut at 11pm.



SUPPORT US

West Green House Opera aims topresent opera of the highest standardsin the intimate surroundings of one ofEngland’s finest manor house gardens.We are committed to showcasing andencouraging emerging musical talentalongside established performers,directors and conductors.

West Green House Opera receives nofunding from the government so werely on ticket revenue and thegenerosity of our Patrons and Friends.During the past year, we re-launchedthe membership programme and areoffering a number of excitingopportunities to join the West GreenHouse Opera family.

The Friends Scheme is an ideal way tobecome involved with West Green. Foras little as £100 annually,Friends receive Priority Booking beforethe general public as well as Friendscommunications and advance notice ofan exciting array of events at WestGreen House.

The Patrons Scheme: with annualmembership starting at just £250, ourPatrons enjoy Priority Booking fromNovember each year as well as Patronsevents and a membership office tohandle your bookings and enquiries inperson.

The Abbott Circle comprises a specialgroup of supporters who each yeargenerously contribute to our work.Members enjoy a tailored relationshipwith West Green House Opera, such asbeing closely involved in our work withemerging artists and our productions.

Membership support has always been acrucial part of our success and we needit now more than ever if we are tocontinue to grow and develop WestGreen House Opera. Please join ourfamily!

For more details on supporting ourwork, please contact us on 01252848676, by [email protected] orwww.westgreenhouseopera.co.uk/support


www.westgreenhouseopera.co.uk

West Green HouseThackhams LaneHartley WintneyHantsRG27 8JB

BOX OFFICE 01252 848676

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La Cenerentola 2019


41036 wgh opera season brochure 2021b

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