Opera Holland Park
{{Short description|Opera company in London, England}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2015}}
File:Opera Holland Park (9518830098).png
Opera Holland Park is a summer opera company which produces an annual season of opera performances, staged under a temporary canopy in front of the remains of Holland House, a Blitz-damaged building in Holland Park, west central London.
City of London Sinfonia has held the position of resident orchestra since 2003.{{Cite web |title=Opera Holland Park’s 2024 season begins on 28 May – Seen and Heard International |url=https://seenandheard-international.com/2024/03/opera-holland-parks-2024-season-begins-on-28-may/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=seenandheard-international.com}}
Opera Holland Park was named by Hugh Canning as best opera company in his 'best and worst in classical and opera 2010' in The Sunday Times.{{Cite web |last=Canning |first=Hugh |date=2010-12-26 |title=The best (and worst) in classical and opera |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/classical-opera/article/the-best-and-worst-in-classical-and-opera-pv38rn7hw38 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}
The front of house space was used as a location in Woody Allen's 2010 film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-04 |title=You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger Filming Locations – London, UK – The Woody Allen Pages |url=https://www.woodyallenpages.com/2017/08/will-meet-tall-dark-stranger-filming-locations-london-uk/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |language=en-US}}
Theatre and canopy structure
The current theatre canopy was designed in 2007 by Architen Landrell and Hall + Bednarczyk and covers an area of 1600 square metres.{{Cite web |last=Landrell |first=Architen |date=2007-04-27 |title=A New Canopy for Opera Holland Park |url=https://www.architen.com/2007/04/a-new-canopy-for-opera-holland-park-2/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Architen Landrell |language=en}} It is completely free standing and designed to be craned into position over three days, followed by a fit-out period of two weeks.{{Cite web |title=Opera Holland Park – Hall + Bednarczyk Architects |url=https://www.hallbednarczyk.com/portfolio/opera-holland-park/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |language=en-GB}} The inside layout was re-design to meet Covid-19 restrictions in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Durrant |first=Nancy |date=2021-05-11 |title=Encore! How Opera Holland Park is rebuilding after the pandemic |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/opera/how-opera-holland-park-rebuilding-covid-pandemic-london-b932204.html |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The Standard |language=en}}
Opera Holland Park came into conflict with locals and the Friends of Holland Park in 2013 over plans to extend the canopy's erection period.{{Cite web |date=2013-01-03 |title=Cover-up by Opera Holland Park infuriates the locals |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/coverup-by-opera-holland-park-infuriates-the-locals-8436847.html |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The Standard |language=en}} Over 200 objections to any kind of canopy were received by the council and the organisation was ultimately unable to secure permission for an extension, but the season continued with its usual duration. Workmen errecting the canopy were subject to verbal abuse and anti-opera posters were put up around the park.{{Cite web |last=Bloomfield |first=Ruth |date=2013-03-15 |title=Bitter row with residents over opera in Holland Park |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/bitter-row-with-residents-over-opera-in-holland-park-8535763.html |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The Standard |language=en}}
Management and organization
Until October 2015, the company was a part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, with permanent staff technically council officers.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-23 |title=The Times rebuked for implying Kensington and Chelsea wasted Grenfell tenants’ money on opera - Arts Professional |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/times-rebuked-implying-kensington-and-chelsea-wasted-grenfell-tenants-money-opera |access-date=2025-05-22 |language=en-GB}}
The company became an independent charity in October 2015, receiving a final grant settlement of £500,000 from the Council, more than ten times their previous annual subsidy.{{Cite web |title=Opera Holland Park announces independence |url=http://www.classicalmusicmagazine.org/2015/10/opera-holland-park-announces-independence/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006015212/http://www.classicalmusicmagazine.org/2015/10/opera-holland-park-announces-independence/ |archive-date=6 October 2015 |access-date=22 May 2025 |website=Classical Music Magazine}} A new board was installed, chaired by Charles Mackay CBE, former chairman of Historic Royal Palaces.{{Cite journal |date=April 2022 |title=An interview with James Clutton |journal=Opera}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.operahollandpark.com/ Opera Holland Park Official website]
- [http://gallery.mac.com/perillo2#100122 Images of the venue]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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Category:British opera companies
Category:Opera festivals in England
Category:Parks and open spaces in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea