Opera’s coming home

OPERA lovers await the reincarnation, in June 2017, of Grange Park Opera (formerly based in Hampshire) at West Horsley Place in Surrey, a 15th-century, 350-acre estate inherited by Bamber Gascoigne from his aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe. Later this week, the roof will be installed on the new opera house, which is modelled on Milan’s La Scala and will be known as the Theatre in the Woods (right).

year will mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the opera company, which will relaunch on June 8, 2017, with Joseph Calleja in Puccini’s Tosca. The festival will also feature Bryn Terfel and performances of Wagner’s Die Walküre and Janacek’s Jenufa.

For further information, visit www. grangeparkopera.co.uk. Reader offer: COUNTRY LIFE readers can buy discounted gift vouchers up to the value of £250. To claim the 20% discount, telephone 01962 737373 and quote ‘COUNTRY LIFE’. Offer ends December 16