Stage set for opera festival
NEVILL HOLT PLANNING SUMMER EXTRAVAGANZA
TICKETS for what officials are calling Nevill Holt Opera’s largest and most ambitious festival yet will go on sale to the public tomorrow.
Nevill Holt Opera is an arts festival that is held at Nevill Holt Hall, near Market Harborough, and this summer the decision has been made to move its opera festival outdoors, welcoming a larger audience than ever before.
With dates throughout August, it will build an outdoor stage and seating that will enable each performance to play to a socially distanced audience of up to 650 people.
Nevill Holt Opera (NHO) said it has worked to make its pricing more affordable, with tickets starting from £35 – free for under-18s.
The summer festival will present two of the best-loved operas of all time – Verdi’s La Traviata and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
A giant, covered stage will feature a socially distanced orchestra for each performance, while a further stage in front ensures all audience members will feel close to the action.
Nevill Holt Opera is housed within a country house estate and the outdoor stage is being designed to frame the sensational valley views and enable visitors to immerse themselves in the landscaped gardens.
Three seating zones will enable audiences to choose whether they would prefer to relax and spread out on picnic blankets on the lawn, to watch the opera from a comfortable seat, or to ensure they beat the weather by choosing a premium spot in a tiered and covered grandstand.
Managing director Annie Lydford, said: “We are all invigorated to be
presenting our largest and most inclusive festival yet, despite the challenges of the last year.
“We felt strongly, at this time when people crave brilliant live experiences perhaps more than ever, that reducing our capacity and raising our prices simply was not an option.
“With fantastic artists and technicians, two creative, beautiful productions – not to mention the wonderful Nevill Holt grounds and gardens – we want to make sure our audiences have an unforgettable time with us this summer.
“Having received crucial support to aid our survival from government, from independent trusts and foundations, and from individuals, we recognise the responsibility we have to ensure that the communities we serve across the East Midlands can continue to enjoy fantastic performances with us this summer.
“Particularly, we are proud to offer hundreds of tickets across the season completely free of charge to under-18s.
“This is a commitment which reflects the importance of the yearround education programme which has been at NHO’s core since the company began.”
La Traviata will be performed on August 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10, and Don Giovanni on August 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25.
For more information and to book, go to: