London awaits return of naked opera
mainHolland Park’s new season witnesses a revival of Mascagni’s Iris, an opera whose heroine dreams she is being encircled naked by an octopus. It’s the pivotal scene; without it, nothing else makes sense.
Iris was brought back to London by OHP in 1977 after a lifetime’s absence; if you missed it then, here’s your second chance.
Full season and casts were announced today:
Investec Opera Holland Park 2016; 7 June – 13 August
Iris by Pietro Mascagni; June 7, 10, 14, 16, 18
La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini June 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 (matinee 2pm), 23, 24 (Young Artists performance), 25.
La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini; Co-production with Danish National Opera. July 14, 16, 20, 22, 27, 30.
Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II; July 19, 21, 23 and 28 and August 3, 5.
The Queen of Spades by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; August 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13.
Iris
Iris Anne Sophie Duprels; Il Cieco Mikhail Svetlov; Osaka Noah Stewart; Kyoto James Cleverton; Geisha Johane Ansell; Haberdasher Timothy Langston; Rag Merchant Michael Bradley; Conductor Stuart Stratford; Director Olivia Fuchs
La bohème Mimi Anna Patalong; Rodolfo Shaun Dixon; Musetta Elin Pritchard; Schaunard Frederick Long; Colline John Savournin; Benoit John Lofthouse; Alcindoro James Harrison; Parpignol Michael Bradley; Conductor Matthew Waldren; Director Stephen Barlow
La Cenerentola; Angelina Victoria Simmonds; Prince Ramiro Nico Darmanin; Dandini Nicholas Lester; Don Magnifico Jonathan Veira; Alidoro Barnaby Rea; Clorinda Fleur de Bray; Tisbe Heather Lowe; Conductor Dane Lam; Director Oliver Platt.
Die Fledermaus Gabriel von Eisenstein Ben Johnson; Rosalinde Susanna Hurrell; Adele Jennifer France; Alfred Peter Davoren; Dr Blind Robert Burt; Frank John Lofthouse; Prince Orlofsky Samantha Price; Conductor John Rigby; Director Martin Lloyd-Evans
The Queen of Spades Hermann Peter Wedd; Lisa Natalya Romaniw; Countess Rosalind Plowright OBE; Count Tomsky and Zlatogor Richard Burkhard; Prince Yeletsky Grant Doyle; Polina and Milovzor Laura Woods; Masha and Prilepa Daisy Brown Surin and Boy Commander Simon Wilding; Chekalinsky Aled Hall; Narumov Henry Grant Kerswell; Master of Ceremonies Timothy Langston; Governess Laura Zigmantaite; Conductor Peter Robinson; Director Rodula Gaitanou
Thanks Norman
(It was 1997 btw, and we revived it immediately after in 1998, such was its success)
I will be giving a lecture on this most subversive of operas on March 22nd at Leighton House. We will be publishing details of that soon.
Sorry, that will be March 29th!!
Wonderful to see the names of so many singers who have been nurtured over the years by OHP. Holland Park’s service to the London operatic scene is truly invaluable.
Will they use those gorgeous costumes by Charles and Patricia Lester?
D Howley
No, this is a new production so those fab costumes aren’t in this one.