grange park opera

We invite Members to join us at The Theatre in the Woods; 21st-century Britain’s first new opera house, the home of Grange Park Opera, and unveiled to great acclaim in June 2017 to experience an inspired performance of Un Ballo in Maschera. The new five-tier opera house in the grounds of West Horsley Place was described approvingly by The Times: ‘Britain has a new opera house’.

Only 23 miles from London, close to the Surrey Hills, Grange Park Opera has become one of the major summer opera festivals in Europe. Founded in 1998 by Wasfi Kani OBE, the company has staged more than 50 operas, including acclaimed productions of Rusalka, Tristan und Isolde and Peter Grimes.

I do hope Members can join us at Verdi’s dramatic tale of intrigue, Un Ballo in Maschera – one of the most powerful of Verdi’s great operas. When he composed this ‘magnum opus’, Verdi already had numerous masterpieces to his name, and as such, he now aspired to new and extremely daring subjects…

History was to supply him with this audacious subject: the assassination of the King of Sweden, Gustave III, in 1792 at a masked ball. In Naples, however, censorship was the order of the day; one could not assassinate a King on stage, thus Verdi found himself obliged to transpose his ball to Boston at the end of the 17th century.

On Saturday 30th June, at 15:30, transportation will depart from 67 Pall Mall and make its way to Grange Park for 17:00, where Members and their guests will enjoy Champagne in the private pavilion in the Crinkle-Crankle garden on arrival. After act 1, dinner will be served in the Duchess Restaurant, located in the main house before the remaining acts are savoured…

Whilst political skulduggery, deadly threats, warnings and love affairs are portrayed throughout, Verdi’s music for Un Ballo in Maschera is some of his most sophisticated and subtle. The Orchestra of English National Opera will be performing during this stunning, passionate and dramatic work of art.

Prepare to be stirred…

Saturday 30th June

15:30 coach to depart from 67 Pall Mall
17:00 guests to arrive at Grange Park for Champagne reception
18:00 opera to begin
3-course dinner to be served following Act One
21:50 opera to close
22:00 coach to depart Grange Opera,
returning to 67 Pall Mall

£525.00 per ticket (price includes opera, transport, dinner & wine)
Please note there may be supplements charged depending on your menu choice…