Opera’s most famous unjustifiably fallen woman and justifiably fallen man will be the two August offerings from Nevill Holt Opera’s ambitious 2021 outdoor festival.
Shadwell Opera’s Music Director Finnegan Downie Dear and Nevill Holt Opera’s Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers will conduct performances of Verdi’s La traviata and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
La traviata will be directed by Jamie Manton whose work includes Eugene Onegin at Buxton International Festival; the UK Premiere of The Day After at ENO and Olivier Award nominated Paul Bunyan, also for ENO. Designs will be by Camilla Clarke whose work includes Paul Bunyan and Trial by Jury, ENO; The Afflicted, groupwork. Nevill Holt Opera’s orchestra partner Manchester Camerata will be conducted by Nicholas Chalmers (below).
The production will showcase young British-trained singers with three former Jette Parker Young Artists; Susana Gaspar will perform Violetta, Luis Gomes sings Alfredo Germont and Michel de Souza sings Giorgio Germont. They are joined by a chorus of NHO Young Artists.
Don Giovanni is the third opera in Nevill Holt Opera’s Mozart – Da Ponte cycle and is conducted by Shadwell’s Music Director Finnegan Downie Dear, and performed by the newly-formed Shadwell:Ensemble. The production is created by Shadwell’s Artistic Director Jack Furness and designed by Alex Berry whose work includes Make Joy, Fortnum & Mason, 2021; The Rape of Lucretia, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). The creative team is completed by Jenny Ogilvie as Movement Director.
Up and coming Irish baritone Seán Boylan, winner of Garsington Opera’s Helen Clark Award, will perform the title role with Aoife Miskelly as Donna Elvira, Nicholas Crawley as Leporello, Joshua Owen Mills as Don Ottavio and Olivia Warburton as Zerlina. Dingle Yandell will sing Il Commendatore.
For this summer festival, Nevill Holt Opera has built an outdoor stage and seating enabling each performance to play to a socially distanced audience of up to 650 people. Three seating zones will enable audiences to choose to relax on picnic blankets or opt for a covered grandstand. The outdoor stage set-up will highlight the surrounding Leicestershire countryside views and enable visitors to enjoy Nevill Holt’s landscaped gardens adorned with outstanding British sculpture.
It has also worked to make its pricing more affordable, with tickets starting from £35 and free for under-18s.
Performance Dates
La traviata
Wednesday 4th August, 3.30pm
Thursday 5th August, 3.30pm
Saturday 7th August, 3.30pm
Sunday 8th August, 2.30pm
Tuesday 10th August, 3.30pm
Don Giovanni
Thursday 19th August, 3.30pm
Saturday 21st August, 3.30pm
Sunday 22nd August, 2.30pm
Tuesday 24th August, 3.30pm
Wednesday 25th August, 3.30pm
Location Nevill Holt Opera, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 8EG
Image: artists impression
