Ahead of Opera Holland Park’s upcoming production of A Christmas Carol, James Clutton sits down with the Will Todd (Composer) and David Simpatico (Librettist), Ceci Calf (Designer) and Martin Duncan (Director) in the rehearsal room.

At Sinfonia Smith Square, Will Todd and David Simpatico’s enchanting musical retelling of A Christmas Carol weaves the melodies of traditional Victorian carols and the midwinter chimes of handbells through each episode of Charles Dickens’s seasonal ghost story.

A Christmas Carol will run from 17-18 December at Sinfonia Smith Square in London, and on 16 December at Holy Trinity Church.

https://operahollandpark.com/productions/a-christmas-carol/

Audio description of The Yeomen of the Guard at Opera Holland Park as part of the Discovery Matinee and audio description service.

An audio description of Tosca as part of Opera Holland Park's audio description service.

Aside from the wit and charm of the libretto and music, the one act farce for two singers and a silent actor, Il segreto di Susanna, is known for only one thing: the fact that its heroine smokes.

So how did Wolf-Ferrari come to write this particular comedy in 1909? To put Il segreto di Susanna in context, we brought together Donald Macleod of BBC Radio 3, Josh Spero, author and art critic, and Dr Rosemary Elliot of the University of Glasgow.

Il segreto di Susanna is at Opera Holland Park this summer in a Double Bill with Tchaikovsky's Iolanta from 22 July-3 August. Tickets are on sale now: http://bit.ly/2PRWoxR

On 6 March 2018, we brought together a panel of fascinating speakers to discuss the theme of Nudity: Shame, Censorship, and Celebration, all focused on the naked horse ride which forms the centrepiece of our upcoming production of Mascagni's Isabeau, an opera based on Tennyson's famous poem about the Lady Godiva.

Opera Holland Park’s General Director, Michael Volpe, and Director of Opera, James Clutton, were joined by Donald Macleod, presenter of BBC Radio Three’s Composer of the Week and Opera on Three; the feminist writer and activist, Julie Bindel; V&A curator, Kate Bailey; and Pevsner Professor of History of Art, Lynda Nead in a stimulating discussion at the German Embassy.