Opera Holland Park invites audiences to try Zandonai for free

by David NiceThursday, 29 July 2010

A new "Inspire Project" over in Kensington hopes to catch more new audiences for opera by inviting 700 people to watch the new production of a real operatic rarity, Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini, and pay what they like, if they like, at the end of the performance.

Enterprising OHP General Manager Michael Volpe, who has turned around the fortunes of Kensington and Chelsea’s once only semi-professional summer festival, says he understands that “people may simply decide not to make a donation, but this is genuinely about encouraging people to try something different – and we are so confident that people will enjoy the piece that we are happy to offer the opportunity to so many.”

Who knows, the free-for-starters tickets may have gone already, but it’s worth applying here. And the cast, conducted by experienced English National Opera regular Phillip Thomas, is absolutely top notch. It's led by Australian diva Cheryl Barker and tenor Julian Gavin, who made such a strong impression in the recent ENO Tosca. Theartsdesk will report on Friday’s opening night.

Find out what else is on in Opera Holland Park's 2010 season

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