Press Releases
Carmen enjoy Opera in the Park (PR 989)
NEW festival added to Ealing Summer programme
Opera in the Park
16 - 17 July
Walpole Park, Ealing
Opera comes to the people this summer with the stunning debut of Opera in the Park as part of this year's Ealing Summer festival.
Bizet's best-known work, Carmen, will be staged in the beautiful Walpole Park with tickets priced at a flat-rate of £20 to encourage first-timers as well as opera buffs.
Produced by Opera A La Carte, the tragic tale of risqué morality is set against a rich score of sensuous gypsy inspired melodies.
Councillor Nigel Sumner, Cabinet Member for Health and Community Well Being, said: "I am very excited about the debut of Opera in the Park as part of this year's Ealing Summer festival as I see it as a chance to bring opera to the people.
"I hope that as many newcomers to opera, as well as those who regularly attend, are encouraged to see this wonderful performance of Carmen.
"This is a chance to see Bizet's most famous work performed by one of London's leading opera companies for a fraction of the price that is usually charged for this type of entertainment.
"I hope Opera in the Park will debut to a full house and add a fresh touch to the Ealing Summer programme."
The box office opens Friday, 1 June. Tel: 020 8825 6277.
For more information on Ealing Summer 2007 – West London's hottest festival – go to: www.ealing.gov.uk/ealingsummer; Tel: 020 8825 6640 or Email: events@ealing.gov.uk.
BOX OFFICE DETAILS
Box Office opens Friday, 1 June
Box Office number: 020 8825 6277
Information number: 020 8825 6640
Tickets: £20
£2.50 booking fee per order on all credit/debit card
transactions. No concessions, refunds or exchanges.
Performance Times
Site opens: 6:30pm
Show starts: 7:30pm
How to get there
Walpole Park
Mattock Lane, Ealing, W5
Tube: Ealing Broadway (District & Central Lines)
South Ealing (Piccadilly Line)
Bus: 65, 83, 207, 297, 427, 607, E1, E2, E7, E8, E9, E10, E11, PR1
Car: Limited paid parking is available at Grove Road and Springbridge Road multi-storey car parks, and behind Ealing Town Hall after 5pm weekdays and all day at weekends.
Cycle: Cycle racks are available near the main festival site entrances.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
· Ealing Opera in the Park is part of Ealing Summer,
which includes Greenford Carnival 7 July, Comedy Festival 13-20
July, Blues Festival 21 July, Global Festival 22 July, Jazz
Festival 25-29 July, the London Mela 12 August, and Literary
Festival 1-2 September.
· Carmen is Bizet's best known work, a tragic tale of risqué morality set against a rich score of sensuous gypsy inspired melodies.
This new Opera A la Carte production is set in 1830's Seville. Nicholas Heath directs a cast led by Kevin Fergerson as Don Jose, Gordana Kostic as Carmen, Colin Campbell as Escamillo and Michelle Sheridan as Micaela.
Sung in the original French it will be accompanied with a specially prepared score of piano, violin, trumpet, clarinet, and bassoon with musical direction from Rosalind Jones and featuring an onstage flamenco guitar played by Rafael.
Carmen, a smouldering gypsy seductress, casually sets light to Corporal Don Jose's passion. Having enchanted another victim she sees her deathly fate in the cards. Don Jose's jealousy and obsession rise up to overwhelm her. You can embrace Carmen but never possess her.
Opera A La Carte was founded by Nicholas Heath, who has been its
artistic director for more than fourteen years. The singers are
drawn from the leading UK and international opera houses. For
further information about Opera A La Carte contact: 020 7724
2696 or go to
www.operaalacarte.com