Bang

The starter gun has sounded. Dougie, our company manager, was haranguing me about lighting needs today, a sure sign things are hotting up. Heavy snow warnings are in place for London this weekend which means it must be time to encourage our audience to think about the summer, we are about to report on the first year of our Inspire Project and the new box office server needs attention. the 2012 season is a whisker away from being finalised (and announced) and meetings to see the set models of upcoming productions are imminent. Site work begins soon and the contractors will all be in for a briefing within a fortnight or so.
Charities having gala nights are coming in to discuss things and there is, as ever a this time of year, the ridiculously familiar realisation that we only have six months to go! You would think we would be used it it by now wouldn't you? Perhaps it is good we feel the pressure as opposed to having a more relaxed and calm approach. Who wants that, eh?

That was then...

The 2010 season seems a distant memory already; somebody asked me what productions we had done and I struggled to remember them all. That might be an age thing but it is more likely to have been the fact that we are so embroiled in the next one - and the one after that too. Such is the way of things in the office of an annual festival, the months between the seasons just fly by.

But 2011 is, for so many reasons a year of significance. Britain will be entering a profound period of austerity - or so we expect - and few in the arts are predicting the outcome for sponsorships, ticket sales or pretty much anything at all. This time last year, the recession was an undefined thing for many and not everybody knew how it might affect them. Now, there is some clarity in our world but the public are still waiting - certainly those not in the public sector.The theory that people seek relief from all this misery in entertainment is some reassurance for us all but it wouldn't be wise to take that for granted.

The year ended well for OHP with the Sunday Times naming us as the Best opera company of the year, a huge accolade in the circumstances. Obviously that gives us much to live up to 2011 but I have no doubt we can given the delicious programme (all Italian) and some of the artistic personnel we have on board, starting with the brilliant Stephen Barlow directing the opening production of Don Pasquale, which also sees the return of Richard Bonynge. That first night, as I have frequently pointed out in this blog, arrives with alarming speed and there is much to be done before then. The theatre will see further improvements and changes (that never seems to stop!) and our impact on the aesthetics of the park will be further upgraded which will keep Barrie, the parks manager, happy. Talking of our presence in the park, it is also lovely to inform that Fantastic Mr Fox will be back on the yucca lawn too.
So plenty to keep us busy through January and into the Spring (remember that?)

Here we go again, I suppose

As the turn of the year approaches, I feel a need to begin droning on to the public again - it helps configure my thoughts for the myriad details that need attention.  Once entered, the first few months of the New Year pass at the speed of a blink and then the first night is upon us. It is a peculiar phenomenon I haven't once failed to be amazed by.

2010 was a good year; a hit season, the birth of Fantastic Mr Fox (returning in 2011) and the accolade from the Sunday Times at the end of the year as Best Opera Company.  But the politics of the nation place pressure on us, our paymasters and our audience. A wonderful selection of operas in 2011 will need to deliver on their promise. We have new donors, new partners, much interest and growing support. The next few years hold so much to look forward to - and many potential pitfalls to avoid.

So as we step back onto the roller coaster, I will try, for whatever it is worth, to keep you abreast. I can't promise I will be terribly disciplined about it but I'll do my best.

Francesca da Rimini

Today's entry is simple
Francesca da Rimini ...oh my God.
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Challenges

Two rather mountainous challenges are approaching fast - Forza and Francesca. Both are magnificent and Francesca presents us with another opportunity to establish parts of the repertoire in our audience's collective minds. Indeed, we are presenting the public with a challenge of their own - and its not without its benefits to either side. Seven hundred people will have the chance to explore Francesca (and we hope that many of them will be first time opera goers too) free of charge - the 'challenge' is that if, as we believe they will, they like it they can make a donation to our Friends and thus help continue the Inspire Project among other things. Restaurants have been doing this for years; pay what you think the meal is worth etc. So it isn't as innovative a scheme as it first sounds but I am not sure it has been done in opera before. Point is, we believe people take these challenges in the spirit they are intended and we look forward to the feedback. Someone has to expand the rep! Anyway, if you want to take up the Opera Challenge, call the box office on 0845 2309769.
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