Opera returns to Osborne
Osborne House on the Isle of Wight was the private and much loved home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The Queen died there in 1901. Queen Victoria was an enthusiastic opera fan and had singing lessons as a girl. She had special command performances in all of her homes, including Osborne. In July the company took opera back to the house for the first time since Queen Victoria lived there to an enthusiastic local audience with ‘A Victorian Night at the Opera’. Osborne House is now run by English Heritage and is open to the public.
London Festival Opera in the grounds of Osborne House.
A Passion for Puccini
The Windsor Festival 2011 saw the premiere performance of the company’s new theatre production ‘A Passion for Puccini’ at the Windsor Theatre Royal. The programme includes some of the composer’s finest music from his greatest operas. The soprano Mary Plazas enthralled the audience, who included the Patron of the Festival HRH Prince Edward, with highlights from ‘Madame Butterfly’. Mary will sing the same role with English National Opera later this season. 
Mary Plazas (far right) and the cast meet HRH Prince Edward following the performance of 'A Passion for Puccini'.
LONDON FESTIVAL OPERA ON TOUR
'A Night at the Opera'
Wimborne, Layard Theatre - Friday 3rd February 2012 Highlight 'La Traviata' plus 'Encores'
E-Mail: layardtheatre@canford.com Telephone Box Office 01207 847525
St Albans, The Alban Arena - Sunday 18th March 2012 'A Night at the Opera' http://www.alban-arena.co.uk/ Telephone Box Office 01727 844488
Loughborough Town Hall - Friday 27th April 2012 'A Night at the Opera'
http://www.loughboroughtownhall.co.uk/
Telephone Box Office 01509 231914
Newark, Palace Theatre - Saturday 28th April 2012 'A Night at the Opera'
http://www.palacenewark.com/
Telephone Box Office 01636 655755
Southend, Cliffs Pavilion - Sunday 20th May 2012 'A Night at the Opera'
https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/
Telephone Box Office 01702351135
Skegness, Embassy Theatre - Friday 25th May 2012 'A Night at the Opera'
http://www.embassytheatre.co.uk/
Telephone Box Office 0845 6740505
Spice Girl Opera?
The Spice Girl Gerri Halliwell threw a lunch party following the christening of her baby daughter. The occasion was the first reunion of the Spice Girls team for some considerable time, which heralded their recent 'come back'. Opera Interludes surprised the guests, which included 'Little Britain' star David Walliams, with a programme of opera including Mozart, Verdi, Bizet, and ending with an operatic version of the Spice Girls hit 'Wannabe'.The paparazzi were out in full force!
The Spice girls following the christening