Opera Holland Park is delighted to announce a partnership with Notting Hill Carnival, bringing calypso, steelpan and Caribbean jazz to the theatre for three concerts on 19, 20 and 21 August. Featured artists and ensembles in the series include the Mangrove and Ebony Steelbands, Leon ‘Foster’ Thomas, Alexander D Great and Trinidadian opera singer, Anne Fridal.
This series of performances, titled Carnival Culture in the Park, brings together two of West London’s most well-loved musical institutions in celebration of the resilience of live music with the Kensington and Chelsea Festival. Performances start at 7.30pm. All tickets will be priced at £10, and are on sale from 12pm on Wednesday 28 July. Full details of the performances can be found below.
James Clutton, Chief Executive and Director of Opera at Opera Holland Park, says:
“I am delighted to welcome the Notting Hill Carnival to Opera Holland Park. At a time when all arts companies need to think creatively and imaginatively, and to work more closely in partnerships, it is great to have our friends and neighbours taking a short residency in the creative hub that is Opera Holland Park.”
Matthew Phillip, Chief Executive of Notting Hill Carnival Ltd, says:
“We’re delighted to be working with Opera Holland Park to bring together two great musical cultures and create these amazing shows. Each night will bring something different and unique that will allow the audience to experience the music they love as they have never heard it before.”
Carnival Culture in the Park
19-21 August 2021
For more information and tickets, visit: www.operahollandpark.com/productions/carnival-culture-in-the-park
Carnival Village Trust presents three nights of Carnival Music performed within the beautiful setting of Opera Holland Park’s theatre, in partnership with Kensington and Chelsea Festival. Showcasing the best in both traditional and contemporary Caribbean Musicians the programme celebrates the culture and heritage of Carnival through the musical genres of Calypso and Steelpan.
Classic Calypso
19 August at 7.30pm
Featuring Giselle Carter, G String, Helena B and Alexander D Great with a six-piece acoustic band of keyboards, guitar, congas, bass, drums and clarinet, Classic Calypso celebrates the wit, humour and soul of the UK Calypso scene.
Pan in the Park
20 August at 7.30pm
The celebrated Mangrove and Ebony Steelbands trace a journey from classic to contemporary steelpan music, joining forces to accompany the Trinidadian diva Anna Fridal in new arrangements of operatic arias.
Pan Jazz
21 August at 7.30pm
An evening of Caribbean Jazz from the Engine Room Collective, with steelpan virtuosi Andre White, Leon ‘Foster’ Thomas, Samuel Dubois, Carlene Etienne and Deborah Eden.
About Opera Holland Park
Working with the set designer takis, Opera Holland Park has reimagined the stage and auditorium of its theatre for the 2021 Season. The new dynamic and exciting performance space provides maximum safety for audiences and artists under the company’s iconic canopy roof. Sustainable materials in takis’s designs reflect the natural beauty of the theatre’s setting in Holland Park.
Capacity is reduced from 1000 to 400 seats this season, using individual chairs that can be moved according to the numbers in each household ‘bubble’, to enable social distancing and increase step free access.For Carnival Culture in the Park performances, all seats will be positioned in single seats, each 0.5m apart, which can be moved according to the size of bookers’ group. Opera Holland Park is continuing to implement COVID-19 safety guidelines including social distancing, temperature checks and wearing of masks while moving around the site. Masks are not required to be worn when seated at the bars or in the auditorium.