Operas in London
The vast and diverse city of London features a wide range of cultural venues. Among them, the opera houses stand out as the centres of high class entertainment, perfect for an evening outing in the British capital. After visiting all the must-see attractions of London, put on your fancy suit or a classy evening dress and head for Sedler's Wells – a trademark of top artistic quality since 1683, the world-famous Royal Albert Hall or London Coliseum – home to the spectacular English National Opera.
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English National Opera (London Coliseum)
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Address: St Martin's Lane
Phone: +44 20 7836 0111
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Website: http://www.eno.org/
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Residing at the London Coliseum, the English National Opera (ENO) is one of the country’s two opera companies, the other being the Royal Opera at Covent Garden. This site is well-known for its large-scale productions and the opulence of its stage designs and costumes. ENO is particularly open towards the promotion of younger and aspiring singers. Thanks to both their modern approach to classic pieces and their policy of singing predominantly in English, this opera house attracts large audiences.
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Sadler's Wells
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Address: Rosebery Avenue
Phone: 0844 412 4300
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Website: http://www.sadlerswells.com/
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Sadler's Wells is among London's ultimate theatre and opera venues, particularly geared towards a contemporary audience and emphasising unique and innovative performances. Although it's still mainly concentrated on dance, the site stages several opera performances a year, and often hosts international opera companies. Its building, set on Rosebery Avenue in Islington, started to operate in 1998, and has already established itself as a ground-breaking entity. In terms of theatre design, the site offers flawless pedestrianised areas in its immediate surroundings, a well-equipped auditorium, plus several entertaining and meeting spaces. Set in glass, brick, wood and steel, the theatre is an architectural spectacle. The emblematic name of Sadler's Wells has been a trademark of top quality since 1683.
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Peacock Theatre
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Address: Portugal Street
Phone: 0844 412 4322
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As the Sadler's Wells company decided to erect a new theatre on its old historic venue in Islington, the company relocated to the Peacock Theatre, a building enjoying a favourable location in the immediate vicinity of Kingsway. When the Sadler's Wells theatre was re-inaugurated in 1998, the Peacock building remained open to hold the performances of the Sadler's Wells group. In 2003, the structure was thoroughly revamped, which included a renovation of the foyer and the ticket office. The building's facade has also undergone a slight rejuvenation, and the theatre's upgraded surroundings have contributed to the site's welcoming looks.
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Opera Holland Park
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Address: Holland Park
Phone: 0845 230 9769
e-mail: info@operahollandpark.com
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This opera, located in Holland Park, has been active for more than 20 years. Geared towards more characteristic performances, and having a particular leaning towards Shakespearean productions, the venue has become an important cultural centre. The opera has been recently revamped, with its entire canopy being replaced by a new one, designed by Architen Landrell Associates, a leading fabric structure company. The canopy, strewn over the stage and the seating areas, comprises four soaring masts in V-shapes, plus 12 peaks allowing for the stability of this spectacular temporary structure. Following the increase in covered space, the current structure also makes for better acoustics.
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Grosvenor Light Opera Company
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Address: Lower Thames Street
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Website: http://www.gloc.org/
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This amateur Opera group is entirely devoted to the performance of the pieces of Gilbert and Sullivan. The group does not have a permanent building, but holds concerts at any venue which might prove suitable for the purpose. Their performances are different from the lavish operatic events at Covent Garden, but still, the atmosphere is very inviting. The operatic group was founded in 1949 by John Wilmshurst, whose wish was to make the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan more popular. Over the years, the group became a leading London amateur company. The group's name derives from the initial idea that they should perform within the Grosvenor Estate in Westminster. Since its inception, the group has organised more than 60 performances of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, including appearances at Holland Park, the Royal Albert and the Royal Festival Halls.
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Royal Albert Hall
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Address: Kensington Gore
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Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/
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Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09 -09
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This site is the BBC concert venue, with lavishly decorated interiors, and ultimately stylish stage. Here, while part of the audience is supposed to occupy a promenade-like area of the hall, the nature of the productions has nothing to do with the easy-going attitude. This area, the so-called 'Arena', is set directly in front of the musicians, and is, indeed, considered to be among the best ones in the hall. The BBC Proms Festival, in fact, is geared towards more traditional and world acclaimed musical performances. This annual festival runs in the period between July and September, staging more than 60 classical and opera concerts.
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