Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2008 | Page 40

life

OUT & ABOUT

Midsummer
Opera at
Priory Bay

Even a downpour of
rain on one of the Opera
nights, didn’t dampen the
spirits of the opera going
crowd at The Priory Bay
Hotel.
Now in its second year,
Midsummer Opera at Priory Bay
included Puccini’s La Boheme
on 19th June and on the 20th in
complete contrast, the light hearted
and humorous Barber of Seville by
Rossini.
Over 250 guests enjoyed the two
performances – kicking off the
wonderful evening with Taittinger
Champagne and canapés on the
lawns and terraces.
Dinner was served on The Terrace
and in The Bay Restaurant during
the interval and commenced with a
feuillette of lightly scrambled duck
egg served with local asparagus
and truffle oil. Then a salad of
Bembridge lobster with a concasse
of local tomatoes was followed
by Hampshire strawberries with
cream and a tempting slice of bitter
chocolate tart.

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Guests arrived by car, taxi, on foot
and in some cases by Hovercraft,
which landed with some difficulty
on the Priory Bay beach. Gusty
winds meant the visitors had a
bumpy ride, but they soon forgot
the crossing when tasty nibbles and
large glasses of champagne were
served at the end of the pathway
from the beach.
Many Island residents were
among the guests and comments
ranged from “ I wouldn’t miss this
for anything”; “ a really wonderful
evening” “so pleased we decided
to come this year, will definitely
be back next year” to “ I love the
chance to dress up and this evening
presents the perfect opportunity!”
Black tie and beautiful evening
outfits graced the lawns and
gardens even if there were a few
umbrellas and warm wraps needed
to cope with typical English
summer evenings!
The Operas, performed by
Opera Box, the touring
arm
of the Swansea City Opera can
fairly claim to be one of the most

successful mid scale companies
in the UK. The company was
founded in 1989 and were one of
the first companies to tour outdoor
opera. They worked closely with
English Heritage staging opera in
the historic ruins of some of their
most impressive properties also
performing at many National Trust
properties and other private stately
homes.
Over 70 performances of complete
operas both in theatres and outdoor
venues are undertaken each year!
Opera Box is now considered to
be Britain’s leading exponent of
‘outdoor’ opera. Many of the
company’s singers have worked for
the major British opera companies
including the Royal Opera House
Covent Garden, ENO, WNO,
Opera North and Glyndebourne
Festival Opera.
Truly a treat to be able to see
and hear them on the Isle of
Wight. These very special evenings
organised by Andrew Palmer at
The Priory Bay Hotel represent a
new look at entertainment on the

Island and ho pefully will become
a permanent fixture in the Island’s
social calendar.
Sponsored
by
Taittinger
Champagne, Wight Locations – the
Island’s premier holiday property
specialists and Meribel Skichalet
Company – headed by Will
Sussman, who was also responsible
for originally introducing Opera
Box to the Priory Bay Hotel and
the Isle of Wight.
Next year, Andrew Palmer
is
planning
further
Opera
extravaganzas!
Pencil in your
diaries week commencing June 16 –
then watch this space. Says Andrew
Palmer “I have to admit to getting
slightly nervous as the clouds
gathered before the performance,
but the guests were all under
cover and the opera company kept
telling me that only once in 20
years had they failed to complete a
performance. For me and I suspect
for some of the guests the rain only
added to the drama and excitement
of the evening.”

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