When did you become supporters at Opera Holland Park?

We met at the very end of 2000, and have been attending OHP performances since 2001. We became Friends in 2006 and we upgraded to Envoys in 2012 and started to make donations to the Young Artists’ Circle in 2018.

 

What you enjoyed about the 2023 Season so far?

Being able to see the changes which happen between Dress Rehearsal and Final Performances of Rigoletto and Hansel and Gretel, and then being able to compare the Young Artists’ and main cast performances of Hansel and Gretel. We loved seeing the development of two former Young Artists taking leading roles and giving superb performances in these two productions – and talking to them about the success of the Young Artists Scheme.

Anna Picard’s intellectually stimulating series of Events in which diverse specialists, who always carry their expertise lightly, lay a fascinating backdrop to the particular productions which are in store for the audience, with opportunities to have in-depth conversations with a composer, librettist, director, conductor, performers, creatives and backroom staff

 

What drew you to support Itch and become an Element Hunter?

As existing Envoys, we had been teased by update emails and hints dropped by the CEO in his zoomed updates that it was proposed to commission and produce a new opera for performance in the 2023 season. Then it was revealed – although we’d worked this out already – that the composer would be Jonathan Dove. We finally learned the exact nature of the work when we arrived in the Ensemble Bar for our pre-performance drinks early in the 2022 season. There, on an easel by the door, was a poster of the Periodic Table, while the seating area was festooned with flyers explaining the “buy an element” scheme. The opportunity to become involved in such a creative and unlikely project was too good to pass up, and we persuaded a couple of friends to join us.

 

How did you pick your element?

Tom’s previous experience as a pub quizzer, where the Periodic Table is a frequent topic, meant he knew that Rutherfordium is an obscure element which can only be created in the laboratory. Since none of the other members of our small consortium knew anything about it, they acquiesced to his presumed superior knowledge.

 

What aspect of Itch are you most excited about?

All of it! As James Clutton said at the “Introduction to Itch” evening, how often would one get the chance to not only attend the world premiere of a work by an internationally renowned composer/librettist team, but to know that we have contributed to specifically to the project.

 

What would you say to encourage a friend to buy an element or support Itch?

“Come and join us!” We have experienced so much enjoyment and support from all the staff, performers and creatives at OHP – this is an opportunity to contribute directly to the continued development of OHP and its ethos. And it’s fun!