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Clash of the tenors: dispute leaves Hampshire opera festival seeking new home Clash of the tenors: dispute leaves Hampshire opera festival seeking new home
(about 20 hours later)
For 17 years it has staged opera productions in a semi-derelict stately home, becoming a fixture on the classical summer circuit alongside the Glydebourne and Garsington festivals. For 17 years it has staged opera productions in a semi-derelict stately home, becoming a fixture on the classical summer circuit alongside the Glyndebourne and Garsington festivals.
But the curtain has finally fallen on Grange Park Opera’s run at its Hampshire country house home, after a long-running dispute came to an abrupt resolution when the aristocratic owners of the estate announced they had formed their own rival company.But the curtain has finally fallen on Grange Park Opera’s run at its Hampshire country house home, after a long-running dispute came to an abrupt resolution when the aristocratic owners of the estate announced they had formed their own rival company.
From 2017, the Grange in Northington, Hampshire, will become home to the Grange festival, a new opera company under the artistic direction of countertenor Michael Chance, said the estate’s owner, Lord Ashburton, and his son Mark Baring.From 2017, the Grange in Northington, Hampshire, will become home to the Grange festival, a new opera company under the artistic direction of countertenor Michael Chance, said the estate’s owner, Lord Ashburton, and his son Mark Baring.
Though the two sides have been in protracted and increasingly strained negotiations for months over the festival’s future at the 19th-century mansion, GPO trustees were informed only this week that the Barings were halting negotiations about the festival’s possible future there, and learned of the new opera company from journalists.Though the two sides have been in protracted and increasingly strained negotiations for months over the festival’s future at the 19th-century mansion, GPO trustees were informed only this week that the Barings were halting negotiations about the festival’s possible future there, and learned of the new opera company from journalists.
They are now hoping to move their festival from 2017 to West Horsley Place, a country house in Surrey which, in a further colourful twist, is owned by the former University Challenge presenter Bamber Gascoigne.They are now hoping to move their festival from 2017 to West Horsley Place, a country house in Surrey which, in a further colourful twist, is owned by the former University Challenge presenter Bamber Gascoigne.
A spokeswoman for GPO said they were in advanced discussions with Gascoigne, who inherited the estate last year from his great-aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe, to stage the festival there, after one final season at the Grange next summer. As Grange Park Opera is the name of their registered charity, they do not plan to change it.A spokeswoman for GPO said they were in advanced discussions with Gascoigne, who inherited the estate last year from his great-aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe, to stage the festival there, after one final season at the Grange next summer. As Grange Park Opera is the name of their registered charity, they do not plan to change it.
Relations had soured between the family, part of the Barings banking dynasty, and their operatic tenants after the landlords exercised a break clause in the previous 18-year lease. The two sides were unable to agree terms for a new deal after the family proposed introducing an annual rent for the first time, and limiting a future lease to 10 years.Relations had soured between the family, part of the Barings banking dynasty, and their operatic tenants after the landlords exercised a break clause in the previous 18-year lease. The two sides were unable to agree terms for a new deal after the family proposed introducing an annual rent for the first time, and limiting a future lease to 10 years.
“We were very disappointed when the lease was unilaterally terminated by our landlords,” said the GPO spokeswoman, adding that the trustees had been pursuing other options for the future of the festival beyond 2017, but had remained hopeful that a deal could be done to remain at their Hampshire base.“We were very disappointed when the lease was unilaterally terminated by our landlords,” said the GPO spokeswoman, adding that the trustees had been pursuing other options for the future of the festival beyond 2017, but had remained hopeful that a deal could be done to remain at their Hampshire base.
She added that next summer season would be “business as usual”, however. “Grange Park Opera will be at the Grange in 2016.”She added that next summer season would be “business as usual”, however. “Grange Park Opera will be at the Grange in 2016.”
In response, the Grange estate issued a statement saying: “Throughout the process, GPO proved unwilling to discuss the proposals made by The Grange Estate. Following the latest missed deadline for a response to the Heads of Terms tabled in late July, the Grange estate terminated negotiations in writing on 19 October 2015.”In response, the Grange estate issued a statement saying: “Throughout the process, GPO proved unwilling to discuss the proposals made by The Grange Estate. Following the latest missed deadline for a response to the Heads of Terms tabled in late July, the Grange estate terminated negotiations in writing on 19 October 2015.”
While Mark Baring had been involved in the process of setting up the new company, the statement continued, once it was established his role would be limited to that of a trustee. It added: “Mark Baring is passionate about keeping opera at the Grange.”While Mark Baring had been involved in the process of setting up the new company, the statement continued, once it was established his role would be limited to that of a trustee. It added: “Mark Baring is passionate about keeping opera at the Grange.”
Chance told the Guardian he was excited and daunted about the challenge ahead. “It’s been presented as a brand new festival and to a certain extent it is, but I have sensed enormous support to continue high class opera in the same venue,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that some of those who had worked with GPO would help in setting up the new venture.Chance told the Guardian he was excited and daunted about the challenge ahead. “It’s been presented as a brand new festival and to a certain extent it is, but I have sensed enormous support to continue high class opera in the same venue,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that some of those who had worked with GPO would help in setting up the new venture.
He said he had been talking to the Baring family since August, when reports first emerged that GPO was in discussions to move to West Horsley place. Early plans are already in place for a 2017 season including operas by Mozart, Monteverdi and Britten, alongside a possible new work, he said.He said he had been talking to the Baring family since August, when reports first emerged that GPO was in discussions to move to West Horsley place. Early plans are already in place for a 2017 season including operas by Mozart, Monteverdi and Britten, alongside a possible new work, he said.
Baring said in a statement: “It has been wonderful to have opera at Grange Park each summer and we are delighted ... that we will continue to do so. A great deal has been achieved in nearly 20 years, thanks to GPO, co-founders Wasfi Kani and Michael Moody and their staff, and the generosity and commitment of many supporters, donors and visitors. We look forward to working with The Grange Festival to continue what has become a much-loved cultural event.”Baring said in a statement: “It has been wonderful to have opera at Grange Park each summer and we are delighted ... that we will continue to do so. A great deal has been achieved in nearly 20 years, thanks to GPO, co-founders Wasfi Kani and Michael Moody and their staff, and the generosity and commitment of many supporters, donors and visitors. We look forward to working with The Grange Festival to continue what has become a much-loved cultural event.”
• This article was amended on 22 October 2015 to correct the spelling of Glyndebourne.