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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Opera theatre plan at Carphone Warehouse founder's estate | Opera theatre plan at Carphone Warehouse founder's estate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Carphone Warehouse founder David Ross is bidding to build the first permanent opera house in England in just over a decade. | |
| Mr Ross wants to transform the listed stables at his stately home in Leicestershire into a 400-seat opera theatre. | Mr Ross wants to transform the listed stables at his stately home in Leicestershire into a 400-seat opera theatre. |
| If approved, construction will start at the Nevill Holt Opera in late 2016. | If approved, construction will start at the Nevill Holt Opera in late 2016. |
| Mr Ross's goal is to replace the current temporary seating with "a perfect venue" for young opera stars. | Mr Ross's goal is to replace the current temporary seating with "a perfect venue" for young opera stars. |
| The current structure, near Market Harborough, can seat up to 350 but is "inadequate and beyond effective economic repair," Nevill Holt Opera general manager Rosenna East said. | |
| Operas have been staged at Mr Ross's home since 2013, but a temporary structure has been used by touring companies for a decade. | Operas have been staged at Mr Ross's home since 2013, but a temporary structure has been used by touring companies for a decade. |
| Mr Ross wants to expand the summer opera festival and run community and education programmes at the new opera theatre during the rest of the year. | Mr Ross wants to expand the summer opera festival and run community and education programmes at the new opera theatre during the rest of the year. |
| Mrs East said: "It would be a game changer for us at NHO and bring something really special for the region. | Mrs East said: "It would be a game changer for us at NHO and bring something really special for the region. |
| "It is a 17th Century stable block which is Grade Two listed and we want to turn it into a beautiful state-of-the-art auditorium for opera." | "It is a 17th Century stable block which is Grade Two listed and we want to turn it into a beautiful state-of-the-art auditorium for opera." |
| 'Nurturing stars' | 'Nurturing stars' |
| She said the walls of the stable block are "a beautiful golden colour and they are not going anywhere". | She said the walls of the stable block are "a beautiful golden colour and they are not going anywhere". |
| The current structure is not suitable for winter as it is "too cold" so the permanent theatre will allow events on a year-round basis, she said. | The current structure is not suitable for winter as it is "too cold" so the permanent theatre will allow events on a year-round basis, she said. |
| "We believe in nurturing young opera stars and this will be a perfect venue for them." | "We believe in nurturing young opera stars and this will be a perfect venue for them." |
| Dating back to the 13th Century, the Nevill Holt estate became home to the opera in 2000. | Dating back to the 13th Century, the Nevill Holt estate became home to the opera in 2000. |
| Mr Ross, who will support the project through his David Ross Foundation, also has a large private collection of modern British sculpture at the hall. | Mr Ross, who will support the project through his David Ross Foundation, also has a large private collection of modern British sculpture at the hall. |
| Statistics from Operabase | Statistics from Operabase |