CONCERT

28 May | Grange Park Opera

• Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
• Time: 7pm for 7:30pm

What an amazing gastronomic and operatic extravaganza this will be! Ognisko Polskie is delighted to co-host this event with Grange Park Opera. A delicious dinner, served by Ognisko Restaurant, will feature exclusive performances of Arias by Rachel Nicholls, one of the most exciting dramatic sopranos of her generation, and David Stout, who is established as one of the UK’s most versatile baritones.

This event also marks the launch of Grange Park Opera’s Summer Season (5th June - 13th July). This year’s program, which includes Madama Butterfly and Simon Boccanegra, will be previewed for us by Wasfi Kani CBE, who founded Grange Park Opera in 1998. Wasfi also founded Pimlico Opera, a touring company, and played the violin in the National Youth Orchestra. She will be joined by David Pountney, a director of Grange Park Opera, formerly Director of Productions at companies including the English National Opera and Scottish Opera. The company has staged more than 80 operas, including acclaimed productions of Rusalka, Tristan und Isolde, Peter Grimes, and Fiddler on the Roof with Bryn Terfel at the BBC Proms.

Established as one of Europe’s major summer opera seasons, Grange Park Opera is based in a five storey opera house, modelled on La Scala in Milan, built by Wasfi Kani and her team in the grounds of West Horsley Place in Surrey. Located 23 miles from central London, this is a 350-acre estate with a glorious 14th century house, set in formal gardens, formerly owned by Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe.

Rachel Nicholls

Rachel Nicholls received the highest critical acclaim for her Brünnhilde in complete Ring cycles for Longborough Festival Opera in 2013. She made her début at London’s Royal Opera House and has appeared at the Wigmore Hall, the Edinburgh Festival, the New Theatre, Tokyo and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Also in demand as a concert artist, Rachel has performed with the Royal Philharmonic.

David Stout

David Stout’s repertoire encompasses early music, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Britten, bel canto and twentieth-century works. Highlights this season include Count Douglas in Mascagni’s Guglielmo Ratcliff (Wexford Festival). Recent performances include the title role of Le Nozze di Figaro and Fritz Kothner Die Meistersinger (English National Opera); and Baron Douphol La Traviata (Royal Opera House).



Please note that for such a special evening each member may book two tickets, one of which can be for a non-member.