The Corinthia Hotel in London has announced that they will be presenting Emily Hall’s promenade opera at the hotel from the 25th January to the 3rd February 2016.
Titled Found & Lost, the opera allows audiences to embark on a musical journey through the hotel’s most intimate and private spaces as the narrative unfolds through live performances and sound installation.
Emily Hall’s site specific opera has been conceived in collaboration with the internationally renowned sound designer David Sheppard and will be performed to audiences of 12 at a time. The piece was developed during a month’s residency at the hotel, taking audiences to rooms which will break into song and drama unfolding along the way.
A black cab pulls up to the kerb on Whitehall Place. A woman pays the driver and takes six steps up to where a footman is holding the door open for her; her heels create a faint echo on the marble floor as she passes a stunning floral display. The scent of camellias hangs in the air and is gone by the time she reaches the reception.
She places a briefcase on the counter. The receptionist is on the telephone. She nods apologetically before ending the call with five star efficiency. There is a tension in the air that causes her to hesitate slightly before asking ‘How may I help you?’ The woman replies with a question of her own; you can almost hear it. It is the first of many…
Along with Hall and Sheppard, Matthew Welton has created the libretto exclusively from texts that can be found in the five star hotel – such as wine lists, housekeeping check lists and lost and found records.
The composition integrates music recorded in various spaces, as well as featuring a live chorus sung by members of Siglo de Oro and live performances from James McVinne. The recorded artists featured in the production includes: Allan Clayton, Mara Carlyle, Oliver Coates, Sofia Jernberg, Puzzle Muteson and Duncan Tarboton.
Emily Hall was selected in April 2015 from eleven finalists to create the piece at the Hotel, after entering the hotel’s fourth Artist in Residence competition: a search to find a composer or company to produce a brand new opera inspired piece inside the luxury hotel. Her idea was selected by a panel of music and arts industry leaders including Alex Beard CBE (Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House), award winning tenor Joseph Calleja and James Conway (Artistic Director & Chief Executive of English Touring Opera) among others.
Performances will take place at the hotel from Monday 25th January to Wednesday 3rd February. Most performances take place at 7pm and 8.15 and tickets cost between £20 – £35.