Grange Park Opera

Musical Chairs

Young people aged 14 - 25 are eligible to apply for free tickets on selected dates of the summer festival.

Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult (over 18 years) whose ticket is also free. As it's always more fun coming as a group, applicants may apply for up to four tickets.

Download an application form. Please complete and save your application form with a new file name and email to Rebecca@grangeparkopera.co.uk

Successful applicants will be sent a confirmation along with the dining information. Please bring proof of age on the evening of the performance.

What they said - 2012:

"It was my first opera, so it took a little while for me to get past the "wow, this is unlike anything I've ever seen" stage and start to enjoy and engage with the performance properly. It was hugely enjoyable - the music was of course wonderful, and several of the performances were very powerful. Being given free tickets was of course great, as I probably wouldn't have been able to have such a good introduction to the world of opera otherwise." Harry

"I was extremely grateful to be given free tickets; the cost of the evening would have been prohibitive otherwise. It also allowed me to try a new form of entertainment that perhaps I otherwise would always have viewed as expensive and exclusive. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for the opportunity and I very much hope to return to Grange Park in the not too distant future." Heather

"We have been lucky enough to visit the Grange twice over the course of the last couple of years. The John Bentley School is a large comprehensive school based in the Wiltshire town of Calne. On both occasions we have filled the school minibus with students undertaking GCSE or A Level music to both enhance their musical studies and enrich their cultural lives. Prior to the day of the visit we dedicate a lunchtime to introducing the opera. In 2011 Dvorak's Rusalka and Madama Butterfly in 2012. The students learn about the main characters, voice types and synopsis of the opera. After the hour and a half journey from North Wiltshire the students arrive at the Grange and are bowled over by the beauty and grandeur of the venue, a leisurely picnic precedes the main event, the opera. Last year, one of the students turned to me as he was enjoying some more food at the interval; "This is the best experience of my time at school, Sir, I'll remember it forever". He may have been overawed by the occasion but I have no doubt that he will remember it forever and for that we owe huge thanks to Wasfi and all at the Grange for making it possible." Peter Grant, teacher at John Bentley School, Calne

"We very much appreciated receiving free tickets. It was a wonderful opportunity to see something that we would otherwise not be able to afford to enjoy, so thank you very much for the kindness of those that made our visit possible." Bogdan

"The opera was amazing with a really dramatic ending.  The costumes brought it to life and the singers were fantastic.  It was wonderful that the tickets were free as otherwise they would have been too expensive and I would have missed out on this experience." Cathryn

"The opera was a capturing and truly mesmerising performance.  Thank you for this opportunity, it is appreciated greatly and may whoever funded the scheme please receive my gratitude." Matthew

"I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to see such an amazing opera." Helen

What they said - 2011:

"Personally, this visit has inspired me to enjoy opera as a form in general, and I think it has begun a lifelong passion. Prior to our visit, I wouldn't have believed that opera was 'worth the money' in this age of free music downloads, Youtube, Spotify and the like. Yet, given the opportunity to factor out the cost for one evening by the Musical Chairs scheme, I have come to realise that these free mediums simply do not compare with the true experience of live opera." Jonny

"Thanks to the Young Persons Music Chair program, I could be part of this stunning performance for free and sitting at the middle of the front row ..... many thanks to these generous supporters, who made the Grange opera festival a unique experience for ALL opera lovers wishing to attend." Zi

"The free tickets were such a treat and there is just no other opera house in the UK as generous - I am so grateful to the people who made this happen. It's a great gift, and I hope that people continue to do it." Guido

"I absolutely loved the opera and it was amazing to be on the front row and feel like such a part of the performance. The whole house felt very intimate so I'm sure those on the back row had an unforgettable experience as well. The vocal talent was superb and the orchestra completely blew me away. Grange Park is such a treasure and I really hope that I get to come back one day.

"The grounds of Grange Park were beautiful and it was hard not to take photos as I turned every corner. It felt like something out of a fairytale and the opera itself really impressed me. I couldn't believe I was there for free and was made to feel so welcome by everyone." Stephanie

"I'd like to say thank you very much for the oppurtunity for me to see the opera last week! It was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. The free ticket I was given enabled me to see my first opera, something I'd wanted to do for a long time but my parents could never really afford to do. It was such a great experience and I came away inspired to carry on with music in the Sixth form and maybe even take up singing lessons! Being so close to the action on stage was another bonus because I felt so involved with the story - everything was so exciting. I'd like to thank the people who provided the money for it and I hope other people like me are able to experience what I have because it was so brilliant and inspiring!" Charlotte

"That was my first Tristan, not an experience I will quickly forget and not one I would have been able to afford for many years without your help. What a brilliant way to see it for the first time. To those that have sponsored this scheme I can only offer my most profound thanks and appreciation. And also to you personally for taking an interest in me, an operatic wannabe/soon to be and my disbelieving friends. Many thanks again." Edward

"Thank you for the tickets to the wonderful opera. The songs were magical, the dancing was excellent and the drama, well, it was almost the funniest show on earth!"

"If it weren't for you I wouldn't have seen the opera...I really enjoyed it"

"What a good way of introducing younger people to opera. The setting, the music, the drama, the humour - it was wonderful and will stay in my mind for a very long time. I want to come back"