Opera at Covent Garden
It is exciting news that a serious attempt is to be made to re-establi Covent Garden after the war as a centre of opera and ballet worth of the highest musical traditions. The lease of the Royal Op House has been acquired by Messrs. Boosey and Hawkes, the musi publishers who, in association with Mr. Harold Holt, will assume control on January 1st next. Since its early successes in the latter part of the last century Opera at Covent Garden has had a chequered career, and especially during the period after the last war it had difficulty in maintaining itself, relying as it was bound to do under the circumstances on short seasons and audiences for the most pan well-to-do. Britain has been conspicuous among civilised nation5 by its unique unwillingness to provide public money in support ,either of national opera or national drama. But now another gallant attempt is to be made by private enterprise to supply what London ought to have, and more than ever in the times that are coming, when she may be expected to be a much-visited centre for travelling from all parts of the world. The promoters intend to appoint an advis0r! council, three of whose members will have special knowledge of the production of opera and ballet. It is good to know that in formu- lating a long-term policy they look forward to intimate co-operation with those actively engaged in production in London at the present time. That means that the pioneer war-time work of the Sadler's Wells companies, supported by C.E.MA., will have helped to Pave the way. It is also good to know that it is proposed to give " through- out the year" the best in English opera and ballet as well as the best in opera and ballet from all over the world.
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