EIGHTY-FOUR YEARS after it first opened the Electric Palace in Bridport is returning to its original purpose: OPERA.
Yes, opera.
“The building was originally erected for dual use as a cinema and opera house for the Palmer brewing family, who wanted to bring opera to Dorset.”
So reads the citation for the Grade II listing of the Electric Palace by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 April, 1999.
I found my copy of this document by chance after it was first reported (on Real West Dorset) that the Palace wanted to install an expensive satellite dish so as to be able to broadcast live high-definition performances from the Metropolitan Opera in New York and perhaps also the National Theatre in London.
And I thought – fancy that…
[Note added Saturday, August 28: You can now read the Electric Palace listed building details online by clicking here]
So, even though I have almost no appreciation of opera whatsoever, I’m going to report that this Thursday evening (August 26) West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin will be taking to the stage of the Electric Palace to show his support of the venue’s efforts to reinvigorate opera and reach out to a broader public.
The opera shown will be Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, directed for the stage by Franco Zeffirelli, and starring Fiorenza Cedolins, Marcello Giordani, and Juan Pons.
Madama Butterfly
The aim of this benefit screening is to raise money for the costly purchase and fitting of the bespoke dish required to receive a season of 11 Met Live performances.
This will be the fifth year that shows have been broadcast live from New York; they now reach more than 1.6 million people in 35 countries.
Tickets for Madama Butterfly cost £15, including a glass of wine.
They are on sale now from Bridport Tourist Information Centre 01308 424901.
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That Pinkerton needs a damn good horse whipping and, in my younger days, I would have given him one. Jumped-up, patronising American brute, that was the US navy for you in those days – some things never change, do they?