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European Opera Forum – London The Opera Experience, an introduction by Nicholas Payne (Director of Opera Europa) London follows Paris and Barcelona as the host city of the biennial European Opera Forum. What can it offer which may complement its successful predecessors, yet which is uniquely its own? Its size brings cultural diversity and a rich cocktail of all the arts. While the variety may confuse, the choice is dazzling. Two large opera houses share the same postal district WC2. The Royal Opera House Covent Garden is one of the undisputed handful of top international houses recognized throughout the world. English National Opera communicates in the vernacular and has built an international reputation for challenging theatrical work at the London Coliseum. Yet, our weekend in March may confound expectations. The Royal Opera will transform itself for the premiere production of a potentially shocking new opera on a contemporary subject, the life and death of the model Anna Nicole, by Mark‐Anthony Turnage and Richard Thomas; while ENO promises to surprise with a new treatment of Donizetti’s bel canto classic Lucrezia Borgia and Wagner’s hallowed Parsifal. Creative teams will be on hand to examine and explain and demonstrate what drives the content of opera today. Across the river Thames lies the National Theatre with its three contrasted auditoria, and a policy of providing a 50:50 ratio of classic and modern titles in its repertory. During the central Saturday at the NT, architects and directors will look at theatre buildings today and propose what kind of spaces might be best for opera in the future. That evening, delegates will be welcomed to a party with a spectacular view over the city at the iconic museum Tate Modern. A central question is: how do we convey the message about what we do? Our think‐tank of young delegates who have been helping to devise the programme is convinced that going to the opera is more than just seeing a show. While the Opera Experience has the performance at its heart, it also encompasses the building which houses and surrounds it, the social context and how that is communicated to a widening public. We have invited some important players to address some of the big issues concerning opera today. We hope that they may stimulate you to contribute to the debate and to participate in our extended weekend in the heart of London at the beginning of March.