Haslemere Traveller 2017

WANDERING STAR
JOANNA
LUMLEY
National treasure Joanna Lumley OBE
FRGS is the leading Appeal Patron for
Grange Park Opera’s ‘Theatre in the
Woods’ in Surrey, the first new opera
house to be built in the UK for decades.
Happily, it is not far from our shop, so
we seized the chance to catch up with
Joanna to ask about her travels, love
of music …and black trousers.
As an author, actress, TV presenter and former
model, has overseas travel always played an
important part in your life?
Yes, because I was born in a suitcase leaving
India at the age of one and living in Hong Kong
and Malaysia until I was eight. Long sea voyages
punctuated my childhood and left me with a longing
to keep moving.
What do you never forget to pack on your
travels?
Black trousers, a torch and books.
Which passport stamp are you most proud of?
Pretty keen on my Mongolian one (pictured above).
Do you have a favourite destination you return
to as often as possible?
I loved Ethiopia, where I made part of a
documentary, with a passion, and plan to return as
soon as I can.
Where would you like to go next…?
India again: filming but also savouring the fabulous
variety of that stupendous country (pictured below).
Who is your dream travel companion?
My husband; but I mostly travel now with a tiny
film crew. We have become best friends and I love
working with them.
Music plays a big part in your life too…why is it
so important to you?
I was born listening to the greats… Mozart,
Beethoven, Dvorak, Chopin... on a wind-up
gramophone in the Far East. I would suffocate with
no music in my life.
What persuaded you to take on the role of
Patron for Grange Park Opera (GPO)’s appeal
for its exciting, new Theatre in the Woods?
It was the easiest decision I have ever made. I
love what GPO does, and how it behaves: all are
welcome and their standards are sky-high. The
Theatre in the Woods is stunningly attractive
and will be a new wonder of the glorious Surrey
countryside (pictured below, right).
What are your ambitions for this extraordinary,
new opera house, which is currently being built
in 350 acres of beautiful landscape and historic
gardens, surrounding 15th century mansion
West Horsley Place?
It will be utterly magical: the combination of the
majesty of that ancient house (pictured below, left)
and its grand spreading gardens, and the music
and dance that will take place in the Theatre in the
Woods will be unbeatable.
GPO initiatives such as £35 tickets for the
under-35s seek to encourage the young
to sample opera – do you recall your first
performance?
Grace Bumbry singing Aida in about 1964…
awesome.
When the curtain rises on 8th June 2017, sum up
in three words what you will be feeling…?
Thrilled, proud and happy.
If you could cast your perfect opera, who would
perform and what would it be?
Maria Callas and Jussi Bjorling in Tosca. Hearing
Callas singing Vissi d’arte is a masterclass in
both singing and acting; she was truly as good as
it gets. She knew exactly how to portray passion,
despair, love and hatred, and Puccini’s music is
sublime. Jussi Bjorling had a voice I would swim
oceans to hear. A giant.
And if you had to describe yourself as a
character in an opera, who would it be and why?
I would rather like to be the Countess in The
Marriage of Figaro: although she has a rather
wretched time with a scoundrel of a husband, she
has an aria so lovely that whenever I hear the music
beginning I start to sob hopelessly.
01428 658 777 haslemeretravel.co.uk TRAVELLER 2017 11