340-million-year-old glacial erratic boulders from Ireland arrive in Leicestershire

This summer, the historic site Nevill Holt in Leicestershire will be presenting, in conjunction with its annual Opera and Summer festivals, some of the finest British sculpture from the private collection of David Ross and the new monumental sculpture of Luke Alen-Buckley.

The Nevill Holt estate was formed in the 13th century by John de Kirkby, later the Bishop of Ely, and sold in 1631 to the Nevill family, from which it takes its name. In 1876, the estate was bought at auction by Edward Cunard. David Ross, chairman of the National Portrait Gallery, bought it in 2000 and spent 12 years restoring the house and estate in order to create a unique setting for the most qualitative Operas outside the capital surrounded by an astounding sculpture collection, with the intention of delivering high quality art and culture to those who don’t have immediate access. It is now home to beautiful grounds with stunning views of the local landscape, Ross’s outstanding collection of modern British art and sculpture, and is the base of Nevill Holt Opera and their new RIBA Award-winning theatre.

An overall focus on new generations will be the main attraction this year.
Alen-Buckley stands out amongst the big names in the sculpture park as the first artist to directly address environmental questions.

Set in the stunning gardens designed by Chelsea gold medal winner Rupert Golby, a three-piece monumental work, titled The Morrígan will be the centrepiece of this exhibition.

Each of the three sculptures stands three metres tall and comprises a 15-tonne sculpted blue limestone 340 million year old glacial erratic rock from Tipperary, Ireland, suspended within a steel ring. Sixteen further sculptures will be arranged around the grounds of Nevill Holt alongside an outstanding permanent collection of British art and sculpture featuring works by Antony Gormley, Allen Jones, Marc Quinn, Nic Fiddian Green, Conrad Shawcross and Sean Henry, among others, setting the grounds for reflection on environmental questions and the human impact on the planet.

An outstanding programme of classics will be performed from the beginning of June presenting for the first time young sopranos, such as Nigerian-American soprano Francesca Chiejina in the role of Mimì in La Bohème, a graduate of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme; Peter Scott Drackley (Sweeney Todd, Des Moines Metro Opera; Tosca, Anchorage Opera) takes the role of Rodolfo; Alexandra Oomens, a Harewood Artist with ENO, is Musetta; Frank Spedding Leider Prize-winning Christopher Nairne is Marcello; Jette Parker Young Artist Dominic Sedgwick is Schaunard.