I have a hunch – not backed up by any statistical analysis – that in this country, more people know Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women from Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film than have read the book. In the States, the novel has never been out of print since it was published in 1868. There have been many adaptations, for film, TV, the stage, even comic books.
Now, two years late because of Covid, Opera Holland Park (OHP) finally gives the first UK performances of Mark Adamo’s opera based on the novel. Since its premiere in Houston in 1998, it has travelled the world, but by and large opera companies here don’t rush to perform American operas. Kudos to OHP, then.
