Glyndebourne Festival Opera: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|English opera festival}}
{{About|the Glyndebourne opera festival|the country house and opera house|Glyndebourne}}
{{About|the Glyndebourne opera festival|the country house and opera house|Glyndebourne}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox music festival
{{Infobox music festival
| name = Glyndebourne Festival Opera
| name = Glyndebourne Festival Opera
| image = Glyndebourne 4.jpg
| image = Glyndebourne 4.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = The new theatre, 31 July 2007
| caption = The new theatre, 31 July 2007
| genre = [[Opera]]
| genre = [[Opera]]
| dates =1934-present
| dates =1934–present
| location = [[Glyndebourne]], [[East Sussex]], [[England]]
| location = [[Glyndebourne]], [[East Sussex]], [[England]]
| coordinates = {{coord|50|52|42|N|0|03|50|E|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}|display=title|founders=[[John Christie (opera manager)|John Christie]]|website={{URL|www.glyndebourne.com}}}}
| coordinates = {{coord|50|52|42|N|0|03|50|E|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}|founders=[[John Christie (opera manager)|John Christie]]|website={{URL|www.glyndebourne.com}}}}
'''Glyndebourne Festival Opera''' is an annual [[list of opera festivals|opera festival]] held at [[Glyndebourne]], an [[English country house]] near [[Lewes]], in [[East Sussex]], [[England]].
'''Glyndebourne Festival Opera''' is an annual [[list of opera festivals|opera festival]] held at [[Glyndebourne]], an [[English country house]] near [[Lewes]], in [[East Sussex]], [[England]].


==History==
==History==
Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, except in 1941–45 during [[World War II]] and 1993 when the theatre was being rebuilt, for a 1994 reopening. Gus Christie, son of [[George Christie (opera manager)|Sir George Christie]] and grandson of festival founder [[John Christie (opera manager)|John Christie]], became festival chairman in 2000.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4723200/Dad-assures-me-were-in-the-best-condition-ever.html | title=Dad assures me we're in the best condition ever | work=The Telegraph| author=Rupert Christiansen | date=1 May 2001 | access-date=2007-03-25}}</ref>
Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, except in 1941–45 during [[World War II]] and 1993 when the theatre was being rebuilt, for a 1994 reopening. Gus Christie, son of [[George Christie (opera manager)|Sir George Christie]] and grandson of festival founder [[John Christie (opera manager)|John Christie]], became festival chairman in 2000.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4723200/Dad-assures-me-were-in-the-best-condition-ever.html | title=Dad assures me we're in the best condition ever | work=The Telegraph| author=Rupert Christiansen | date=1 May 2001 | access-date=25 March 2007}}</ref>


[[File:Glyndebourne 2.jpg|thumb|left|Glyndebourne House, 1 August 2006]]
[[File:Glyndebourne 2.jpg|thumb|left|Glyndebourne House, 1 August 2006]]


Since the company's inception, Glyndebourne has been particularly celebrated for its productions of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] [[opera]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | jstor=920186 | last=McN. | first=W. | title=The Mozart Festival at Glyndebourne | journal=The Musical Times | volume=76 | issue=1109 | page=646 |date=July 1935}}</ref> Recordings of Glyndebourne's past historic Mozart productions have been reissued.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jun/13/classicalmusicandopera2 | title=Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Gencer/ Freni/ Bacquier/ Blankenburg/ RPO/ Varviso | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley | date=13 June 2008 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref> Other notable productions included their 1980s production of [[George Gershwin]]'s ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'', directed by [[Trevor Nunn]], and later expanded from the Glyndebourne stage and videotaped in 1993 for television, with Nunn again directing. While Mozart operas have continued to be the mainstay of its [[repertory]], the company has expanded it with productions of [[Leoš Janáček|Janáček]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jun/04/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures | title=Katya Kabanova | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley | date=4 June 2002 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/oct/31/dvdreviews.shopping | title=The Makropulos Case: London Philharmonic/Davis | work=The Guardian | author=Andrew Clements | date=31 October 2003 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref> and [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/24/giulio-cesare-glyndebourne-david-mcvicar | title=Giulio Cesare | work=The Guardian | author=Martin Kettle | date=24 May 2009 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref> operas.
Since the company's inception, Glyndebourne has been particularly celebrated for its productions of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] [[opera]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | jstor=920186 | last=McN. | first=W. | title=The Mozart Festival at Glyndebourne | journal=The Musical Times | volume=76 | issue=1109 | page=646 |date=July 1935| doi=10.2307/920186 }}</ref> Recordings of Glyndebourne's past historic Mozart productions have been reissued.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jun/13/classicalmusicandopera2 | title=Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Gencer/ Freni/ Bacquier/ Blankenburg/ RPO/ Varviso | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley | date=13 June 2008 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> Other notable productions included their 1980s production of [[George Gershwin]]'s ''[[Porgy and Bess]]'', directed by [[Trevor Nunn]], and later expanded from the Glyndebourne stage and videotaped in 1993 for television, with Nunn again directing. While Mozart operas have continued to be the mainstay of its [[repertory]], the company has expanded it with productions of [[Leoš Janáček|Janáček]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/jun/04/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures | title=Katya Kabanova | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley | date=4 June 2002 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/oct/31/dvdreviews.shopping | title=The Makropulos Case: London Philharmonic/Davis | work=The Guardian | author=Andrew Clements | date=31 October 2003 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> and [[George Frideric Handel|Handel]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/24/giulio-cesare-glyndebourne-david-mcvicar | title=Giulio Cesare | work=The Guardian | author=Martin Kettle | date=24 May 2009 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> operas.


The primary resident orchestra for the Glyndebourne Festival is the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] (since 1964). The festival's associate orchestra is the [[Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment]]. In January 2014, [[Robin Ticciati]] became the seventh music director of the company.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://glyndebourne.com/news-article/robin-ticciati-will-be-festival-music-director-january-2014 | title=Robin Ticciati will be Festival Music Director from January 2014 | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=2011-07-02 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702052021/http://glyndebourne.com/news-article/robin-ticciati-will-be-festival-music-director-january-2014 | archive-date=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/01/glyndebourne-director-baton-robin-ticciati | title=Glyndebourne baton handed to Robin Ticciati | work=The Guardian | author=Maeve Kennedy | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=2011-07-01}}</ref>
The primary resident orchestra for the Glyndebourne Festival is the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] (since 1964). The festival's associate orchestra is the [[Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment]]. In January 2014, [[Robin Ticciati]] became the seventh music director of the company.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://glyndebourne.com/news-article/robin-ticciati-will-be-festival-music-director-january-2014 | title=Robin Ticciati will be Festival Music Director from January 2014 | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=2 July 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110702052021/http://glyndebourne.com/news-article/robin-ticciati-will-be-festival-music-director-january-2014 | archive-date=2 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/01/glyndebourne-director-baton-robin-ticciati | title=Glyndebourne baton handed to Robin Ticciati | work=The Guardian | author=Maeve Kennedy | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=1 July 2011}}</ref>


Past general directors of the festival have included David Pickard.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2015/may/david-pickard-appointed-director-bbc-proms/ | title=David Pickard appointed Director, BBC Proms | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=2015-05-26 | access-date=2015-11-22}}</ref> In November 2015, the festival announced the appointment of [[Sebastian F. Schwarz]] as its general director, effective in May 2016.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2015/november/glyndebourne-appoints-new-general-director/ | title=Glyndebourne Appoints New General Director | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=2015-11-17 | access-date=2015-11-22}}</ref> In March 2018 Schwarz stepped down as general director.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2017/december/sebastian-f-schwarz-steps-down-as-general-director-of-glyndebourne/ | title=Sebastian F. Schwarz steps down as General Director of Glyndebourne | publisher=Glyndebourne Opera | date=4 December 2017 | access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> In August 2018, the festival announced the appointment of [[Stephen Langridge]] as its next artistic director, effective in the spring of 2019.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2018/august/stephen-langridge-appointed-artistic-director-of-glyndebourne/ | title=Stephen Langridge appointed Artistic Director of Glyndebourne | publisher=Glyndebourne Opera | date=9 August 2018 | access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref>
Past general directors of the festival have included David Pickard.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2015/may/david-pickard-appointed-director-bbc-proms/ | title=David Pickard appointed Director, BBC Proms | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=26 May 2015 | access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> In November 2015, the festival announced the appointment of [[Sebastian F. Schwarz]] as its general director, effective in May 2016.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2015/november/glyndebourne-appoints-new-general-director/ | title=Glyndebourne Appoints New General Director | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=17 November 2015 | access-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> In March 2018 Schwarz stepped down as general director.<ref>{{cite press release | url=http://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2017/december/sebastian-f-schwarz-steps-down-as-general-director-of-glyndebourne/ | title=Sebastian F. Schwarz steps down as General Director of Glyndebourne | publisher=Glyndebourne Opera | date=4 December 2017 | access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref> In August 2018, the festival announced the appointment of [[Stephen Langridge]] as its next artistic director, effective in the spring of 2019.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2018/august/stephen-langridge-appointed-artistic-director-of-glyndebourne/ | title=Stephen Langridge appointed Artistic Director of Glyndebourne | publisher=Glyndebourne Opera | date=9 August 2018 | access-date=18 August 2018}}</ref>


The festival operates without subsidy. Its first placement of advertisements was in 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/may/15/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures | title=Inclusive engagement | work=The Guardian | author=Charlotte Higgins | date=15 May 2003 | access-date=2007-02-12}}</ref> The festival has planned to incorporate power by wind turbine, as part of its "green" initiatives.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/30/opera-eno-glyndebourne-opera-north | title=How British opera reinvented itself | work=The Guardian | author=Charlotte Higgins | date=30 November 2009 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref>
The festival operates without subsidy. Its first placement of advertisements was in 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/may/15/classicalmusicandopera.artsfeatures | title=Inclusive engagement | work=The Guardian | author=Charlotte Higgins | date=15 May 2003 | access-date=12 February 2007}}</ref> The festival has planned to incorporate power by wind turbine, as part of its "green" initiatives.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/30/opera-eno-glyndebourne-opera-north | title=How British opera reinvented itself | work=The Guardian | author=Charlotte Higgins | date=30 November 2009 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>


Many Glyndebourne attendees come from [[London]], and the event is regarded as part of the English summer [[Season (society)|season]]. Performances start in the afternoon, enabling Londoners to leave town after lunch, and finish in time for them to catch the last train back. A long interval allows opera-goers the opportunity for picnic dinners on the extensive lawns or in one of the restaurants in the grounds. Annually in London, the company presents an opera performance at [[The Proms]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/20/classicalmusicandopera.theatre | title=Cosi fan tutte (Royal Albert Hall, London) | work=The Guardian | author=Martin Kettle | date=20 July 2006 | access-date=2010-01-01}}</ref>
Many Glyndebourne attendees come from [[London]], and the event is regarded as part of the English summer [[Season (society)|season]]. Performances start in the afternoon, enabling Londoners to leave town after lunch, and finish in time for them to catch the last train back. A long interval allows opera-goers the opportunity for picnic dinners on the extensive lawns or in one of the restaurants in the grounds. Annually in London, the company presents an opera performance at [[The Proms]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/20/classicalmusicandopera.theatre | title=Cosi fan tutte (Royal Albert Hall, London) | work=The Guardian | author=Martin Kettle | date=20 July 2006 | access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>


==Music directors==
==Music directors==
*[[Fritz Busch]] (1934&ndash;1951)
*[[Fritz Busch]] (1934–1951)
*[[Vittorio Gui]] (1952&ndash;1963)
*[[Vittorio Gui]] (1952–1963)
*[[John Pritchard (conductor)|John Pritchard]] (1964&ndash;1977)
*[[John Pritchard (conductor)|John Pritchard]] (1964–1977)
*[[Bernard Haitink]] (1978&ndash;1988)
*[[Bernard Haitink]] (1978–1988)
*[[Andrew Davis (conductor)|Andrew Davis]] (1989&ndash;2000)
*[[Andrew Davis (conductor)|Andrew Davis]] (1989–2000)
*[[Vladimir Jurowski]] (2001&ndash;2013)
*[[Vladimir Jurowski]] (2001–2013)
*[[Robin Ticciati]] (2014–present)
*[[Robin Ticciati]] (2014–present)


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In 1968, Glyndebourne Festival Opera established a touring ensemble, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, which in its first season took opera productions to [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[Sheffield]] and [[Oxford]]. In addition to bringing the work of Glyndebourne Festival Opera to audiences some distance from Glyndebourne, Glyndebourne Touring Opera offers opportunities for younger opera singers to develop their craft. In 2003, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera administrative duties were absorbed back into the main Glyndebourne Festival Opera administration, and the touring company was renamed Glyndebourne on Tour. The touring company now has the name of Glyndebourne Tour. Unlike Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Glyndebourne Tour does receive some subsidy, from the [[Arts Council England]].
In 1968, Glyndebourne Festival Opera established a touring ensemble, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, which in its first season took opera productions to [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[Sheffield]] and [[Oxford]]. In addition to bringing the work of Glyndebourne Festival Opera to audiences some distance from Glyndebourne, Glyndebourne Touring Opera offers opportunities for younger opera singers to develop their craft. In 2003, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera administrative duties were absorbed back into the main Glyndebourne Festival Opera administration, and the touring company was renamed Glyndebourne on Tour. The touring company now has the name of Glyndebourne Tour. Unlike Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Glyndebourne Tour does receive some subsidy, from the [[Arts Council England]].


As of 2022, the Tour performs in the [[Milton Keynes Theatre]], the [[Marlowe Theatre]] in Canterbury, the [[Theatre Royal, Norwich|Theatre Royal in Norwich]] and the [[Liverpool Empire Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Tour |website=Glyndebourne |date=2022 |url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/tour/?gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-Nteb10v1nDxrjsDl_TSU0_WItwS5xfp4kTFgmBn1RI-R6pj04_-VuBoCjm8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds/|accessdate=14 November 2022}}</ref>
⚫
The tour takes place in autumn following the festival season, and typically includes three weeks of performances at Glyndebourne, followed by one week in each of the other locations. The touring ensemble has separate music directors, as follows:


⚫
The tour normally takes place in autumn following the festival season, and typically includes three weeks of performances at Glyndebourne, followed by one week in each of the other locations. The touring ensemble has separate music directors, as follows:
* [[Myer Fredman]] (1968–1974)
* [[Myer Fredman]] (1968–1974)
* [[Kenneth Montgomery]] (1975–1976)
* [[Kenneth Montgomery]] (1975–1976)
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* [[Robin Ticciati]] (2007–2009)
* [[Robin Ticciati]] (2007–2009)
* [[Jakub Hrůša]] (2010–2012)
* [[Jakub Hrůša]] (2010–2012)
* [[Ben Glassberg]] (2019–2021, principal conductor)


Ticciati is the first former music director of Glyndebourne on Tour to be named music director of the full Glyndebourne Opera company. In November 2018, the company announced the appointment of Ben Glassberg as the new principal conductor of the Glyndebourne Tour, with a set contract of 3 years.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/discover/news-and-blogs/2018/november/ben-glassberg-appointed-principal-conductor-of-the-glyndebourne-tour/ | title=Ben Glassberg appointed Principal Conductor of the Glyndebourne Tour | publisher=Glyndebourne Opera | date=6 November 2018 | access-date=10 November 2018}}</ref>
Ticciati is the first former music director of Glyndebourne on Tour to be named music director of the full Glyndebourne Festival Opera company.


Glyndebourne Festival Opera has also toured internationally, including the [[Adelaide Festival]] in 2006 with its production of ''[[Flight (opera)|Flight]]'' by [[Jonathan Dove]] and [[April De Angelis]].
Glyndebourne Festival Opera has also toured internationally, including the [[Adelaide Festival]] in 2006 with its production of ''[[Flight (opera)|Flight]]'' by [[Jonathan Dove]] and [[April De Angelis]].

In January 2023, the company announced that the planned 2023 Glyndebourne on Tour season will not occur, as a result of the reduced funding from Arts Council England for the 2023–2026 National Portfolio.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/tour/glyndebourne-is-unable-to-tour-in-2023/ | title=Glyndebourne is unable to tour in 2023 | publisher=Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra | date=6 January 2023 | access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, the company announced the appointment of Adam Hickox as the new principal conductor of Glyndebourne Sinfonia, the new name for the Glyndebourne on Tour Orchestra, with immediate effect.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.glyndebourne.com/news/adam-hickox-appointed-as-new-principal-conductor-of-glyndebourne-sinfonia/ | title=Adam Hickox appointed as new Principal Conductor of Glyndebourne Sinfonia | publisher= Glyndebourne Festival Opera | date=4 December 2023 | accessdate=6 January 2024}}</ref>


==Finances==
==Finances==
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==Other media==
==Other media==
[[Glyndebourne (record label)|The Glyndebourne Label]] was established in 2008 to release live recordings on CD. Commercial releases have included Mozart's ''[[Idomeneo]]'' (with [[Luciano Pavarotti]] and [[Gundula Janowitz]]), [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''[[Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka]]'' and [[Benjamin Britten]]'s ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]''. During the music directorship of [[Vladimir Jurowski]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/26/fiachragibbons | title=New baton | work=The Guardian | author=Fiachra Gibbons | date=26 August 2000 | access-date=2007-02-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/may/17/artsfeatures.classicalmusicandopera | title=A tale of two festivals | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley and Caroline Sullivan | date=17 May 2002 | access-date=2007-02-12}}</ref> the festival began its "Glyndebourne on Screen" programme, for viewers to see performances from the festival in cinemas and live-streaming on personal computers, the latter in partnership with ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper.
[[Glyndebourne (record label)|The Glyndebourne Label]] was established in 2008 to release live recordings on CD. Commercial releases have included Mozart's ''[[Idomeneo]]'' (with [[Luciano Pavarotti]] and [[Gundula Janowitz]]), [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''[[Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka]]'' and [[Benjamin Britten]]'s ''[[Billy Budd (opera)|Billy Budd]]''. During the music directorship of [[Vladimir Jurowski]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/26/fiachragibbons | title=New baton | work=The Guardian | author=Fiachra Gibbons | date=26 August 2000 | access-date=12 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2002/may/17/artsfeatures.classicalmusicandopera | title=A tale of two festivals | work=The Guardian | author=Tim Ashley and Caroline Sullivan | date=17 May 2002 | access-date=12 February 2007}}</ref> the festival began its "Glyndebourne on Screen" programme, for viewers to see performances from the festival in cinemas and live-streaming on personal computers, the latter in partnership with ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Country house opera]]
*[[Country house opera]]
*[[Glyndebourne Festival Opera: history and repertoire, 1934–1951]]
*[[Glyndebourne Festival Opera: history and repertoire, 1934–51]]
*[[Glyndebourne Festival Opera: history and repertoire 1952-1963]]
*[[Glyndebourne Festival Opera: history and repertoire, 1952–63]]
*[[List of music festivals in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of music festivals in the United Kingdom]]


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{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
===Sources===
===Sources===
*Kennedy, Michael, ''Glyndebourne: A Brief History'', Oxford: Shire Publications, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-7478-0821-3}}
* Kennedy, Michael, ''Glyndebourne: A Brief History'', Oxford: Shire Publications, 2010. {{ISBN|978-0-7478-0821-3}}
*[[John Julius Norwich|Norwich, John Julius]], ''Fifty Years of Glyndebourne'', London: Cape, 1985 {{ISBN|0-224-02310-1}}
* [[John Julius Norwich|Norwich, John Julius]], ''Fifty Years of Glyndebourne'', London: Cape, 1985 {{ISBN|0-224-02310-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
* *[http://www.glyndebourne.com Glyndebourne Festival Opera website]
* [http://www.glyndebourne.com Glyndebourne Festival Opera website]
*[http://hamlife.blogspot.com/search/label/glyndebourne Ham Life blog] - A fan's reviews and photos
*[http://sounds.bl.uk/Classical-music/Oral-history-of-Glyndebourne-opera An oral history of Glyndebourne opera] - sound recordings of interviews with gardeners, musicians and staff.


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Glyndebourne Festival Opera| ]]
[[Category:Glyndebourne Festival Opera| ]]
[[Category:Lewes]]
[[Category:Music festivals in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Music festivals in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Opera in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Opera in the United Kingdom]]
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[[Category:Annual events in England]]
[[Category:Annual events in England]]
[[Category:Music festivals established in 1934]]
[[Category:Music festivals established in 1934]]
[[Category:Glynde|bourne Festival Opera]]

Latest revision as of 07:05, 17 February 2024

This article is about the Glyndebourne opera festival. For the country house and opera house, see Glyndebourne.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera
The new theatre, 31 July 2007
GenreOpera
Dates1934–present
Location(s)Glyndebourne, East Sussex, England
Coordinates50°52′42″N 0°03′50″E / 50.87833°N 0.06389°E / 50.87833; 0.06389
Founded byJohn Christie
Websitewww.glyndebourne.com

Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an annual opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.

History[edit]

Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, except in 1941–45 during World War II and 1993 when the theatre was being rebuilt, for a 1994 reopening. Gus Christie, son of Sir George Christie and grandson of festival founder John Christie, became festival chairman in 2000.[1]

Glyndebourne House, 1 August 2006

Since the company's inception, Glyndebourne has been particularly celebrated for its productions of Mozart operas.[2] Recordings of Glyndebourne's past historic Mozart productions have been reissued.[3] Other notable productions included their 1980s production of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, directed by Trevor Nunn, and later expanded from the Glyndebourne stage and videotaped in 1993 for television, with Nunn again directing. While Mozart operas have continued to be the mainstay of its repertory, the company has expanded it with productions of Janáček[4][5] and Handel[6] operas.

The primary resident orchestra for the Glyndebourne Festival is the London Philharmonic Orchestra (since 1964). The festival's associate orchestra is the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. In January 2014, Robin Ticciati became the seventh music director of the company.[7][8]

Past general directors of the festival have included David Pickard.[9] In November 2015, the festival announced the appointment of Sebastian F. Schwarz as its general director, effective in May 2016.[10] In March 2018 Schwarz stepped down as general director.[11] In August 2018, the festival announced the appointment of Stephen Langridge as its next artistic director, effective in the spring of 2019.[12]

The festival operates without subsidy. Its first placement of advertisements was in 2003.[13] The festival has planned to incorporate power by wind turbine, as part of its "green" initiatives.[14]

Many Glyndebourne attendees come from London, and the event is regarded as part of the English summer season. Performances start in the afternoon, enabling Londoners to leave town after lunch, and finish in time for them to catch the last train back. A long interval allows opera-goers the opportunity for picnic dinners on the extensive lawns or in one of the restaurants in the grounds. Annually in London, the company presents an opera performance at The Proms.[15]

Music directors[edit]

Glyndebourne on Tour[edit]

The Glyndebourne on Tour trailer

In 1968, Glyndebourne Festival Opera established a touring ensemble, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, which in its first season took opera productions to Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Oxford. In addition to bringing the work of Glyndebourne Festival Opera to audiences some distance from Glyndebourne, Glyndebourne Touring Opera offers opportunities for younger opera singers to develop their craft. In 2003, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera administrative duties were absorbed back into the main Glyndebourne Festival Opera administration, and the touring company was renamed Glyndebourne on Tour. The touring company now has the name of Glyndebourne Tour. Unlike Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Glyndebourne Tour does receive some subsidy, from the Arts Council England.

As of 2022, the Tour performs in the Milton Keynes Theatre, the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, the Theatre Royal in Norwich and the Liverpool Empire Theatre.[16]

The tour normally takes place in autumn following the festival season, and typically includes three weeks of performances at Glyndebourne, followed by one week in each of the other locations. The touring ensemble has separate music directors, as follows:

Ticciati is the first former music director of Glyndebourne on Tour to be named music director of the full Glyndebourne Festival Opera company.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera has also toured internationally, including the Adelaide Festival in 2006 with its production of Flight by Jonathan Dove and April De Angelis.

In January 2023, the company announced that the planned 2023 Glyndebourne on Tour season will not occur, as a result of the reduced funding from Arts Council England for the 2023–2026 National Portfolio.[18] In December 2023, the company announced the appointment of Adam Hickox as the new principal conductor of Glyndebourne Sinfonia, the new name for the Glyndebourne on Tour Orchestra, with immediate effect.[19]

Finances[edit]

Glyndebourne is constituted as a registered charity called Glyndebourne Productions Limited, which is a company limited by guarantee. It has a wholly owned subsidiary, Glyndebourne Enterprises Limited, which carries out merchandising, production hire and media development activities, and donates its profits to the charity. A related charity called the Glyndebourne Arts Trust carries out fund-raising activities. Glyndebourne Association America allows residents of the United States to make tax efficient donations to Glyndebourne.[20]

Glyndebourne has an annual budget of a little over £20 million, as of 2010. The Festival is the only major opera season in the United Kingdom which is not state subsidised. Glyndebourne on Tour receives an annual subsidy of around £1.5 million from Arts Council England, but is budgeted to make an annual loss even after this has been credited. The shortfall is covered by an internal cross subsidy.

Other media[edit]

The Glyndebourne Label was established in 2008 to release live recordings on CD. Commercial releases have included Mozart's Idomeneo (with Luciano Pavarotti and Gundula Janowitz), Dvořák's Rusalka and Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd. During the music directorship of Vladimir Jurowski,[21][22] the festival began its "Glyndebourne on Screen" programme, for viewers to see performances from the festival in cinemas and live-streaming on personal computers, the latter in partnership with The Guardian newspaper.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Rupert Christiansen (1 May 2001). "Dad assures me we're in the best condition ever". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2007.
  2. ^ McN., W. (July 1935). "The Mozart Festival at Glyndebourne". The Musical Times. 76 (1109): 646. doi:10.2307/920186. JSTOR 920186.
  3. ^ Tim Ashley (13 June 2008). "Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Gencer/ Freni/ Bacquier/ Blankenburg/ RPO/ Varviso". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  4. ^ Tim Ashley (4 June 2002). "Katya Kabanova". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  5. ^ Andrew Clements (31 October 2003). "The Makropulos Case: London Philharmonic/Davis". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  6. ^ Martin Kettle (24 May 2009). "Giulio Cesare". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Robin Ticciati will be Festival Music Director from January 2014" (Press release). Glyndebourne Festival Opera. 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  8. ^ Maeve Kennedy (1 July 2011). "Glyndebourne baton handed to Robin Ticciati". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  9. ^ "David Pickard appointed Director, BBC Proms" (Press release). Glyndebourne Festival Opera. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Glyndebourne Appoints New General Director" (Press release). Glyndebourne Festival Opera. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Sebastian F. Schwarz steps down as General Director of Glyndebourne" (Press release). Glyndebourne Opera. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Stephen Langridge appointed Artistic Director of Glyndebourne" (Press release). Glyndebourne Opera. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  13. ^ Charlotte Higgins (15 May 2003). "Inclusive engagement". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2007.
  14. ^ Charlotte Higgins (30 November 2009). "How British opera reinvented itself". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  15. ^ Martin Kettle (20 July 2006). "Cosi fan tutte (Royal Albert Hall, London)". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  16. ^ "Tour". Glyndebourne. 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  17. ^ Norwich, p. 226, lists the first four GTO music directors
  18. ^ "Glyndebourne is unable to tour in 2023" (Press release). Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Adam Hickox appointed as new Principal Conductor of Glyndebourne Sinfonia" (Press release). Glyndebourne Festival Opera. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Glyndebourne: a brief history". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  21. ^ Fiachra Gibbons (26 August 2000). "New baton". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2007.
  22. ^ Tim Ashley and Caroline Sullivan (17 May 2002). "A tale of two festivals". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 February 2007.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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