Glyndebourne Festival 2019 Season To Present 6 Major Operas

Under the leadership of Executive Chairman Gus Christie, the Glyndebourne Festival, in its 85th year, will present an exceptional collection of artists from around the globe in six major opera productions from May 18 through August 25, 2019. Surrounded by rolling English countryside, Glyndebourne is located in East Sussex, south-east England, four miles from the county town of Lewes. Prior to its Festival, Glyndebourne will also present in March the world premiere of Howard Moody's newly-commissioned large-scale community opera, Agreed, as part of the Company's celebrated and year-round education and community programs. The season will roll out a treasury of works that range from the thrilling sonic spectacle of Berlioz's La damnation de Faust to the sunny comedy of Il barbiere di Siviglia, as well as to classic operatic fairy tales filled with witches, wizards, sorceresses, and fairy godmothers. All operas feature one of Glyndebourne's two resident orchestras, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

"Glyndebourne has much to celebrate," said Gus Christie. "In 2018, we successfully launched the Glyndebourne Opera Cup, our new international singing competition, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Glyndebourne Tour. We eagerly anticipate many more milestones in 2019, including the arrival of our recently appointed Artistic Director Stephen Langridge; the 25th anniversary of the opening of our new opera house in 1994; the launch of Balancing the Score: Supporting Female Composers, a development plan created exclusively for female composers; and the completion of our new Production Hub, a state-of-the-art building that will provide a fitting space for Glyndebourne's superlative making departments. I look forward to another great year at Glyndebourne, both on and off the stage."

New productions at the 2019 Glyndebourne Festival include Glyndebourne's first-ever production of Berlioz's La damnation de Faust, which will open the season, led by Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte - the first new staging of the opera at Glyndebourne in 15 years - with Conductor Antonello Manacorda and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Director Fiona Shaw's new production of Massenet's Cendrillon, first staged as part of the 2018 Glyndebourne Tour, will make its first appearance at the Festival under the baton of John Wilson, who makes his Festival debut conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Festival revivals comprise the return of Melly Still's much-loved production of Dvo?ák'sRusalka with Robin Ticciati conducting the London Philharmonic; director Robert Carsen's bold 2011 production of Handel's Rinaldo led by Maxim Emelyanychev with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; and Annabel Arden's colorful version of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia with conductor Rafael Payare and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ahead of the Festival, in March, Glyndebourne welcomes its newly appointed Artistic Director Stephen Langridge. He will be responsible for the Company's artistic vision and will work alongside Managing Director Sarah Hopwood. The new top team will co-lead Glyndebourne into an exciting new chapter with substantial investment plans in place to maintain the Company's position as one of the world's leading international opera companies.

Spring 2019 also sees the opening of the new Glyndebourne Production Hub.Currently under construction, the Hub is a state-of-the-art building that will provide much-needed space for Glyndebourne's world-class making departments and is the largest building project Glyndebourne has undertaken since the rebuild of its Opera House, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2019. The Hub will be home to the opera house's props, sets, costumes, wigs, and making departments, which employ top practitioners to work onsite, bringing all making departments under one roof, and giving production teams the facilities to match their expertise. It will also feature a new rehearsal studio and music practice rooms.

Although best known around the world for its summer Festival, Glyndebourne is a year-round company with a fall tour, an active education department and, since 2018, a biennial international singing competition. Of note to American fans of rising young talent, the first winners of the two top prizes in the inaugural Glyndebourne Opera Cup were two American singers: mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey and soprano Jacquelyn Stucker. The competition is designed to discover and spotlight the best young singers around the world. It offers a top prize of £15,000, and a platform for launching an international opera career. The next edition will take place in 2020 with details to be announced in May 2019.

Educational & Local Community initiatives in 2019 include the March world premiere of Howard Moody's large-scale community opera, Agreed, commissioned by Glyndebourne. His fifth opera features a multi-genre score and will be performed by an intergenerational community chorus alongside five professional singers.

In addition, to address the under-representation of female composers in classical music, Glyndebourne has launched Balancing the Score: Supporting Female Composers, a new development program exclusively for female composers. The program's four inaugural composers, who take up their positions in January 2019, are Anna Appleby(England), Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade (Scotland), Cecilia Livingston (Canada), and Ailie Robertson (Scotland). Participants will spend two years immersed in life at Glyndebourne, attending rehearsals and meeting professional opera makers and performers. Glyndebourne is also collaborating with its resident orchestras, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, as well as Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Southbank Centre, to provide opportunities for Balancing the Score participants.

The second half of 2019 will see Glyndebourne present its first ever production of Verdi's Rigoletto as part of the 2019 Glyndebourne Tour which, following three weeks of performances at Glyndebourne, visits towns across England. Also touring in 2019 are revivals of Handel's Rinaldo and Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore.

Glyndebourne Festival 2019 runs from May 18 - August 25, 2019. For complete information click here.

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