2023 REVIEW
Cover: Il barbiere di Siviglia 2023
Inside Cover: The Bartered Bride 2023
Photo Credits: Julian Guidera, Craig Fuller, Clive Barda, Verity Milligan
OUR AIMS
appreciation of opera through participation and digital work EXPAND the lives of audiences and participants
an exceptional experience for members and audiences at Wormsley PROVIDE
theatrically compelling productions with the highest artistic standard PRODUCE
and nurture the best young performing talent DISCOVER
financial stability to support future productions and infrastructure BUILD ON
IL BARBIERE
DI SIVIGLIA
Gioachino Rossini
Conductor: Douglas Boyd
Director: Christopher Luscombe
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
Richard Strauss
Conductor: Mark Wigglesworth
Director: Bruno Ravella
MITRIDATE, RE DI PONTO
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: Clemens Schuldt Director: Tim Albery
THE BARTERED BRIDE
Bedřich Smetana
Conductor: Jac van Steen
Revival Director: Rosie Purdie
Iestyn Davies as Farnace, Mitridate re di Ponto 2023
ARTISTIC REVIEW
The exceptional artistic quality of the 2023 festival was acclaimed and appreciated by our members, audiences and the media alike.
Directing at Garsington for the first time, renowned theatre director Chritopher Luscombe delivered a sparkling new Il barbiere di Siviglia, designed by Simon Higlett. Bruno Ravella returned this year with a new production of Ariadne auf Naxos, building on the success of his Strauss operas at Garsington. Mitridate, re di Ponto, a new production from our lost 2020 Season, finally made it to stage this year. Alongside our three new productions, we also revived Paul Curran’s highly-acclaimed The Bartered Bride.
“Garsington’s sharp and sunny [Il barbiere di Siviglia] … The detailed 1930s sets by Simon Higlett are ravishing”
The Times
“[Mitridate, re di Ponto’s] conductor Clemens Schuldt delivers buoyant and bracing accompaniments from The English Concert”
Daily Telegraph
“Garsington’s terrific casting allows this fascinating new view of [Ariadne auf Naxos] to flourish’
Mail on Sunday
“Conductor Jac van Steen seems to know and love every bar of [The Bartered Bride] … The Philharmonia Orchestra were highly responsive and the Garsington Opera Chorus sang excellently in their very busy role”.
BachTrack
GO PARTICIPATE
Garsington’s learning & participation team, GO Participate, has set itself aims that are as ambitious and bold as the Festival itself. By opening the world of opera to as many different people as possible, we’re enabling them to discover and give voice to their creative potential. It has long been acknowledged that art is beneficial to well-being and social cohesion. It helps us make sense of the world around us. In opera, we not only hear, but use our voices to be heard, to tell stories and create other worlds.
Garsington Opera’s adult and youth companies champion new work and nurture talent of all ages in our local communities. This year our thriving adult company transformed the Old Town Hall at the Wycombe Swan in The Bartered Brides, an adaptation of Smetana’s opera, The Bartered Bride. Meanwhile, later in the summer the youth company presented The Moon is Listening, a new commission that is a legacy from the partnerships made creating Dalia and continues our relationship with refugee children around the world.
Our OperaFirst programme challenges perceived barriers to cultural engagement by welcoming school groups to performances in the Opera Pavilion. After a series of music, story and technical in-school workshops, students visit Wormsley to see the opera performed by singers from our Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme. The performance also includes an interactive introduction to the inner workings and behind-the-scenes elements of the opera the students have come to know and enjoy. This year we were pleased to have expanded the programme by offering a bespoke performance for primary schools alongside our usual performance for secondary schools and community companies.
2023 Award Winners:
ALVAREZ YOUNG ARTISTS’ PROGRAMME
“Garsington has provided me with some of my most memorable and rewarding career moments so far. This wouldn’t happen without the incredible support, guidance and nurturing of everyone at the company who I now look upon as friends.” Jennifer France, Alvarez Young Artists Alumni
The nurture and encouragement of professional young singers is proudly championed by Garsington Opera through the Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme. Each season we work closely with Conservatoires in the UK and further afield to select and showcase the finest young performing talent.
This year the programme received 497 applications, held 220 live auditions, and awarded 24 places to form the Garsington Opera Chorus.
Understudies rehearse with assistant directors and conductors, culminating in a cover run of each opera attended by Garsington’s artistic team. This year the OperaFirst schools project has been expanded to include performances of both Il barbiere di Siviglia and The Bartered Bride – giving two cover casts the chance to perform with our resident orchestras: The English Concert and the Philharmonia.
2023 Award Winners
Each year, in honour of our founder, Leonard Ingrams, and three former colleagues, Helen Clarke, Simon Sandbach and Graham Clark, we make financial awards to exceptional artists and colleagues who have excelled during the season.
Leonard Ingrams Award
Siân Griffiths (Dryad Ariadne auf Naxos)
Harriet Eyley (Echo Ariadne auf Naxos)
Claire Lees (Naiad Ariadne auf Naxos)
Tess Jackson (Assistant Conductor The Bartered Bride)
Helen Clarke Award
Indyana Schneider (cover The Composer Ariadne auf Naxos and chorus The Bartered Bride)
Simon Sandbach Award
Siân Dicker (cover Mařenka and chorus The Bartered Bride)
Graham Clark Award
Daniel Vening (Lackey Ariadne auf Naxos, cover Mícha and chorus The Bartered Bride and chorus Il barbiere di Siviglia)
Siân Griffiths, Harriet Eyley, Claire Lees, Tess Jackson, Siân Dicker, Indyana Schneider, Daniel Vening
GARSINGTON STUDIOS
Throughout 2023, contractors Conamar have continued to construct Garsington’s most significant investment for the future. The commitment of many generous donors has made it possible to proceed with confidence towards this ambitious, sustainable and innovative project. It is wonderful to see the Studios develop in reality at Wormsley, realised from many years of dreaming and planning with award-winning local architects Nicholas Brown Webber.
The Studios will bring the many strands of Garsington’s creative life together in a single stunning location. The 5,000m2 facility will house professional and flexible rehearsal studios which replicate the Garsington stage, training and practice rooms as well as a café, offices and communal spaces. The development is also hugely significant for the region contributing much needed purpose-built facilities for use by the sector and the local community.
Core to Garsington’s mission is to create a meaningful context in which children and young people may experience music, opera and performance. The Studios greatly expand the opportunity for connection with diverse audiences both locally and nationally.
We look forward to receiving the keys to the Studios in the near future.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
‘The whole evening was utterly life-enhancing. Garsington is a very special place and a highlight to start the summer.’
‘The enthusiasm and joy that all persons connected with Garsington deliver in performing and helping revellers is infectious and exceptional. This organisation is top rate, and it is a credit to all involved. A very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with friends and family.’
‘I truly look forward to coming to Garsington Opera performances. Amazing singers, designers, musicians and everyone at Garsington make it such a magical place to bring friends who lovely top-quality productions.’
‘It was a perfect evening of opera.’
An outstanding performance with superb singers. Not just good singers, but voices appropriate for the roles. You have an excellent casting director.
‘It is hard to imagine it being better sung and the orchestral playing was outstanding. It was a privilege to be present at the final performancetruly special.’
The greatest memories come from the hugely welcoming and engaging people who bring it all alive, right from the top of the drive as we turn into the estate, through the car parks, the walled gardens and all the ushers, waiters and guides who make us all feel so welcome with their ready smiles and their friendly, enthusiastic chat.’
AUDIENCE REACH
Our 2023 Festival included three new productions and a vibrant revival, all thematically connected by the power of love to overcome. Devised work by our Youth Company cemented global relationships while our adult company reimagined one of our revivals in a town hall setting.
Our partnership with OperaVision continued to thrive as online audiences viewed an additional Garsington Opera title, one in April and another in November. Meanwhile our online viewing figures were buoyed by our enhanced film content, sharing our stories and productions around the world.
Board of Trustees
Miranda Curtis CMG (Chairman)
Neil King QC (Deputy Chair)
Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood CBE
Nigel Higgins
Catherine Ingrams
Iain Mackinnon
Lady Marks
Lady Stringer
David Suratgar
Advisory Council
Bernard Taylor CBE DL (Chairman)
The Hon Mrs Susan Baring OBE
Dr Margaret Bent CBE FBA
Dame Hilary Boulding DBE
Dominic Burke
Annette Campbell-White
Sir Stuart Hampson
Diana Hiddleston
Peter Maniura
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Bartered Bride
