2026 Tour Groups Brochure

2026 FESTIVAL TOUR GROUP BROCHURE 1

2026 SEASON The 2026 Season marks the beginning of a new chapter for Garsington, as we welcome our new Executive Director Ben Weston to our team. Ben will take forward Nicky Creed’s vision, bringing his leadership, kindness and creativity as we chart a new chapter in our history.

This is what makes our company so very special to our artists, audiences and members. I know that Ben will look forward to meeting you at Wormsley next summer.

same creative team led by Director John Caird and conducted by Laurence Cummings, who will further develop the sublime aesthetic of Orfeo. Our Monteverdi exploration is only possible thanks to our partnership with The English Concert, the world-class period instrument orchestra.

The final opera this summer is a new production of Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest. As well as being one of the greatest operas of our time, it is also, perhaps unusually for contemporary music, uproariously hilarious. Highlights include daringly written, anarchic versions of “Auld Lang Syne” and “Ode to Joy”, as well as Lady Bracknell performed by a bass.

Director Jack Furness and designer Francis O’Connor take inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s brilliant play for what promises to be an unforgettable evening.

Our 2026 Festival celebrates music and drama from the 17th to the 21st century and will hopefully transport you away from the troubles of our world to an idyllic environment, with some of the greatest music ever written. We also welcome back some of the incredible artists who have shaped the success of Garsington Opera over the last decade.

We open the season with Verdi’s masterpiece of love and heartbreak, La traviata. Not only do we welcome back the director/designer duo of Louisa Muller and Christopher Oram, but we are also thrilled that Madison Leonard and Oleksiy Palchykov reunite as tragic lovers Violetta and Alfredo, after capturing our hearts in L’elisir d’amore last summer. This production creates an opulent and luminous beauty, whilst Verdi’s radiant and passionate score will be brought to life by our wonderful cast and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Returning to the stage is our celebrated production of Der Rosenkavalier, alongside the Philharmonia Orchestra, who will realise Strauss’s incredible score of rich romanticism, Viennese waltzes, comedy and sublime tenderness. Last performed at Garsington in 2021, Bruno Ravella and Gary McCann’s seductive world has since travelled around the world, from Santa Fe Opera to Irish National Opera. This tale of young love and loss features some of the most breathtaking 2

There is so much to look forward to this summer and I can’t wait to welcome you to Wormsley. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing many of you over the coming months at our winter season of Garsington Studios concerts and community events, including our exciting recital series with extraordinary artists in partnership with the Wigmore Hall.

moments in opera, conducted by Finnegan Downie Dear and performed by a brilliant cast, chorus and children’s chorus selected from the Garsington Youth Company.

Il ritorno d’Ulisse signals our return to the astonishing world of Monteverdi and Greek mythology, following Orfeo in 2022, which was praised as one of Garsington’s finest-ever productions. Ulisse will be presented by the

Douglas Boyd, Artistic Director

© JULIAN GUIDERA

Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier (2021)

2026 FESTIVAL DIARY

LA TRAVIATA

DER ROSENKAVALIER Richard Strauss

Claudio Monteverdi

May 27 / 31 June 6 / 13 / 20 / 24 / 28 July 9 / 11 / 16 / 20 / 24

May 28 / 30 June 5 / 14 / 16 / 19 / 25 / 27 / 29

June 12 / 18 / 21 / 23 July 4 / 17 / 19 / 25

Giuseppe Verdi

IL RITORNO D’ULISSE

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Gerald Barry

July 10 / 12 / 18 / 21 / 23

3

LA TRAVIATA Giuseppe Verdi One of opera’s most enduring masterpieces, with music of exquisite tenderness and lyricism, Verdi’s La traviata is a tragic story that is both powerful and deeply touching.

Returning after their sparkling production of Platée (2024) and RPS award-winning The Turn of the Screw (2019/22) are director Louisa Muller and designer Christopher Oram.

We also welcome back Madison Leonard and Oleksiy Palchycov as Violetta and Alfredo, whose partnership delighted us all in L’elisir d’amore last year. The Philharmonia Orchestra will perform under the baton of Douglas Boyd, and Tess Jackson will make her conducting debut with Garsington Opera for two performances.

In this heart-rending love story, the young and beautiful Violetta has the chance of true love, but forces beyond her control will tear them apart. This lavish new production, set in 1939 Paris, sees Violetta preparing herself with what little time she has left and wrestling with what freedom really means.

Co-production with Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Dallas Opera

Violetta Valéry Madison Leonard Alfredo Germont Oleksiy Palchykov Giorgio Germont Roland Wood Gastone Sam Harris Baron Douphol Chuma Sijeqa Doctor Grenvil Henry Waddington

Conductor Douglas Boyd Tess Jackson (24 June & 9 July) Director Louisa Muller Designer Christopher Oram Lighting Designer Marcus Doshi Movement Director Matthew Steffens Philharmonia Orchestra Garsington Opera Chorus Performances May 27 / 31 June 6 / 13 / 20 / 24 / 28 July 9 / 11 / 16 / 20 / 24 Start time: 6.10pm Sung in Italian with English supertitles

4

DER ROSENKAVALIER Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier weaves opulent, bittersweet waltzes with lush late-Romantic orchestration, evoking both nostalgic elegance and the ache of time passing.

Strauss’s co-creator, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, wrote of a world of ceremony and lavish ritual, in which the characters are helplessly entangled.

This is the much-anticipated return of Bruno Ravella and Gary McCann’s stylish and opulent 2021 production, which had to be performed to a limited audience after lockdown. Making their Garsington debuts are conductor Finnegan Downie Dear, Matilda Sterby, Andreas Bauer Kanabas and Niamh O’Sullivan, whose Octavian at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées received great acclaim. We are also delighted to welcome back Soraya Mafi as Sophie and Robert Murray as Valzacchi.

Set in Vienna, the story follows the Marschallin, her young lover Octavian, and romantic entanglements involving mistaken identity. Blending farce, romance and poignant wisdom, this cherished opera is a tribute to the beauty and power of the female voice.

The Marschallin Matilda Sterby Baron Ochs Andreas Bauer Kanabas Martin Winkler (25, 27 & 29 June) Octavian Niamh O’Sullivan Sophie von Faninal Soraya Mafi Herr von Faninal Ben McAteer Marianne Leitmetzerin Gweneth Ann Rand Valzacchi Robert Murray Annina Siân Griffiths An Italian tenor Egor Zhuravskii A commissar of police Simon Wilding

Conductor Finnegan Downie Dear Director Bruno Ravella Designer Gary McCann Lighting Designer Malcolm Rippeth Philharmonia Orchestra Garsington Opera Chorus Garsington Opera Children’s Chorus Performances May 28 / 30 June 5 / 14 / 16 / 19 / 25 / 27 / 29 Start time: 4.40pm Sung in German with English supertitles

Co-production with Santa Fe Opera and Irish National Opera 5

IL RITORNO D’ULISSE Claudio Monteverdi Following their acclaimed production of Orfeo in 2022, we welcome back the same creative team to perform the second of Monteverdi’s opera trilogy. John Caird will direct and Laurence Cummings will conduct The English Concert on the stage, with a stellar cast lead by Cecelia Hall and Ed Lyon.

In the last five fruitful years of his life, Monteverdi wrote this opera for the carnival season of 1640, a time for music, dance and masquerading. His musical style, so astonishingly bold and innovative when he wrote Orfeo more than thirty years earlier, has developed yet further, with arias and duets that give full life and humanity to his characters.

The dramatic tale of Ulisse (Odysseus) returning to Ithaca after the Trojan War is expressed through a rich blend of myth, emotion, and human struggle. At its centre is Penelope’s enduring failthfulness, with themes of loyalty, identity, and divine intervention described through Monteverdi’s intimate and deeply expressive score, marking a key transition between Renaissance and Baroque opera styles.

6

Penelope Cecelia Hall Ulisse Ed Lyon Telemaco Dafydd Jones Ericlea Fiona Kimm Eumete James Gilchrist Iro Stuart Jackson Melanto Rowan Pierce Eurimaco Innocent Masuku Minerva / Amore Claire Lees Giunone / La Fortuna Jessica Cale Pisandro / L’Humana fragilità Alberto Miguelez Rouco Giove / Anfinomo Benjamin Hulett Nettuno / Antinoo James Creswell

Conductor Laurence Cummings Director John Caird Designer Robert Jones Lighting Designer Paul Pyant Choreographer Arielle Smith The English Concert Performances June 12 / 18 / 21 / 23 July 4 / 17 / 19 / 25 Start time: 5.20pm Sung in Italian with English supertitles

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Gerald Barry Gerald Barry’s witty and highly original adaptation of this muchloved masterpiece will be conducted by Douglas Boyd and directed by Jack Furness, following his celebrated Garsington productions of The Queen of Spades and Rusalka. The visually striking, colourful and bombastic production features the return of Jennifer France, Henry Waddington and Seán Boylan, with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

If you have any preconceptions about an opera based on Oscar Wilde’s brilliant 1894 comedy of manners and misapprehensions, be prepared to abandon them. The composer Gerald Barry adores the play and has taken inspiration from Wilde’s statement “That we should treat all trivial things in life very seriously, and all serious things in life with a sincere and studied triviality”, turning the play inside out and upside down with reckless effrontery. As Barry has said, “The play’s bones are unshatterable. My version is an X-ray of it.” Any shattering that occurs during the course of the entertainment is more likely to be of plates than of dramatic structure.

John Worthing Zahid Saddiqui Algernon Moncrieff Seán Boylan Cecily Cardew Jennifer France Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax Holly Brown Miss Prism Susan Bickley Lady Bracknell Henry Waddington

Conductor Douglas Boyd Director Jack Furness Set Designer Francis O’Connor Costume Designer Hannah Wolfe Movement Director Rebecca Meltzer Philharmonia Orchestra Performances July 10 / 12 / 18 / 21 / 23 Start time: 6.45pm Sung in English with English supertitles

7

YOUR VISIT TO GARSINGTON Dress Code A visit to Garsington is a special occasion, and we hope you will see it as a chance to dress up.

Black tie is traditional, but feel free to find your own expression of elegant evening wear. Warm layers are strongly advised and, as the grass may be soft, stilettos are not recommended.

Getting Here Garsington Opera, Wormsley, Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire HP14 3YG Under an hour from London by car and 25 minutes by train, with station transfers and taxis available. 30 minutes from Oxford by car.

Your Arrival

Afternoon Tea

Wormsley is open from 3.30pm, when you will be warmly welcomed upon arrival by our stewards who will direct you into the site.

Complimentary Scout porters and chauffeured golf buggies are available to assist with carrying picnics from the free car parks.

Treat yourself to a full traditional afternoon tea in our restaurant overlooking the cricket ground, complete with freshly baked scones, sandwiches and cakes.

Champagne Terrace

Tea & Coffee Kiosk

Walled Garden Open

Our bar is situated in front of the opera house and is a perfect meeting point.

Overlooking the deer park, it serves Deutz Champagne and delicious pre-ordered canapés, and is open pre-performance and in the interval.

For a quick cuppa, drop in on our Kiosk at the foot of the auditorium steps. Open preperformance and in the interval, it is the place to go for an informal offering of savoury bites and freshly baked cakes, or that essential coffee to round off your picnic.

Arrive in time to take a short journey on our vintage bus to Wormsley’s 18th century Walled Garden and enjoy the horticultural variety in its carefully curated quadrants.

8

Pre-show Recitals Each Saturday, enjoy a free 15-minute informal recital by our Alvarez Emerging Artists, performed in the Walled Garden or on the Champagne Lawn.

90-minute Dinner Interval Pre-book your three-course gourmet dining in the Boundary Room restaurant, or a catered picnic to enjoy in our tents.

Self-catered picnics are also welcome, with tents and tables available to pre-book.

Garsington Opera Shop

Performance Begins

Drop in on our charming tented shop to browse our specially selected bespoke collections including ceramics, jewellery, picnicware, pashminas, opera jackets and waistcoats. This is also where you’ll find our Box Office team.

Bells will sound from 15 minutes before the performance, ushering you to your seats.

Your departure Performances are designed to finish around 10pm, as darkness falls, giving a magical end to your evening, with candles to light your way through the spectacular Chiltern landscape.

9

DINING & HOSPITALITY Pre-performance We encourage you to arrive early to enjoy the full experience of a night out at the opera. Allow us to tempt you to afternoon tea, champagne and canapés, or to transport you to the two-acre Walled Garden, where you can meet one of Wormsley’s gardeners and explore the flowers, vegetables and tranquil spaces with champagne glass in hand.

Order a Picnic Let Payne & Gunter take the strain and choose from their range of pre-order picnics, offering a delicious selection of al fresco favourites, served in tents beside the Cricket Ground. If you would prefer to enjoy your picnic in the Deer Park, tents and tables can be reserved for a small additional charge.

Reserve a Tent or Table If you would like to reserve a picnic space, bookings are offered on the Upper Terrace or in our shared tents, accommodating both catered and selfcatered picnics. For larger parties, private tents seating either 8 or 12 are also available.

10

BOUNDARY ROOM RESTAURANT

The Long Interval Dine in the Boundary Room Restaurant Treat yourself to the complete fine-dining experience in our glass-fronted restaurant, with menus devised by award-winning chef Will Devlin and delivered by Payne & Gunter. Overlooking the timeless Wormsley Cricket Ground and the Chilterns beyond, the Boundary Room boasts one of the most stunning dining room views in Britain.

OUTDOOR PICNICKING SPACE

Deer Park Tents and Tables

Private Dining Locations

Outdoor Picnicking Spaces Free of charge, unreserved Dining options: Self-catered picnic

Cricket Pavilion Up to 10 seated This unique venue steeped in history is the ideal venue for a small party looking to enhance their evening with fine dining and an unparalleled vista over the Cricket Ground.

Dining options: Restaurant interval dining (additional service charge applies), Catered picnic (additional service charge applies), self-catered dining/picnic

Table in a Shared Tent £5 per person, reserved Free of charge, unreserved A table to fit your party in one of our shared tents (capacity 25). Groups larger than 10 may be split across multiple tables or tents.

Dining options: Catered picnic, self-catered picnic

ISLAND PAVILLION

PRIVATE TENT

Upper Terrace Tables £40 | Up to 4 people £80 | Up to 8 people Dining options: Catered picnic, self-catered picnic Small Private Tent £185 | Up to 8 people Enjoy the privacy of an individual tent in the Deer Park for your pre-performance drinks and interval picnic.

Dining options: Catered picnic, self-catered picnic Medium Private Tent £215 | Up to 12 people A larger individual tent in the stunning Deer Park with adjoining service area for picnic preparation or private caterers.

Dining options: Catered picnic, self-catered picnic

The Granary Up to 12 people Nestled in the beauty of the Opera Garden, the Granary is a unique private space bursting with character.

Dining options: Catered picnic (additional service charge applies), self-catered picnic Island Pavilion Up to 28 seated Suitable for dinner for up to 28 guests, the Island Pavilion is the perfect private dining space for larger groups looking to enjoy dining in the seclusion and beauty of the lake overlooking the Opera Pavilion.

Dining options: Restaurant interval dining (additional service charge applies), Catered picnic (additional service charge applies) Chilterns Tent Up to 60 seated For larger parties wishing to dine in a private tent overlooking the glorious Wormsley cricket ground.

Dining options: Catered picnic (additional service charge applies), self-catered dining/picnic

Find out more about our catering options on our website garsingtonopera.org/dining

11

BOOKING INFORMATION We are always delighted to welcome tour groups to Garsington Opera at Wormsley. Each summer we host many groups of opera lovers who visit us from both the UK and abroad.

Seating Plan & Tickets For a more detailed seating plan visit garsingtonopera.org/seating-plan

Box D

Priority Tour Group Booking Priority tour group bookings open in late-October, alongside our members’ priority booking period, and run until public booking opens on Tuesday 31 March 2026.

Middle Stalls, Rear Stalls and Boxes are reached by external stairs. There is no step-free access.

Priority tour group bookings are at the brochure rates opposite, in addition to a £60 surcharge per ticket for bookings made during this period.

Front Stalls – seats in Row D have step-free access. Subsequent rows are reached by two steps per row, handholds are provided.

Priority tour group bookers take advantage of • the best choice of seating areas and dates • extended reservation periods with flexibility to adjust numbers • assistance in making catering arrangements • a package of promotional images and text • coach drop-off/parking and advice in planning travel to Wormsley • a dedicated contact for any pre-event queries or requests.

Tour groups may hold tickets during the priority period and make any changes to their reserved numbers as required. Reserved orders must be confirmed no later than Tuesday 3 March and paid in full by Tuesday 31 March.

General Tour Group Booking After Public booking opens on Tuesday 31 March, tour group bookings are accepted without additional charge at the brochure rates opposite.

12

Box C

Box A

Rear Stalls

R-T

Middle Stalls

N-Q

Front Stalls

Orchestra Stalls – seating accessed by no more than five steps

D-M

Orchestra Stalls Stage

Stage Platform – wheelchair spaces and step-free seating

Seating Area

Box B

Tickets Band A Mon-Fri, Sun

Band B Sat

Boxes

£280

£305

Rear Stalls

£185

£200

Middle Stalls

£235

£255

Front Stalls

£280

£305

Orchestra Stalls

£245

£265

Stage Platform ( flexible accessible seating)

£185

£200

All listed ticket amounts include a suggested, but non-obligatory, donation of £80 per ticket.

A-C