2016 Review - Garsington Opera




2016 REVIEW

OUR AIMS

ENRICH

the lives of audiences and participants

PRODUCE theatrically compelling productions with the highest artistic standards

EXPAND

appreciation of opera through participation

DISCOVER

and nurture the best young performing talent

PROVIDE

members and audiences a memorable experience at Wormsley

E S TA B L I S H financial stability to support future productions

EUGENE ONEGIN

L’ I T A L I A N A

Michael Boyd, Tom Piper & Douglas Boyd

Will Tuckett, George Souglides & David Parry

IDOMENEO

T H E C R E AT I O N

Tim Albery, Hannah Clark & Tobias Ringborg

Rambert & Garsington Opera

A RT I S T I C REVIEW We aim to produce theatrically compelling operas with the highest artistic standards in a setting of extraordinary beauty.

In 2016 we presented a balanced and contrasting programme:

• EUGENE ONEGIN in a critically acclaimed new production by Michael Boyd & Tom Piper.

• L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI sparkled under Will Tuckett’s direction, continuing a series of Rossini opera conducted by David Parry.

• IDOMENEO featured notable Festival debuts and Tim Albery’s production gave a dramatic telling to Mozart’s sublime score.

• THE CREATION united Garsington Opera and Rambert for a spectacular rendition of Haydn’s masterpiece, illuminated by dance.

[Onegin] rightly receives a stupendous ovation. ★★★★★ Mail on Sunday Rossini veteran David Parry conducted [L’italiana] with flair, zip and lightness of touch What’s On Stage A magnificent realisation of [Idomeneo], one of the greatest of serious operas.

The Sunday Times [The Creation is] handsomely danced by a huge cast. Douglas Boyd conducts a rich orchestral performance. ★★★★ The Independent

LEARNING & PA RT I C I PAT I O N Garsington Opera’s year-round Learning & Participation programme provides opportunities, both in the communities surrounding Wormsley and throughout the UK, to learn about opera through participation.

Over the last year we have worked with 3,836 people, providing a wide range of performing activities, innovative workshops and sharing sessions. Particular highlights from the year’s activity include:

WYCOMBE WOMEN’S AID We ran supportive and confidence-building workshops for women in abusive relationships, using music as a tool for communication. The sessions were based on the themes from EUGENE ONEGIN. Two participants then joined our Adult Community Chorus and will now take part in SILVER BIRCH at Wormsley in July 2017.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS 200 Primary School children took part in 8 workshops focusing on THE CREATION. 140 of these children then came to watch the final rehearsal of THE CREATION in the auditorium at Wormsley.

OPERAFIRST Garsington Opera ran workshops in 8 Secondary Schools focusing on EUGENE ONEGIN. 300 participants from these workshops then came to see our fully staged OperaFirst performance of the opera, performed by our Young Artists.

A LVA R E Z YO U N G A RT I S T P RO G R A M M E The nurture and encouragement of young singers is proudly championed by Garsington Opera through the Alvarez Young Artist Programme. Each season we work closely with Conservatoires in the UK and further afield to select and showcase the finest young performing talent.

In 2016 there were 46 young singers on the Alvarez Young Artist Programme, as members of the chorus and understudies in the Festival. The following activities were on offer this year:

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Learning & Participation Afternoon, Tax & VAT Seminar and CV Advice

• ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT – audition training, language coaching, public masterclasses, showcase performances, video recording, individual feedback and introductions to agents and casting representatives at other opera houses

• PROFESSIONAL HEALTH – ENT Consultant & Vocal Health study day

“Garsington Opera are a sheer delight to work for. Management and the opportunities offered are way above the other summer festivals.”

“Best experience with a professional opera company.”

“I've had a lovely experience at Wormsley! I found that the Garsington experience is altogether a warm and caring one, where all staff really take time to get to know the young artists. I felt valued and knew that there were lots of people I could go to if I ever had a problem or issue. I feel lucky to have worked for Garsington this year.”

R E S TAU R A N T & PICNICS Michelin Star Chef Michael North joined us and the team at Feasts to deliver an exquisite menu of fine dining and picnics.

913 Afternoon Teas & 2,124 Catered Picnics were enjoyed during the season.

1,256 portions of sea bass and 10,134 chocolates were served in the Long Room Restaurant, with over 7,590 meals served in total.

557 bottles of Champagne were consumed.

FINANCIAL REVIEW 2016 Expenditure (£’000)

2016 Income (£’000)

£121 £327 £113

£503 £56 £345 £252 £2,622

£1,312 £3,067

£1,720

Box Office Fundraising Sponsorship Front of House Commercial Income Other

Production Costs Overheads Commercial Activities Depreciation Learning & Participation

2016 Final (£’000)

2015 Final (£’000)

YoY

Box Office

2,622

2,227

18%

Fundraising/Members

1,720

1,401

23%

Corporate Sponsorship

252

262

-4%

Front of House/Concessions

345

268

29%

Commercial Income

56

165

-66%

Investment Income

40

5

700%

463

390

19%

5,498

4,718

17%

3,067

2,789

10%

Learning & Participation

121

86

41%

Commercial Activities

113

140

-19%

1,312

1,068

23%

327

319

3%

4,940

4,402

12%

586

309

90%

4,837

4,251

14%

INCOME

Other Total Income

EXPENDITURE Opera Production

Overheads Depreciation Total Expenditure

Movement in Funds TOTAL FUNDS

AU D I E N C E FEEDBACK

2016 has to represent the most outstanding we have ever experienced in our association with Garsington. The production, casting, settings were of the highest order. The quality of the singing, the chorus, and the orchestra was wonderful. The Onegin and Idomeneo were deserving of the acclaim afforded them. Onegin in particular was spellbinding.

Well done to all of you for making the season so memorable.

An excellent vigorous, imaginative, talented, amusing, highly enjoyable season. Faultless in our view across four performances, all with their differing strengths. Great team spirit evident. The level of performance skills keeps increasing.

It was superb! In every way. Seriously, I cannot fault it. I have not been to Garsington for a few years, and I was blown away.

You have managed to create the most exquisite experience; the peak of excellence that the UK can provide. Well done.

Congratulations are due to the entire Garsington team. I plan to return regularly!

We go for the opera experience. But what stands out in my mind, is the staff, ever friendly and thoughtful.

Catering is excellent and the event is so thoughtfully managed.

The quality of productions continues to improve. But it is the thoughtful assistance, decor, staff and teams which make Garsington the UK's premier opera festival. Thank you to all, particularly the temporary staff who make it so charming.

AU D I E N C E R E AC H In 2016 Garsington Opera continued to widen its reach, encouraging new opera audiences at Wormsley, through Learning & Participation and online.

We have continued to widen access to our work by forging partnerships with different organisations on our stage. This year we were delighted to welcome Rambert contemporary dance company, as well as many of their audience members and supporters. We also embarked on partnerships with the BBC and The Opera Platform, sharing our performances for free online to an international audience.

Garsington Opera’s digital reach has been expanded further through a growing social media following, development of an online booking system and engaging web-content which is available to all.

2016 Performances

 

Learning & Participation

21,876 3,836

2016 Website Sessions

121,362

Social Media Following

10,947 25,750

Opera for All

12,600

Content Plays

TOTAL

38,312

TOTAL

158,059

OPERA FOR ALL Garsington Opera for All is a groundbreaking national programme, offering free access to opera, creative education workshops and public screenings, provided by Garsington Opera in culturally isolated areas of the UK. With major support from Arts Council England, and in partnership with East Lindsey District Council, Garsington Opera has been able to carry out education and community work on a national scale, offering a unique programme of cultural engagement for those people who need it most.

In 2016, amidst high summer sun and balmy evenings, as well as torrential downpours and MET Office weather warnings, our Opera for All programme saw a wonderful and eventful summer of open air activity in Skegness, Ramsgate, Burnham-on-Sea, Grimsby, Bridgewater, Margate & Broadstairs.

Screenings and education workshops focused on EUGENE ONEGIN and the recorded film was also shared online via BBC Arts and The Opera Platform to a large international audience.

The central aim of the project is to provide a tailored introduction to opera for those with no access to high-quality arts provision. Through working with communities in the days preceding a public screening, we are able to demystify the genre and enable members of the public to engage fully with their first experience of opera.

The programme worked with 21 schools across the country, with over 3,600 children and adults being engaged directly this year. With the inclusion of online platforms, we have reached 12,600 people this year as part of the Opera for All project.

Registered Charity No. 1003042