2018 Annual Review - Garsington Opera




2018 REVIEW

Photo credits: Clive Barda, Johan Persson, Stephen Wright, 
 Alice Pennefather, John Snelling, Johnny Langridge

OUR AIMS ENRICH

the lives of audiences and participants

P RO D U C E theatrically compelling productions with the highest artistic standards

E X PA N D appreciation of opera through participation

D I S C OV E R and nurture the best young performing talent

P ROV I D E members and audiences with a memorable experience at Wormsley

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

D I E Z A U B E R F L Ö T E

CAPRICCIO

Christian Cur nyn & Netia Jones

Douglas Boyd & Tim Albery

FA L S TA F F

T H E S K AT I N G R I N K

Richard Far nes & Bruno Ravella

Garry Walker & Stewart Laing

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 2018 we presented the following programme:

• DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE in an acclaimed production by Netia Jones, with a celebrated cast conducted by Christian Curnyn.

• CAPRICCIO, a collaboration with Santa Fe Opera in a production by Tim Albery, conducted

by Douglas Boyd with a world-class cast.

• FALSTAFF captivated audiences in Bruno Ravella’s witty and touching production, conducted by Richard Farnes with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

• THE SKATING RINK was a hugely successful new commission by David Sawer & Rory Mullarkey; a thrilling contemporary work vividly realised through Stewart Laing’s production, conducted by Garry Walker.

A Flute for our times ★★★★ The Times There was no weak link [in Capriccio] ★★★★★ The Observer The most convincing, moving, and beautifully-sung [Falstaff] I've ever seen ★★★★★ The Independent [The Skating Rink has] all the twists and pace of a TV thriller matched with music equally direct and striking ★★★★ The Times

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.

In 2018, Garsington Opera’s Learning & Participation programme worked to consolidate and extend the impact of Silver Birch, delivered the previous year. A new Youth Opera Company for Primary School children was launched, supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust, which completes our framework of support for participants. Combined with the existing Youth Opera Company for secondary schools and the Adult Community Company, we now provide progression routes for ages 9 and up; this was a key strategic development.

Work in the fields of emotional and physical wellbeing was expanded in 2018. Hospital Passion Play was delivered at the V&A Museum, working with choirs of participants dealing with significant medical issues, including cancer (specifically laryngectomy), stroke and spinal injuries together with our own Adult Community Company. Valuable work has also continued with Wycombe Women’s Aid, supporting those dealing with domestic abuse.

Central to the work delivered in 2018 was the OperaFirst programme which delivered workshops in 10 local schools, invited Primary Schools to a Big Sing day at Wormsley and Secondary Schools to a fully staged performance by the Alvarez Young Artists of Die Zauberflöte. The format of the project continues to support recruitment, funnelling participants into deeper engagement opportunities offered by the Youth Companies and periodic large-scale Community Operas.

A LVA R E Z YO U N G A RT I S T S ’ 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 Artists’ Programme. Each season we work closely with Conservatoires in the UK and further afield to select and showcase the finest young performing talent.

In 2018 there were 33 young singers on the Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme, as members of the chorus and understudies in the Festival. The following activities were on offer this year:

• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Audition Q&A; One-to-One feedback sessions with Laura Canning (Director of Artistic Administration); Guest Artist auditions for Douglas Boyd; Q&A with Graham Clark.

• SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES – Green Theatre Recitals; OperaFirst performance of Die Zauberflöte; Understudy Showcase; Recitals at Oxford Lieder and Blackwater Valley Festivals for previous award winners.

• ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT – Full understudy run of each opera for the casting team; Audition DVD Filming; Masterclasses with Mary Dunleavy, Ann Murray & Robert Lloyd; Coaching with Susanna Stranders (Head of Music).

• PROFESSIONAL TRAINING – Business & Tax training seminars.

• ONGOING SUPPORT – Two financial awards presented for Outstanding Young Talent.

“I would just like to thank the whole company for giving me this incredible opportunity. I made my professional debut with you and it’s an experience I won’t forget. The season has given me great stage experience and has acted as a fantastic springboard.”

“Fantastic place to work, everyone is so friendly and makes you feel a part of the Garsington ‘family’. Garsington treats singers with considerably more respect than some organisations I’ve worked for. I liked the extra importance given to the cover runs.”

R E S TAU R A N T & PICNICS Michelin Star Chef Michael North joined us for a third year to create an exceptional fine dining menu with a modern twist.

Al fresco diners enjoyed Feasts Picnic Hampers with delicious, locally sourced produce.

The Long Room Restaurant, overlooking the stunning cricket ground, offered delicious pre-performance teas and a three-course interval dining experience.

Great dinner. To produce and serve that quality of food is exceptional; the staff were delightful.

- Opera Patron, 2018

FINANCIAL REVIEW 2018 Expenditure (£’000)

2018 Income (£’000)

£75 £168 £190 £240

£73 £115 £200 £316 £463 £2,921

£2,105 £5,024 Box Office (tickets & donations) Fundraising & Membership Restaurant, Shop & Other Sales Corporate Sponsorship Learning & Participation Donations Legacy Donations Other INCOME SOURCE

Opera Production Learning & Participation Overheads Shop & Other Sales Filming & Digital

2018 Forecast (£’000)

2017 Final (£’000)

YoY

Box Office - Tickets & Donations

2,921

2,852

2%

Fundraising & Membership

2,015

1,885

7%

Learning & Participation Donations

200

490

-59% *

Corporate Sponsorship

316

301

5%

Restaurant, Shop & Other Sales

463

493

-6%

Legacy Donations

115

0

73

42

74%

6,103

6,063

1%

5,024

4,371

15%

Learning & Participation

240

582

-59% *

Shop & Other Sales

169

196

-14%

Overheads

190

188

1%

75

0

5,698

5,337

371

346

36

381

318

443

Other Total Income

EXPENDITURE Opera Production

Filming & Digital Total Expenditure

Depreciation Surplus (see Reserves Policy) Capital Expenditure * Large-scale community opera produced every 4-5 years

7%

AU D I E N C E FEEDBACK

“Garsington is in great heart. It is a wonderful venue where magical things happen.”

 

There is such a buzz around Garsington and the whole experience is fantastic. I think there’s a distinct performance style emerging which is hard to define.

But what comes across is a group of artists having a great time, confident that they are producing work of the highest standard. The enthusiasm is infectious.

I loved every second of the whole evening. Every summer there are one or two evenings which one wants to savour and remember forever and this undoubtedly was one of them.

The four productions were outstanding in every way. It is clear that a huge amount of investment has gone into the opera in terms of the quality of the singers, the orchestras and the staging. I think that this was one of the best seasons that I can remember. Each production was perfect in every way.

It is easy to support Garsington because of the quality of the productions and performers and especially the people who make Garsington artistically excellent and personally warm, caring and attentive.

I have been coming for a number of years and this one tops them all.

AU D I E N C E R E AC H The 2018 Season at Garsington Opera was performed to a 99% capacity audience of 23,196 people.

We were pleased to welcome a number of first-time ticket buyers for The Skating Rink and grew our Under 35 subsidy programme, through generous private support.

Beyond Wormsley, our digital strategy has enabled audiences worldwide to access our work for free through broadcast and online streaming. The Skating Rink was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and we made Die Zauberflรถte available online via the OperaVision platform, free to view in full for six months.

Learning & Participation work has enabled us to share our passion for opera, music and movement as tools for positive social impact, reaching more people in the communities local to Wormsley and developing the pool of participants for future work.

Future plans include developing a platform for learning about classical music and providing access to the arts for those who face significant barriers to engagement. Working with BBC Research & Development, with funding from the Rothschild Foundation, AppRa (an app for opera) will be developed over the next three years, using the latest cutting edge technology to engage new audiences.

IN PERSON

2018

ONLINE

2018

Performances

23,196

Website Sessions

172,267

Learning & Participation

11,613

Content Plays

167,900

TOTAL

34,809

TOTAL

340,167

Registered Charity No. 1003042