May 29 / 31 June 06 / 15 / 20 / 26 / 28 / 30 July 04
RODELINDA
George Frideric Handel
June 13 / 19 / 21 / 29 July 06 / 08 / 19
FIDELIO
Ludwig van Beethoven
June 27
Love and humanity are the central themes which weave through our operas.
The festival opens with a vibrant and fun new production of L’elisir d’amore in the wonderful creative hands of designer and director duo, Simon Higlett and Christopher Luscombe, who gave us such pleasure with their 2023 production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. The opera charts the pain and joy of young lovers Nemorino and Adina’s journey, despite the shadow of snake oil salesman Dr Dulcamara’s false promises. Donizetti’s melodies and humour will be brought to life by a fabulous cast and our world-class Philharmonia Orchestra.
The Philharmonia Orchestra also join us for one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest scores, the intensely dramatic The Queen of Spades. For this new production, the creative team of Rusalka (2022), designer Tom Piper and director Jack Furness, re-unite to bring to life this extraordinary story of obsessive love and schizophrenic descent into madness. With its grand orchestration and a large cast and chorus, this production will evoke memories of the St. Petersburg scenes featured in Tom Piper’s design of Eugene Onegin from our 2016 Season.
Rodelinda is our third Handel opera and features some of his most beautiful and moving music. Together with our dynamic partners, period instrument orchestra The English Concert, Handel takes us on a dramatic journey of family betrayal and jealousy before Rodelinda’s love and strength prevails. We are delighted to welcome director Ruth Knight, making her Garsington debut and to welcome back designer Leslie Travers.
Completing our quartet of works this summer is a revival of John Cox’s iconic production of Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio. The English Concert join us again to perform Beethoven at the height of his powers, in this powerful narrative of freedom over tyranny and, perhaps even more important, the triumph of love over evil. We are proud to bring this eternal production back to the Garsington stage, led by revival director Jamie Manton and original designer Gary McCann, whose designs have also thrilled us more recently with Der Rosenkavalier in 2021.
Douglas Boyd, Artistic Director
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2024
L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Gaetano Donizetti
Donizetti’s most joyous and sparkling opera is packed with effervescent melodies and overflowing with warmth and humour. Returning after their vivid and opulent Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2023 are director Christopher Luscombe and designer Simon Higlett to bring this romantic comedy to life. We also welcome back Chloe Rooke to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra after conducting in our Gala Concert last summer.
When Nemorino despairs of winning Adina’s love, he is easy prey to Dr Dulcamara who sells him a bottle of elixir he can ill afford, and he swigs the entire contents in one go. Needless to say, it is not an elixir at all. However, the cheap alcohol has a powerful effect, enabling him to lose his inhibitions and enjoy a new-found confidence. Adina, who had been about to marry the swaggering soldier Captain Belcore, realises that her heart may belong elsewhere. The women of the village discover that Nemorino, unbeknownst to him, has inherited a fortune from his uncle and all of a sudden find him absolutely irresistible. Will these entanglements be resolved? Will the path of true love eventually be smoothed?
Nemorino Oleksiy Palchykov
Belcore Carles Pachon
Dr Dulcamara Richard Burkhard
Conductor Chloe Rooke
Director Christopher Luscombe
Designer Simon Higlett
Lighting Designer Mark Jonathan
Philharmonia Orchestra
Garsington Opera Chorus Performances
First bell: 6pm
Sung in Italian with English supertitles Insight talk: Wednesday 16 April, page 19
Adina Madison Leonard
THE QUEEN OF SPADES
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky’s intensely dramatic opera is a tragedy about the remorseless nature of fate, brought to life with music on a grand scale. This production sees the return of Jack Furness, Tom Piper and Douglas Boyd after their triumphant Rusalka in 2022 which later opened the Edinburgh International Festival. The production revels in the opulence of the St Petersburg we saw at the end of Tom Piper’s 2016 Eugene Onegin as this passionate thriller unfolds.
Hermann is a soldier in St. Petersburg, isolated from his fellow officers by his strange and obsessive behaviour. He is in love with Lisa, who tentatively returns his love but is engaged to another man. Lisa is the ward of an elderly, eccentric Countess, the toast of Paris society in her long-ago youth, rumoured to possess the knowledge of a winning combination of three cards. Having once confided that secret to two men, she was warned by an apparition that she would die at the hands of a third if she ever revealed the secret again. Hermann becomes fixated on the Countess and her three cards. He can think of nothing else and will do whatever is necessary to discover the secret.
Hermann Aaron Cawley
Lisa / Chloe Laura Wilde
The Countess Diana Montague
Count Tomsky / Plutus Robert Hayward
Prince Yeletsky Roderick Williams
Pauline / Daphnis
Stephanie Wake-Edwards
Tchekalinsky Sam Furness
Sournin Simon Shibambu
Conductor Douglas Boyd
Director Jack Furness
Designer Tom Piper
Lighting Designer Lizzie Powell
Garsington Opera Chorus
Garsington Opera Youth Company
Philharmonia Orchestra
Performances
May 29 / 31
June 06 / 15 / 20 / 26 / 28 / 30
July 04
First bell: 5.20pm
Sung in Russian with English supertitles
Insight talk: Tuesday 22 April, page 19
RODELINDA
George Frideric Handel
Handel wrote some of his most beautiful and characterful music for Rodelinda. Hatred and despair, thwarted love and resentment, and a fierce desire for revenge all combine to make a narrative of extraordinary power and potency. Director Ruth Knight collaborates with international award-winning designer Leslie Travers for this Handel masterpiece which will be conducted by Baroque specialist and Olivier Award winner, Peter Whelan.
Before the opera begins, King Bertarido has been defeated in battle by Grimoaldo, who has usurped his throne. Bertarido has been able to escape and has allowed rumours of his death to circulate in the hopes of rescuing his wife Rodelinda, their young son Flavio and his sister Eduige, who he had to leave behind. Returning in secret he discovers that Grimoaldo, despite being pledged to marry Eduige, is pursuing Rodelinda relentlessly, determined to force her into marriage if she refuses willingly to love him.
Rodelinda Lucy Crowe
Bertarido Tim Mead
Grimoaldo Ed Lyon
Eduige Marvic Monreal
Unulfo Hugh Cutting
Garibaldo Brandon Cedel
Conductor Peter Whelan
Director Ruth Knight
Designer Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
The English Concert
Performances
June 13 / 19 / 21 / 29
July 06 / 08 / 19
First bell: 5.10pm
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Insight talk: Wednesday 30 April, page 19
FIDELIO
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fidelio is a blazing musical protest against oppression that signals Beethoven’s implicit belief that humanity will eventually triumph over injustice and tyranny. John Cox’s iconic production of Beethoven’s only opera returns with Jamie Manton as revival director and Gary McCann’s striking design. Gérard Korsten makes his Garsington debut conducting The English Concert.
Based on real events, the opera deals with the highest ideals of truth and justice. Florestan has been wrongfully imprisoned and his wife, Leonore, determined against all the odds to rescue him, disguises herself as a man and finds work at the prison where she believes him to be confined. Her unflinching courage and fidelity in agonising circumstances inspired some of Beethoven’s greatest music.
Florestan Robert Murray
Leonore Jane Archibald
Don Pizarro Musa Ngqungwana
Rocco Jonathan Lemalu
Marzelline Isabelle Peters
Jaquino Oliver Johnston
Don Fernando Richard Burkhard
Conductor Gérard Korsten
Original Director John Cox
Revival Director Jamie Manton
Designer Gary McCann
Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
Garsington Opera Chorus
The English Concert
Performances
June 27
July 01 / 03 / 05 / 10 / 12 / 20 / 22
First bell: 5.55pm
Sung in German with English supertitles
In conversation: Tuesday 6 May, page 19
Your Visit to Garsington
Dress Code
Guests are invited to wear smart, elegant evening wear. Warm layers are strongly advised and, as the grass may be soft, stilettos are not recommended.
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
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.
Champagne Terrace
Our bar is situated in front of the opera house and serves a range of drinks, including Deutz Champagne, both pre-performance and during the interval.
Tea & Coffee
Kiosk
Open during the afternoon and interval, tea, coffee and snacks can be purchased from our kiosk at the bottom of the steps to the auditorium.
Walled Garden
Open
Take the short journey on our vintage bus to the 18th century Walled Garden to enjoy the horticultural variety in its carefully curated quadrants.
Afternoon
Tea
Enjoy afternoon tea in the Boundary Room Restaurant overlooking the Wormsley cricket ground, or an informal cup of tea at our kiosk in the Deer Park.
Saturday Walled Garden Recitals
Each Saturday, hear a free 15 minute informal pre-performance Alvarez Young Artist recital in the stunning surroundings of the Walled Garden’s Green Theatre (weather permitting).
Garsington Opera Shop
Drop in on our charming tented shop to see our specially selected bespoke collections including ceramics, jewellery, picnic wear, pashminas, opera jackets and waistcoats. This is also where you’ll find our Box Office team.
Performance Begins
Bells will sound from 15 minutes before the performance, ushering you to your seats.
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. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnics and may pre-book tents and tables.
Performances End at c.10pm
As night falls, torch-lit pathways light the way across the spectacular Chiltern landscape.
Relax and enjoy refreshments and fine-dining during your visit.
Pre-performance
Pick the perfect spot for afternoon tea and scones beside the Cricket Ground, order champagne and canapés at the Champagne Bar overlooking the Deer Park, treat yourself to a pre-performance coffee from our Tea & Coffee Kiosk, or visit the Champagne Bar in the Walled Garden (bar open when weather permits).
Boundary Room Restaurant
Enjoy the complete fine-dining experience in our glass-fronted restaurant. Looking out over the iconic Wormsley Cricket Ground, our restaurant boasts one of the most stunning views in Britain.
Dining & Hospitality
Picnics
Order a Picnic
Our catered picnics offer a delicious selection of al fresco favourites served in tents overlooking 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.
Bring a Picnic
If bringing your own picnic, a number of free unreserved seating areas are available – choose from the many tables on the Champagne Lawn and beside the lake, or join the celebratory atmosphere in one of our shared picnic tents.
Reserving Tents and Tables
If you would like to reserve a picnic table, bookings are taken on the Upper Terrace and in our shared tents. For larger parties, a number of private tents seating up to 12 are also available.
Special Occasions
We highly recommend booking one of our stunning private venues to entertain your friends or celebrate a special occasion. The stunning Island Pavilion hosts up to 24, the Cricket Pavilion seats up to 10 or the Chilterns Tent can accommodate larger parties overlooking the Cricket Ground. Dining options can be tailored to your requirements, please see our website for details.
How to Book Your Dining
Dining can be booked alongside your tickets, either online or through our Box Office. Instructions can be found in the step-by-step booking guide on page 16.
Booking Information
Booking Information
Priority booking is now open and members are invited to request tickets in line with the allocation deadlines below. Please provide as many alternative dates and seating areas as possible to assist the Box Office in processing your application efficiently.
Step-by-step booking
Members’ Priority Booking
1. Submit your ticket request including preferred productions, dates and seating areas. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your request.
Affiliate, GO≤35 & Public Booking
1. Once booking has opened, visit our website to select by seat for your chosen performance.
Ingrams Circle, Constellation and Patron deadline Tuesday 26 November 2024
Special Friend and Friend deadline Tuesday 14 January 2025
Members are invited to submit their priority booking request at garsingtonopera.org
Affiliate Members are invited to book online from 10am on Tuesday 4 March 2025
GO≤35 Members are invited to book online from 10am on Tuesday 18 March 2025
Public booking opens online from 10am on Tuesday 1 April 2025
Let’s GO Mailing List sign ups for those aged 35 and under open from 16 April
2. Allocation will commence once your membership’s booking deadline has passed. Once allocated, you will receive confirmation of your seats to review. (Allocations are typically confirmed between January and February)
3. Complete your booking by adding any tents, tables & dining to your confirmed dates and making payment. Tents, tables & dining can also be booked at a later date.
4. Once paid, tickets are immediately available to view in your online account area.
2. If you’re ready to book tents, tables or dining this can be done at checkout, or at a later date.
3. Once paid, tickets are immediately available to view in your online account area.
Tickets can be booked online at garsingtonopera.org or via our Box Office on 01494 376037
If you have any questions about booking, please email boxoffice@garsingtonopera.org
Members not wishing to request tickets via our website are invited to telephone or email the Box Office. You will receive email confirmation of your tickets in due course, once allocation is completed.
Donations
All amounts shown include a suggested, but non-obligatory, donation of £80. By including this donation when you purchase your tickets you are making a real and significant difference in enabling us to deliver the high artistic quality of the productions you enjoy on our stage, our learning and participation programme in the local community, and the tickets that we subsidise for our younger audience members. Garsington Opera receives no public subsidy, so we are very grateful to the majority of our audience who include the suggested donation with their tickets. These donations (which are tax deductible) attract Gift Aid which further supports our work.
Included With Your Ticket
Whilst there are optional add-ons to enhance your visit, we do not charge booking fees or add on costs for car parking or buggy transfers.
Seating Area Tickets
Seating Plan & Tickets
For a more detailed seating plan visit garsingtonopera.org/seating-plan
Middle Stalls, Rear Stalls and Boxes are reached by external stairs. There is no step-free access.
Front Stalls – seats in Row D have step-free access. Subsequent rows are reached by two steps per row, handholds are provided.
Orchestra Stalls – seating accessed by no more than five steps
Stage Platform – wheelchair spaces and step-free seating
Middle Stalls
Booking Information continued
Conditions of Sale
Contact Us
Website: garsingtonopera.org
Email: boxoffice@garsingtonopera.org
Phone: 01494 376037
Box Office Hours: 10am – 5pm, Mon – Fri
All ticket sales are final and tickets are not refundable unless an event is cancelled or rescheduled by Garsington Opera. Subject to availability, tickets may be exchanged to another performance, provided notice is given at least seven days prior to the original performance date.
For sold out performances, Garsington Opera offers a resale service. All resale requests must be made in writing. Please e-mail the Box Office in the first instance with any resale enquiries on boxoffice@garsingtonopera.org.
Full details of our resale service can be found at garsingtonopera.org/conditions-of-sale. All tickets are sold subject to the right of the Management to make any alterations to the published operas, dates or casts which may be necessary owing to illness or other unavoidable causes.
Photography, filming and sound recording of any kind are strictly prohibited during performances. By entering the estate at Wormsley you agree to being filmed or photographed, which may be used for marketing or promotional purposes.
Accessibility
We welcome everyone to Garsington Opera and want to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
Booking – Suggested accessible seating can be found alongside our auditorium map on page 17. A free companion ticket is available for those requiring essential support in order to attend. To make an access booking or to discuss requirements, please contact the Box Office. Parking – A limited number of parking spaces are reserved for the use of those with access requirements. These must be booked in advance through the Box Office.
Tents, tables and dining – The Boundary Room Restaurant has step-free access. We have a limited number of accessible picnic tables available upon request via the Box Office.
Data Protection
By giving Garsington Opera your information, you agree to your data being used in accordance with our privacy policy garsingtonopera.org/ privacy-policy. You can change your contact preferences at any time in your online account, or by contacting the Box Office.
Productions On Demand & Insight Talks
OperaVision
Take a trip to the poolside glamour of Platée to whet your appetite for the 2025 Season.
Our partner OperaVision, a free-to-view streaming platform, will be releasing our production of Rameau’s Platée, filmed live in June 2024, in celebration of World Opera Day.
Streaming from 6pm on 15 November 2024 for six months operavision.eu
Our 2024 production of Verdi’s Un giorno di regno will be streamed on OperaVision in 2025.
Insight Talks
Ahead of your visit in the summer, discover more about this season’s operas with our series of Insight Talks combining historical context with musical excerpts performed by singers from our Alvarez Young Artists’ Programme.
Insight Talks cost £20 and start at 7pm. Guests are invited to join us for a glass of wine half an hour beforehand. The illustrated talks last approximately one hour.
Book online at garsingtonopera.org or via the Box Office.
L’elisir d’amore
Speaker: Sarah Lenton
Royal Academy of Music, London
Wednesday 16 April
The Queen of Spades
Speaker: Sophie Rashbrook
Terrévent Studio, Garsington Studios
Tuesday 22 April
Rodelinda
Speaker: Katy Hamilton
Terrévent Studio, Garsington Studios
Wednesday 30 April
Fidelio
Join Douglas Boyd alongside selected guests for an exploration of Fidelio in the context of Beethoven’s life and works.
Wolfson College, Oxford
Tuesday 6 May
Platée, 2024
Un giorno di regno, 2024
Our GO Participate programme provides high quality opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to access opera.
We aim to enrich people’s lives through opera: sharing our passion and love of opera with a wider audience and helping to demystify the wonderful and varied genre for those who would not normally have access to it. Here are the different ways you can engage with our creative programmes.
Join our Youth Company on-stage or backstage Our Youth Company stages an opera every summer, with rehearsals starting late March/ early April. For 2025 we are incredibly excited to have commissioned a new opera for our Youth Company. Young people interested in singing and acting can join us on-stage and we also offer backstage involvement for those who are interested in production arts and stage management.
GO Participate
A Trip to the Moon: Community Opera, 2024
Join our Adult Company
This year we are introducing an autumn project for adults, taking place over five dates in November in Garsington Studios. They will meet up again for their spring project from January through to March. Everyone is welcome to join on a project by project basis with no audition.
OperaFirst for Schools
We are incredibly proud of our OperaFirst programmes for both Primary and Secondary schools. They provide an exceptional opportunity for young people to explore the musical and dramatic themes of two of the Festival operas, through in-school workshops before experiencing a live performance with orchestra at Wormsley. These schools’ performances also offer our incredible understudy casts of Young Artists the valuable opportunity to perform these roles to a warm and enthusiastic audience.
Discovery Workshops
Our newly developed Discovery Workshops give community members the chance to try something for a day. Whether it is a workshop like our Stage-a-Chorus for adults or Video Design in a Theatrical Setting for young people, there will be something for everyone as we develop this workshop series.
Digital Learning
We have been producing a huge range of free online resources, available on our website, where you can learn about how we prepare and create our operas. From vocal exercises to design, these films can be used in the classroom, with the included Curriculum Links, or in your own home to expand your skills, knowledge, and passion for opera.
To express interest in joining any of our GO Participate programmes please visit our website garsingtonopera.com/participate
If you would like to support our GO Participate programme, to ensure that we can continue to change people’s lives through involvement in the arts, please contact Alison Dunnett: alison@garsingtonopera.org
Garsington Opera Youth Company, 2024
Opera First workshop, 2024
Newly-opened in the spring of 2024, Garsington Studios is avialable to hire.
Enjoying the beauty of the Wormsley estate, this magnificent building offers opportunities for rehearsals, recordings, filming, meetings, conferences and events. Designed to be flexible, it can accommodate small groups or up to 250 people, depending on your needs.
The Studios offer a breath of fresh air in a tranquil setting, less than an hour from London and 25 minutes from Oxford. With glorious views and adaptable purpose-built spaces, discover more by visiting our website: garsingtonstudios.org
