Glyndebourne unveils 2021 festival

Glyndebourne has underlined its commitment to staging its 2021 festival, with adaptations to accommodate ongoing restrictions.
GlyndebourneGlyndebourne
Glyndebourne

The world-famous venue has confirmed its plans to proceed, with adaptations to ensure the show can go on even if social distancing is still in place.

Glyndebourne Festival 2021 will run from May 20 until August 29 with new productions of Janáček’s Kát’a Kabanová, Rossini’s Il turco in Italia and Verdi’s Luisa Miller, alongside a revival of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. In a change to original plans, Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde will be presented as a semi-staged concert with a full orchestra, seated on the stage, to do justice to the opera’s epic score.

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Performances of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte have been removed from the programme and in its place, Glyndebourne’s resident orchestras, the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, will take centre stage in a series of specially-curated concerts.

Stephen Langridge, artistic director of Glyndebourne, said: “We have been planning for a variety of scenarios to ensure we could adapt the festival, in any way necessary, without lowering our artistic ambition.

“The plan we’re announcing draws on our experience of staging socially-distanced events in 2020 and gives us flexibility to accommodate any restrictions that might be in place this summer.

“I’m delighted to be going ahead with all three new productions, plans for which look astounding. After these months of enforced isolation, we are looking forward to being together again in Glyndebourne’s beautiful auditorium to share some extraordinary, inspiring evenings of live music and theatre. It promises to be a festival like no other.

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“Glyndebourne is carefully managing performer numbers and has adapted its working practices to ensure that performing companies will maintain physical distancing on stage, in the pit and in rehearsals.”

Mariame Clément, who directs a new production of Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne this summer, said: “‘I am thankful that Glyndebourne has found a way to go ahead with the festival and I’m sure that feeling is shared by every artist involved. It’s been a very difficult time for our industry, trying to find ways to perform that keep everyone safe. Having experienced the fantastic working environment at Glyndebourne, I have every confidence that the team there will rise to this challenge and that together we can create a production that delivers the exceptional artistic standards for which the company is known.”

All performances will take place inside the Glyndebourne opera house with audience numbers initially capped at 600 – 50 per cent of the 1,200 person capacity. Tried-and-tested adaptations will be in place to ensure people can move around the event safely, and the traditional 90-minute dining interval, during which visitors picnic in the gardens or dine in one of the on-site restaurants, is being extended slightly to allow for staggered entry and exit from the auditorium.

Sarah Hopwood, managing director of Glyndebourne, added: “We are determined to present a Festival this summer in whatever form is possible. With a 50 per cent reduction in box office potential, it will be expensive for us, but thanks to our financial independence and the reserves we have built up, we are in a position to go ahead.

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“We consider this essential to protect the livelihoods of our staff and freelance artists we employ and to continue to engage with our audience, including members and supporters who have been so loyal and generous over the past year. The health and well-being of everyone visiting or working at Glyndebourne is our top priority and we will continue to follow the guidance of the government and Public Health England. We look forward to a summer of world-class opera.’

Glyndebourne Festival 2021 will run from May 20 - August 29 2021. Glyndebourne Members have priority booking, and all remaining tickets will go on sale to the public in April.

If Covid-19 forces Glyndebourne to cancel performances, or prevents audience members from visiting the Festival, a full refund will be offered.

Seating in the auditorium will be physically distanced, with most of the seats arranged in pairs.

Glyndebourne Festival 2021 repertoire:

Leoš Janáček - Kát’a Kabanová

Ten performances between 20 May - 19 June 2021

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A new production for the 2021 Festival directed by Damiano Michieletto in his Glyndebourne directorial debut

Glyndebourne’s Music Director Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Gioachino Rossini - Il turco in Italia

Thirteen performances between 23 May - 20 June 2021

A new production for the 2021 Festival directed by Mariame Clément

Giancarlo Andretta makes his Glyndebourne debut conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Giuseppe Verdi - Luisa Miller

Ten performances between 1 - 29 August 2021

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A new production for the 2021 Festival directed by Christof Loy

Enrique Mazzola conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Così fan tutte

Fifteen performances between 4 July - 27 August 2021

A revival of Nicholas Hytner’s Glyndebourne Festival 2006 production

Riccardo Minasi makes his Glyndebourne debut conducting the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Richard Wagner - Tristan und Isolde

Five performances between 13 - 28 August 2021

A semi staged concert version of Wagner’s epic love story

Glyndebourne’s Music Director Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

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Concerts by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and London Philharmonic Orchestra

Seven events between 27 May - 26 August 2021

Glyndebourne’s resident orchestras, the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, take centre stage in a series of specially curated concerts taking place throughout the Festival season.

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