Summer Of Song
The Official Magazine Britain|May-June 2019

In the warmer months, some of the country’s finest houses and gardens host dazzling opera performances

Simon Urwin
Summer Of Song
Every year, between May and August, the sound of birdsong blends with the melodies of love-torn tragedy as the country house opera season gets underway. A growing number of historic venues now host their own special festivals of classical music, in what has become a much-loved highlight of the summer cultural calendar.

“The graciousness of civilisation here surely touches a peak where the arts of music, architecture and gardening combine for the delight of man,” wrote Vita Sackville- West of Glyndebourne in 1953.

Set in the rolling South Downs, Britain’s original summer opera venue is a byword for sophistication, its reputation for musical excellence rivalling the world’s great opera houses. “We’re well known for showcasing exciting, up-and-coming talent, so you’re likely to see the stars of the future here for the very first time,” says Alexandra Coghlan, Glyndebourne’s Opera Content Consultant.

A place of many traditions, including elegant dress code and elaborate champagne picnics, Glyndebourne’s summer season of six operas is widely recognised for its creative boldness, with this year’s programme featuring a Die Zauberflöte with puppetry and a gravity-defying Rusalka set undersea.

“Glyndebourne takes a playful approach to the art form, with an added touch of anarchy and eccentricity,” says Coghlan. “At the same time, we’re always striving to fulfil John Christie’s founding motto: ‘not the best that we can do, but the best that can be done anywhere’.”

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May-June 2019-Ausgabe von The Official Magazine Britain.

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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der May-June 2019-Ausgabe von The Official Magazine Britain.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

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