Summer Of Song

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

- Simon Urwin

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’.”