Glyndebourne Open House will return this summer with a series of free online streams of some of the Sussex-based opera house’s most popular productions.
The virtual festival first launched in May 2020 following the cancellation of last year’s Glyndebourne Festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 850,000 people tuned in across the season. The opera house has confirmed that while this year’s open-air live festival will go ahead, it will again be hosting Open House.
This year’s Open House season comprises four operas recorded at past festivals. First is Melly Still’s production of Janáček’s enchanting opera The Cunning Little Vixen (1924), recorded at the 2012 Glyndebourne Festival. Available from 23 May to 6 June, Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra and a cast that includes soprano Lucy Crowe in the title role.
Annabel Arden’s lively 2016 production of Il barbiere di Siviglia (13-27 June; The Barber of Seville, Rossini, 1816) is suffused with Spanish colour and warmth, with a hint of the surreal. Enrique Mazzola conducts an all-star cast including soprano Danielle de Niese and baritones Alessandro Corbelli and Björn Bürger.
Loosely based on the life of Roman Emperor Titus, La clemenza di Tito (4-18 July; The Clemency of Titus, 1791) delivers all of the sublime music and heart-tugging humanity expected of Mozart. Recorded at the 2017 festival, this production by director Claus Guth is conducted by Glyndebourne’s Music Director Robin Ticciati.
The final broadcast is Tom Cairns’s opulent 2014 production of Verdi’s La traviata (1-29 August; The Fallen Woman, 1853). Russian soprano Venera Gimadieva portrays the iconic role of Violetta, alongside American tenor Michael Fabiano as Alfredo. The production is conducted by Sir Mark Elder.
Artistic Director Stephen Langridge commented: “We’re delighted that the Glyndebourne Festival is back this summer, but with capacity initially capped at 50% we knew that many people might not get the chance to visit us in person and wanted to ensure they could still feel part of the season. Last year’s Open House broadcasts were hugely popular so we’re delighted to be offering more free online operas, and hope that people will once again take the opportunity to create their own festival experience at home.”
All Glyndebourne Open House broadcasts will be available to watch for free on both the Glyndebourne website and YouTube channel.
Glyndebourne is also collaborating with Marquee TV to stream four events from the Summer Festival’s concert series featuring Glyndebourne’s resident orchestras, the Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Digital season passes for all four concerts are available to purchase for £50 from marquee.tv.
“Our collaboration with Marquee TV is a chance to experience this summer’s concert series, in which some of the greatest symphonies ever written will be heard on the Glyndebourne stage for the first time, from the comfort of your living room,” Langridge added.
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Glyndebourne’s 2012 version of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen will be part of this summer’s Open House online festival. The production stars Lucy Crowe as Vixen and Emma Bell as Fox (Bill Cooper).