Glorious Glyndebourne
May 20th, 2010 by claire.mitchellGlyndebourne, the 700-year-old country house and one of Britain’s most prestigious opera venues, opens its 2010 Festival today. Some of the world’s best operatic talents, a 1,200-seat auditorium, evening dress, and champagne and picnics on the lawn make it a very special festival indeed.
Running until 29 August, the season opens with two firsts for Glyndebourne: their first ever production of Billy Budd and the operatic debut of leading theatre director Michael Grandage.
David Pickard, general director of Glyndebourne, says: “The 2010 season brings Britten’s Billy Budd to the festival for the first time and also marks the operatic debut of director, Michael Grandage, the highly acclaimed artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse. Following the huge success of last summer’s The Fairy Queen, Jonathan Kent returns to direct a new production of Don Giovanni, conducted by music director Vladimir Jurowski. Revivals of Così fan tutte, Macbeth, Hänsel und Gretel and The Rake’s Progress complete the season.”
To celebrate the opening, we’ve picked out some rather special properties with an operatic connection, currently listed on Primelocation.com.
£1,950,000, Lewes
Ten miles from Glyndebourne, Furzegrove Farm dates back to the 1400s, has an abundance of period features, six bedrooms, four reception rooms and a mosaic-tiled swimming pool.
£2,3000,000, Shirley Hills
This 1920s Gascony chateau-style mansion was originally owned by Constant Lambert. In need of some redecoration, it spans 6,000 sq ft, has seven bedrooms and comes with an acre and a half of grounds.
£1,500,000, Kingsbridge
This converted barn, annexe and two cottages in the heart of the South Hams come with a landscaped lawn and a terrace that doubles as a stage for performing operas.
Glyndebourne, near Lewes, East Sussex. Find out more about the 2010 Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
