We are thrilled to announce the operas for our 2025 Festival, which will run from Wednesday 28 May – Tuesday 22 July 2025 – Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, Handel’s Rodelinda, and Beethoven’s Fidelio.
L’elisir d’amore
Gaetano Donizetti
Donizetti’s most joyous and sparkling opera is packed with effervescent melodies and overflowing with warmth and humour. Returning after their vivid and opulent Il barbiere di Siviglia in 2023 are director Christopher Luscombe and designer Simon Higlett to bring this romantic comedy to life. We also welcome back Chloe Rooke to conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra after conducting in our Gala Concert last summer.
Adina – Madison Leonard
Nemorino – Oleksiy Palchykov
Belcore – Carles Pachón
Dulcamara – Richard Burkhard
Conductor – Chloe Rooke
Director – Christopher Luscombe
Designer – Simon Higlett
Lighting Designer – Mark Jonathan
Philharmonia Orchestra
Garsington Opera Chorus
May 28
June 01 / 07 / 12 / 14
July 09 / 13 / 15 / 18 / 21
The Queen Of Spades
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky’s intensely dramatic opera is a tragedy about the remorseless nature of fate, brought to life with music on a grand scale. This production sees the return of Jack Furness, Tom Piper and Douglas Boyd after their triumphant Rusalka in 2022 which later opened the Edinburgh International Festival. The production revels in the opulence of the St Petersburg we saw at the end of Tom Piper’s 2016 Eugene Onegin as this passionate thriller unfolds.
Hermann – Aaron Cawley
Lisa/Chloe – Laura Wilde
The Countess – Diana Montague
Count Tomsky/Plutus – Robert Hayward
Prince Yeletsky – Roderick Williams
Pauline/Daphnis – Stephanie Wake-Edwards
Tchekalinsky – Sam Furness
Sourin – Simon Shibambu
Conductor – Douglas Boyd
Director – Jack Furness
Designer – Tom Piper
Lighting Designer – Lizzie Powell
Philharmonia Orchestra
Garsington Opera Chorus
Garsington Opera Youth Company
May 29 / 31
June 06 / 15 / 20 / 26 / 28 / 30
July 04
Rodelinda
George Frideric Handel
Handel wrote some of his most beautiful and characterful music for Rodelinda. Hatred and despair, thwarted love and resentment, and a fierce desire for revenge all combine to make a narrative of extraordinary power and potency. Director Ruth Knight collaborates with international award-winning designer Leslie Travers for this Handel masterpiece which will be conducted by Baroque specialist and Olivier Award winner, Peter Whelan.
Rodelinda – Lucy Crowe
Bertarido – Tim Mead
Grimoaldo – Ed Lyon
Unulfo – Hugh Cutting
Garibaldo – Brandon Cedel
Conductor – Peter Whelan
Director – Ruth Knight
Designer – Leslie Travers
Lighting Designer – Ben Pickersgill
The English Concert
June 13 / 19 / 21 / 29
July 06 / 08 / 19
Fidelio
Ludwig van Beethoven
Fidelio is a blazing musical protest against oppression that signals Beethoven’s implicit belief that humanity will eventually triumph over injustice and tyranny. John Cox’s iconic production of Beethoven’s only opera returns with Jamie Manton as revival director and Gary McCann’s striking design. Gérard Korsten makes his Garsington debut conducting The English Concert.
Florestan – Robert Murray
Leonore – Jane Archibald
Don Pizarro – Musa Ngqungwana
Rocco – Jonathan Lemalu
Marzelline – Isabelle Peters
Jacquino – Oliver Johnston
Don Fernando – Richard Burkhard
Conductor – Gérard Korsten
Original Director – John Cox
Revival Director – Jamie Manton
Designer – Gary McCann
Lighting Designer – Ben Pickersgill
The English Concert
Garsington Opera Chorus
June 27
July 01 / 03 / 05 / 10 / 12 / 20 / 22
Priority booking is now open, and members are invited to request tickets in line with the allocation deadlines below.
Ingrams Circle, Constellation and Patron deadline Tuesday 26 November 2024
Special Friend and Friend deadline Tuesday 14 January 2025
Affiliate Member booking opens from 10am on Tuesday 4 March 2025
GO≤35 Member booking opens from 10am on Tuesday 18 March 2025
Public booking opens from 10am on Tuesday 1 April 2025