Gérard Korsten is now unable to conduct our production of Fidelio for our 2025 Season. We are pleased to announce that our Artistic Director Douglas Boyd will now conduct this revival of John Cox’s classic production, with The English Concert and a stellar cast.
We are also delighted to announce that the role of Leonore will now be sung by internationally acclaimed British soprano, Sally Matthews, who will be making her Garsington Opera debut. Sally takes the place of Jane Archibald who has had to withdraw. Sally is recognised as one of the foremost lyric sopranos of her generation with her international career encompassing the opera, concert and recital stages, collaborating with many of the world’s renowned artists and conductors. She has previously performed the role of Leonore in 2023 at Berlin Staatsoper and we are looking forward to welcoming her to Wormsley.
“John Cox’s original production of Fidelio has a very special place in my heart, having conducted it both at Garsington Manor in 2009 and at Wormsley in 2014. Beethoven has been a huge part of my life, not only as a conductor, but also in my previous life as an oboist, inspired by both Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Claudio Abbado with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
I am so delighted to perform Fidelio again with this wonderful cast and with The English Concert, who I know will bring this miracle to life with their amazing musicianship and sound world, and I very much look forward to welcoming Sally Matthews for her Garsington Opera debut in the role of Leonore.”
Douglas Boyd, Artistic Director
Beethoven’s Fidelio
27 June – 22 July 2025
Florestan Robert Murray
Leonore Sally Matthews
Don Pizarro Musa Ngqungwana
Rocco Jonathan Lemalu
Marzelline Isabelle Peters
Jaquino Oliver Johnston
Don Fernando Richard Burkhard
Conductor Douglas Boyd
Original Director John Cox
Revival Director Jamie Manton
Designer Gary McCann
Lighting Designer Ben Pickersgill
Garsington Opera Chorus
The English Concert
