The Glyndebourne Tour returns this autumn with performances at Glyndebourne, Milton Keynes, Canterbury, Norwich and Liverpool, accompanied by an exciting new programme of community activity.
As in 2021, Glyndebourne will take two world-class opera productions and one concert on the road – this year, Puccini’s La bohème and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Mozart’s Requiem (the latter following the success of last autumn’s Handel’s Messiah concert).
Floris Visser’s new production of La bohème transfers directly from this year’s Glyndebourne Festival with a new cast, as does Michael Grandage’s five-star production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
Mozart’s Requiem will be performed in a special concert of instrumental and vocal works pairing Mozart’s choral masterpiece with music by his contemporary and rival, French composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges – celebrated swordsman, virtuoso violinist, and the first star classical composer of African ancestry.
Alongside these productions will be a matinee performance of a new work on the theme of loneliness by composer Samantha Fernando and librettist Melanie Wilson. This newly commissioned chamber opera will be staged in the Jerwood Studio at Glyndebourne on 28 and 29 October, and then in each of the Tour locations while the Tour is in residence.
Also new for 2022 is an exciting programme of community and audience engagement activity to accompany the Tour performances at each venue.
Describing his vision for the newly invigorated Tour model, Glyndebourne’s Artistic Director Stephen Langridge said: ‘The Glyndebourne Tour, now in its 54th year, remains at the centre of our mission to enrich as many people’s lives as possible through opera, but our approach is evolving.
‘Now, as well as taking our world-class opera productions on the road, we are showing smaller scale new work, our orchestral players are performing in care homes, we are working with university students, our chorus is singing with hundreds of children around the country… Our Tour is developing into a series of creative residencies, collaborating with our partners, and establishing deeper connections with communities around our touring venues.
‘It’s a dynamic musical offering which we hope will open up the world of opera to new audiences, while allowing established opera buffs to relish new talent and fresh thinking. Above all, we want to create a festival atmosphere wherever we go.’
Following the Tour, Glyndebourne returns home to Sussex to reprise its popular Christmas Concerts, with four performances on 10 and 11 December (matinee and evening) rounding off its 2022 calendar. Showcasing the talents of the Glyndebourne Chorus and Tour Orchestra, the programme will combine operatic highlights with yuletide classics and carols for all.
The Glyndebourne Tour was founded in 1968 by Sir George Christie, then Executive Chairman of Glyndebourne, with the dual purpose of making the very best opera available to as many people as possible around the country, and championing new artistic talent. Since then it has launched the careers of numerous opera stars; distinguished Tour alumni include Emma Bell, Alfie Boe, Sir Thomas Allen and Dame Felicity Lott.
Public booking for the Tour at Glyndebourne opens on Sunday 15 May 2022.
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Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro: Opens 8 October at Glyndebourne and then on tour through November in a revival of Michael Grandage’s 2012 Glyndebourne production.
Puccini, La bohème: Opens 9 October at Glyndebourne and then on tour through November in a new production by director Floris Visser transferring from the 2022 Glyndebourne Festival with a new cast.
Mozart, Requiem: Opens 3 November at Milton Keynes Theatre and then on tour through November, followed by two performances at Glyndebourne on 3 and 9 December in a concert pairing Mozart’s choral masterwork with instrumental and vocal works by his contemporary, French composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Glyndebourne Tour dates: Performances of The Marriage of Figaro and La bohème will take place at Glyndebourne between 8 – 29 October, then at the following venues:
Milton Keynes Theatre, 1 – 5 November
The Marlowe, Canterbury, 8 – 12 November
Norwich Theatre Royal, 15 – 19 November
Liverpool Empire, 24 – 26 November
Performances of Mozart’s Requiem will take place at the above venues (one performance at each), followed by two performances at Glyndebourne on 3 and 9 December.