UPDATE: Waterperry Opera Festival announces thrilling 2026 programme and casting
Another vibrant season of high-quality opera in English at the stunning Waterperry House & Gardens, championing young artists, welcoming new audiences, and featuring a guest recital from Roderick Williams OBE.
Waterperry Opera Festival is delighted to announce its full programme for the 2026 Festival, a richly varied summer of opera building on the festival’s record-breaking growth and reaffirming its mission to nurture the next generation of artists while widening access to the art form. The festival returns this summer from 7-16 August, under the new leadership of Artistic Director and CEO John Savournin.
Priority Booking opens from 3rd March, with General Booking opening 31st March 2026.
At the heart of the season are two major opera productions, Puccini’s La bohème and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, both performed in English, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Waterperry’s house and gardens, and showcasing emerging operatic talent. In the first ever production of La bohème at Waterperry, Faryl Smith makes her debut as Mimì, with Robert Forrest as Rodolfo, Ceferina Penny as Musetta and Jolyon Loy as Marcello. WOF Music Director Bertie Baigent conducts, and Ruth Knight directs, having enjoyed great success with her production of Handel’s Rodelinda at Garsington Opera last season.
Donizetti’s sparkling comedy The Elixir of Love reunites the acclaimed creative team behind 2025’s Don Giovanni – director John Wilkie and conductor Charlotte Politi. The production will boast a new English libretto by David Eaton, and stars Daisy Brown as Adina, Matthew McKinney as Nemorino, Matthew Kellett as Dulcamara and James Geidt as Belcore.
Younger audiences and families will welcome a revival of the hugely popular 2023 family production, Peter Rabbit’s Musical Adventures, a lively and accessible show introducing children to live classical music and storytelling in the enchanting setting of the amphitheatre, performed by festival favourite Oskar McCarthy.
This year also features a brand new concert series – Music in the Ballroom – offering audiences the chance to experience exceptional singers up close, in the charming ballroom of Waterperry House. The series features an opening concert from the festival’s Artistic Director and bass-baritone, John Savournin, a regular favourite at English National Opera, while the world class baritone Roderick Williams OBE will close the series with what promises to be a very special programme. Two further recitals will be performed in collaboration with young artists from Opera Prelude.
Returning audience favourites include Last Night at the Opera, an exuberant celebration of operatic highlights, and Serenades, an atmospheric afternoon of music by Mozart and Dvořák in a beautiful outdoor setting.
In keeping with Waterperry’s belief that opera should be open, accessible and welcoming, the 2026 programme will also include a range of free events, including a sing-along Come and Sing workshop, children’s Craft Workshops, and the Young Artist Gala, celebrating the work of the festival’s Young Artist cohort.
Another addition for 2026 is a new summer venue: the intimate, atmospheric church of Saxon origin, St Mary the Virgin, beside Waterperry House. The festival will present Living Light: Visions of an Abbess, a striking, space specific performance inspired by the music and writings of Hildegard von Bingen, the 12th-century abbess, composer, and polymath. Directed by WOF’s own Rebecca Meltzer and rooted in Hildegard’s concept of the umbra viventis lucis – the reflection of the living Light – this immersive performance reflects Waterperry’s growing commitment to reimagining how vocal performance can be experienced.
Artistic Director and CEO John Savournin commented: ‘Our 2026 programme reflects everything we believe in as a festival: artistic excellence, imagination, and openness. Alongside two operatic masterpieces, we are offering family shows, themed recitals, free community events and a beautiful new site-specific performance. These initiatives are united by our desire to create meaningful opportunities for young and emerging artists, and to offer audiences a warm welcome, including those who may never have experienced opera before.’
Music Director and Co-Founder Bertie Baigent added: ‘One of Waterperry’s greatest strengths is its ability to combine ambition with a warm welcome. Whether on the main stage, in the Ballroom, or in the church, this season is about giving exceptional young performers the platform they deserve and creating musical experiences that feel immediate, alive and deeply human. We look forward to captivating and inspiring our audiences.’
Building on the momentum of 2025, Waterperry Opera Festival continues to aim for yet another record-breaking year of high-quality opera, further solidifying its foothold as one of the leading accessible festivals in the UK. Alongside its continued investment in early-career artists, through its acclaimed Young Artist programme, the Festival remains committed to performing opera in English, creating a welcoming, informal and joyful festival environment. This year also boasts a full on-site dining experience, offering audiences an enriched and relaxed way to enjoy the festival.
Priority Booking opens from 3rd March. General Booking opens 31st March 2026
For more about the Waterperry Opera Festival click here.
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Waterperry Opera Festival announces 2026 headline productions: La bohème and The Elixir of Love
Two celebrated masterpieces to be performed in English, created by critically acclaimed creative teams
Waterperry Opera Festival is delighted to announce the two major headline productions for its 2026 season: Puccini’s La bohème and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, both presented in vivid and accessible English translations. Following the Festival’s record-breaking 2025 season, these cornerstone operas will take centre stage next summer, performed against the backdrop of Waterperry’s iconic gardens and continuing the Festival’s mission to bring imaginative, world-class opera to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The first ever production of La bohème at Waterperry will be directed by Ruth Knight, a rising star in the opera world, following audience and critical acclaim with Handel’s Rodelinda at Garsington Opera. The production will be conducted by the award-winning Bertie Baigent, whose dynamic musicianship and rapidly rising profile bring an exciting musical force to this landmark staging. The designer will be Jennifery Gregory, who is returning to Waterperry after designing the much lauded Semele in 2025. The production will be lit by Ben Pickersgill, whose recent successes include The Merry Widow for Scottish Opera/Opera Holland Park and Rodelinda at Garsington.
The Elixir of Love reunites the full creative team from 2025’s Don Giovanni. John Wilkie returns for his third year, having had tremendous success with Waterperry’s productions of Don Giovanni and The Barber of Seville, as well as his recent production of Ferrari’s Il Segreto di Susanna at Opera Holland Park. His comedic flair will be supported by designer Ceci Calf, teaming up with Wilkie for a third year, and lighting designer Jake Wiltshire, who recently lit Irish National Opera’s exceptional new production of Madama Butterfly. The production will be conducted by Charlotte Politi, bringing her vibrant, character-driven musical interpretation to this sparkling comedy.
Building on a year that saw unprecedented audience turnout and the Festival’s highest-ever selling Main Stage production, Waterperry’s 2026 season aims to deepen its connection with both loyal supporters and the growing number of younger and first-time operagoers. The choice of these two beloved operas — one heart-rending, one joyously comic — reflects the Festival’s continued commitment to presenting repertoire that is both artistically ambitious and emotionally resonant.
Newly appointed Artistic Director and CEO, John Savournin, commented: ‘These two universally adored operas will sit perfectly in Waterperry’s beautiful setting and allow us to continue championing the reach of this important art form. Underscoring our commitment to accessibility, La bohème and The Elixir of Love will be sung in English, ensuring that audiences can connect with these stories directly and viscerally, whether they’re seasoned opera enthusiasts or joining us for the very first time. I am thrilled to welcome such extraordinarily talented directors and designers to Waterperry, and we look forward to sharing more about this rich and varied season in the coming months, including our wonderful casts.’
Music Director and Co-Founder, Bertie Baigent, added: ‘After a landmark 2025 season, we are more energised than ever to build on that momentum. These two masterpieces offer enormous scope for imaginative staging, rich musical expression, and powerful character-driven storytelling – qualities that have become central to Waterperry’s artistic identity. We can’t wait to bring them to life with our exceptional creative teams and performers.’
As preparations for 2026 begin in earnest, Waterperry Opera Festival remains dedicated to expanding opportunities for early-career artists through its acclaimed Young Artist programme, investing in bold creative work, and welcoming new audiences into the world of opera within the unique natural beauty of the Oxfordshire countryside.