Artistic Director, Douglas Boyd, will conduct members of the Philharmonia Orchestra. The outstanding cast, led by Katherine Broderick as Leonore and Toby Spence as Florestan , will perform Peter Mumford’s multimedia semi-staging of Beethoven’s masterwork, produced by Garsington Opera and last performed to great acclaim at the Philharmonie in Paris in 2016.

Douglas Boyd says: ‘A few years ago, after witnessing Peter Mumford’s wonderful film and projections for Opera North’s Ring cycle performances, I commissioned him to repeat the concept for a concert performance of Fidelio with the Garsington cast and L’Orchestre de chambre de Paris at the Philharmonie in Paris. We are going to bring this beautiful semi-staged concert to the Garsington stage, with members of the Philharmonia Orchestra in a specially arranged, reduced orchestration.

The worldwide plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary Beethoven season were of course decimated because of COVID-19 and I’m thrilled that we can still bring his opera to life in 2020. The themes of oppression and isolation but also of hope and above all the power of love make it the perfect opera for our times. This project is so important to us all - artists and audiences alike - to share the power of music, together again.

“The truly emotional experience of breaking our silence with a streamed concert from Wormsley: UnMute; A Musical Reunion, has inspired us to find an opportunity to perform again at Wormsley in 2020, this time WITH an audience, in the safe environment of our indoor / outdoor hybrid theatre space.’

Nicola Creed, Executive Director, says : ‘We have been so heartened by the wonderful support we have received from the Garsington family this year. For the many people involved over the last few years preparing the 2020 festival, cancellation was a bitter blow but it has been made bearable by the thoughtful messages and incredible generosity we have been shown.

We are thrilled that we are able to bring four semi-staged performances of Fidelio to Wormsley in September. It will be an important artistic endeavour and a gesture of gratitude to all our loyal audience members.’

Garsington Opera is committed to bringing you the highest artistic quality and to ensuring the safety of audience, artists and staff.

Full cast details will be announced shortly.