09 Jul 2020
New titles announced for Glyndebourne Open House
Glyndebourne has announced the next two opera titles in its virtual festival, Glyndebourne Open House - Britten’s Billy Budd and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.
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Commentary
Glyndebourne Open House throws open our doors to everyone, everywhere: join us at 5.00pm each Sunday and enjoy world-class opera in your living room for free.
In true Festival style, we hope you’ll use this as an opportunity to make memories - dust off your finery, clink a glass with friends and family and be united with opera lovers from across the globe. We can’t conjure the smell of the Glyndebourne roses or a view of the lake, but we can still create an experience to share.
Coming up this Sunday 12th July is Michael Grandage’s production of Billy Budd, followed on 19th July by Annabel Arden’s staging of The Barber of Seville. These two operas will be available to watch on Glyndebourne's website and YouTube channel.
Visit glyndebourne.com/OpenHouse
Glyndebourne Open House listings
12 JULY - BILLY BUDD
From 5pm on 12 July and on demand for one week. Watch on the Glyndebourne website or YouTube channel.
Inspired by Herman Melville’s novella, Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd is a heart-breaking psychological study of good and evil and the many human shades of grey that lie between. Harnessing the power of a large orchestra and all-male chorus, the opera creates a vast and powerful voice for the sailors of the HMS Indomitable.
At the heart of this claustrophobic community is Billy Budd, a new recruit whose innocence, goodness and beauty attract the unwelcome attention of Master-at-arms Claggart. Conflicted and tormented by the emotions the boy stirs in him, Claggart vows to destroy him. False accusations lead to violence, tragedy and ultimately death.
Britten’s score blends lyricism and moments of startling beauty with evocative sea-shanties and sweeping orchestral textures to create one of his most moving operas.
Glyndebourne’s first ever production is directed by veteran British theatre director Michael Grandage, who makes his operatic debut with this award-winning production starring Jacques Imbrailo in the title role. Mark Elder conducts.
19 JULY - THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
From 5pm on 19 July and on demand for one week. Watch on the Glyndebourne website or YouTube channel.
The beautiful Rosina is kept all but prisoner by her guardian Dr Bartolo, who secretly hopes to marry his wealthy ward. But when Count Almaviva falls in love with Rosina from afar he enlists the help of cunning barber Figaro to help him outwit Bartolo. A comic battle of wills ensues, but will love or greed be triumphant?
Verdi thought it the greatest operatic comedy - a perfect marriage of wit, energy and exhilarating musical invention. Rossini’s score fizzes with virtuosic brilliance, combining bravura solo arias, set to some of the composer’s best-loved melodies, with breath-taking, intricate ensembles.
Embracing the opera’s Commedia dell’arte origins, Annabel Arden’s
lively production is suffused with Spanish colour and warmth, with just a
hint of the surreal. Enrique Mazzola conducts an all-star cast including
Danielle de Niese, Alessandro Corbelli and Björn Bürger.