Background
New opera is certainly a key element of Glyndebourne’s performing history, dating from the first forays into new work with Benjamin Britten in the 1940’s.
1946 The Rape Of Lucretia Britten/Duncan
World Premiere, production by Britten’s group (later became known as the English Opera Group), but rehearsed and performed at Glyndebourne.
1947 Albert Herring Britten/Crozier
World Premiere, given by the English Opera Group at Glyndebourne.
1953 The Rake's Progress Stravinsky/Auden and Kallman (WP, Venice 1951)
First professional stage performance in Britain. Glyndebourne at the Edinburgh Festival.
1960 La Voix Humane Poulenc/Cocteau (WP, Paris 1959)
First performance in Britain. Glyndebourne at the Edinburgh Festival.
1961 Elegy for Young Lovers Henze/Auden and Kallman (WP, Schwetzingen, 1961)
Billed as world premiere in original language.
‘With the very considerable support we receive from our Members and public, we can and should be adventurous. In this context it seems natural to mention that we plan to mount the world premiere of Henze’s Elegy for Young Lovers in its original English version, as part of our intention to put on in future a few more contemporary operas, if convinced that they, in each case, are of particularly high quality. Only by enabling audiences to become familiar with a wide range of operas, can we succeed in giving a fair and, to my mind, necessary, hearing of the works of modern composers and of neglected masterpieces.’
George Christie, Glyndebourne Festival Programe Book 1961
The First Commission
The idea of commissioning an opera for Glyndebourne was first mooted in 1965, when Nicholas Maw was approached to write a new opera to a libretto by Peter Shaffer. In the event, Beverley Cross provided the libretto, but the proposed premier was delayed from 1968 to 1970 due to Maw’s ill health.
1970 The Rising of the Moon Maw/Cross.
Cross was asked to write a comedy with as many female voices as possible. The story is about an English Regiment in Ireland at the end of the Nineteenth Century.
‘I went away to Mayo and wrote a comprehensive outline. In January 1967 I showed Maw an outline, we discussed it at great length and then called in Colin Graham. To be able to talk with the director before a word of dialogue is written is an advantage often found in the cinema but all too seldom in the theatre.’
Beverley Cross, GFO Programme Book 1970
Maw on writing comedies:
‘The opera must be ‘about’ something; there must be real dramatic conflict, just as in serious work. The plot must be made to work as inventively yet as smoothly as possible, and it must present a variety of ‘situations’ around which the music can be written. It should also be funny. In my view the music should have pace, wit, a strong sense of direction and, if possible, a number of good tunes.’
Nicholas Maw, GFO Programme Book 1970
New Opera Policy
Anthony Whitworth-Jones was appointed Administrator to the Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1981, and in 1984 added the title Director of New Opera Development Anthony was previously at the London Sinfonietta as Administrative Director and had a passionate interest in new work. Writing quite early on the GFO Programme Book he says,
‘A significant expansion in Glyndebourne’s artistic policy has begun with the performances at the National Theatre, in January, of he Knussen/Sendak opera Where The Wild Things Are. New opera will, we plan, become a familiar and vital aspect of Glyndebourne’s activities. Nothing is more important in artistic life than the encouragement and cultivation of today’s creators. Not only is this of fundamental importance for its own sake, but a positive attitude towards the new has a crucial regenerative effect of attitudes to the standard repertory of the past. The 1984 Tour sees the world premiere of the second Knussen/Sendak opera, Higglety Pigglety Pop!, commisioned by the BBC for Glyndebourne, which will be given in a double-bill with The Wild Things. The work will be recorded for television and video in November after the tour, and the double-bill will be presented in the Festival in 1985. The next new opera to be commissioned by Glyndebourne will be given its first performance on the Tour in 1986.
Unlike the Festival, GTO depends for its existence on the subsidy it receives from the Arts Council. As the Programme Book went to press, the Arts Council has just announced the details of its new funding strategy which lays strong emphasis on the need for artistic development in the regions. GTO looks forward to further strengthening its activity around the country through a policy of adventurous repertory planning backed up by a expanding educational programme. Our gratitude is due to the Arts Council for its continuing and essential support.’
Anthony Whitworth-Jones, GFO Programme Book 1984
1984 Wher The Wild Things Are Knussen/Sendak
Performed by Glyndebourne at the National Theatre. (Wild Things was originally commissioned from Knussen by Brussels Opera in 1978. It was produced for them in an incomplete form in 1980. In 1982 London Sinfonietta gave a concert performance of the revised but still incomplete work. Glyndebourne then commissioned the completion of the work as premiered in 1984).
1984 Higglety Pigglety Pop! Knussen/Sendak
World Premiere. Commissioned by the BBC for Glyndebourne and performed in an incomplete edition in 1984 by Glyndebourne Touring Opera in a double-bill with WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. Performed complete in the Glyndebourne Festival 1985.
1986 Appointment of Katie Tearle as Education Organizer for Glyndebourne Touring Opera to devise an Education Programme for Glyndebourne to work specifically on the New Opera Policy. First project was to have been The Electrification of The Soviet Union with GTO in the 1986 Tour. However the opera was postponed until 1987.
1987 The Electrification of The Soviet Union Osborne/Raine
World Premiere. Commissioned for Glyndebourne by the BBC. Performed by GTO.
education Project led by Nigel Osborne and poet, Jo Shapcott
1990 Hastings Spring Dove/Rideout
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Community Opera on Hastings Pier
1990 New Year Tippett
European Premiere. Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera, Glyndebourne and the BBC receiving its world premiere at Houston Grand Opera 1989.
Education project
1993 Dream Dragons Dove/Campbell (and the community)
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Community Opera in Ashford, Kent
1993 Cornet Christoph Rilke's Song Of Love And Death Matthus (WP Koln 1973)
British Premiere Glyndebourne Touring Opera at Sadlers Wells
Education project
1994 The Second Mrs Kong Birtwistle/Hoban
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Performed by Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
New Opera in year of opening of New Opera House.
Education project
1995 In Search of Angels Dove/Campbell (and the community)
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Community Opera in Peterborough
1997 Misper Lunn/Plaice
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne Opera for young people - produced on main stage in March and revived the following year.
1998 Flight Dove/de Angelis
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Performed by Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Education project
2000 Zoe Lunn/Plaice
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne. Opera for young people produced on main stage in March.
2000 The Last Supper Birtwistle/Blaser
British Premiere. Co-commissioned by Glyndebourne, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Royal Festival Hall. Performed by Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
Education project
2001 Airheads McCrae/Buckler (16’ Music Theatre piece)
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne for Glyndebourne Youth Opera Group and Brighton Youth Orchestra. Performed on tour in Germany, Brighton.
Elemental, March 2004, Glyndebourne
2002 Firework Todd/Clarke Melville (11’ Music Theatre piece)
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne for Glyndebourne Youth Opera Group and Brighton Youth Orchestra. Performed on tour in Scotland, Brighton Festival. Elemental, March 2004 Glyndebourne
2003 Ancestor in the Chalk Gough/Agard (14’ Music Theatre piece)
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne for Glyndebourne Youth Opera Group and Brighton Youth Orchestra. Performed on tour in Spain, Brighton Festival
Elemental, March 2004, Glyndebourne
2005 Strange Nature Music by Katherine Gillham and Libretto by Lloyd Thomas
Commissioned for GYOG4 to perform in Jerwood Studio, March 2005 and as part of YO! Festival in Utrecht, October 2005.
2005 Dovetails - Jerwood Studio, August 2005 as part of the Jerwood Chorus Development Scheme
2006 School 4 Lovers - a Hip H’Opera Kosuch/Gill/Parker/Plaice
World Premiere. Commissioned by Glyndebourne/Finnish National Opera