Spark

A brief introduction:

When 12-year-old Clara sees a glittering paw waving to her from the fireplace, she briefly forgets her grief and sets off on a magical adventure into a secret world on top of the chimneys. She meets spark monsters – creatures made of ash and flame who protect lonely children (when they’re not playing soot-ball or eating soot-wiches!) – makes new friends, and uncovers an impossible secret. But ultimately she must decide between this world and her own, facing tests of courage, love and determination as she learns to choose life.

Why not to miss it:

Professional soloists and the Glyndebourne Sinfonia are joined by two youth choruses to bring the first full-scale opera created by Glyndebourne’s Balancing The Score scheme to life.

60 soot monsters will run riot on the Glyndebourne stage, making exploding fireworks, throwing wild tea-parties, and dancing for joy. Come and explore their magical home – a place of glittering sparks, smoke and dazzling lights. Expect beautiful chorus singing and arias and duets, as well as bags of percussive, stamping energy, silliness and rhythm.

Who are the monsters that have lost their spark? Can Clara find the courage to help those who are lost and alone, and in doing so can she rediscover her own lost spark?

A great moment to look out for:

Act I opens in conflict: Clara refuses to go back to school after a long period of absence. Her parents issue her an ultimatum, leaving her alone to decide. Just as she is at her most desperate – angry, scared, confused – she sees a small hand poking out of the chimney and follows it up and out into a sparkling new world. The journey up the chimney and Clara’s first glimpse of the world of the spark monsters will bring together both youth choruses for a thrilling choral moment. The world will spin and suddenly Soot World will be revealed.

Cast and creative team:

Part of Glyndebourne’s inaugural talent-development scheme Balancing The Score, composer Lucy Armstrong is a graduate of Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music and cites Stephen Sondheim among her formative influences. Spark will be her first opera – a collaboration with librettist Olivia Bell, whose recent work has included a song-cycle for mezzo Helen Charlston and a carol for the London Mozart Players.

Music Director of Glyndebourne Youth Opera Ashley Beauchamp – previously praised for the wit and energy of his music-making – will conduct this world premiere staging. Fiona Dunn (Associate Director of 2025’s The Railway Children) directs, and she’ll be joined by lighting designer Howard Hudson and costume designer Ryan Dawson Laight to help create Spark’s darkly mysterious and shimmering world.

Main image: Michael Glazier/Unsplash; Myshkovsky/iStock; Stockseller–ukr/iStock; image design by Louise Richardson