Giulio Cesare - cover rehearsal gallery

Photographer: Richard Hubert Smith

Talent development is at the heart of Glyndebourne, and the Cover Artist scheme offers a unique opportunity for emerging artists. The singers follow an intensive programme of training and development to prepare them in covering a principal role.

This means that our Cover Artists get to experience extensive rehearsals with the assistant conductor and assistant director. This is different to many other opera houses, where rehearsals for understudies are much more limited.

Covers are prepared to the extent where they not only learn the role but also the staging in great detail, with provision made for full costumes and wigs. This means that, if required, they will perform the role on stage, rather than singing from the side with a score.

The artists’ intensive preparation culminates in a final cover run, where they perform the opera to an invited audience of Glyndebourne staff and industry professionals, which can lead to future casting opportunities.

This detailed preparation enables Glyndebourne to get a more experienced singer, one who perhaps would not normally be willing to cover, as they can thoroughly prepare a role not yet in their repertoire. This can include members of the main cast, who occasionally cover one of the lead roles (for example Ray Chenez in the photos below plays Nireno in Giulio Cesare, and also covers the role of Sesto).

Johanna Wallroth in the photos below will be playing the main role of Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare on the 12th and 19th July.

The Cover Artists programme is supported by Riverstone and individual donors.

Harriet Taylor (Staff Director), Johanna Wallroth (Cleopatra), and Tom Scott-Cowell (Giulio Cesare).

Sam Carl (Achilla) and Rachael Lloyd (Cornelia).

Johanna Wallroth (Cleopatra, centre) with dancers.

Tom Scott-Cowell (Giulio Cesare) and Johanna Wallroth (Cleopatra).

Johanna Wallroth (Cleopatra) and Tom Scott-Cowell (Giulio Cesare).

Francis Gush (Tolomeo) and Ray Chenez (Sesto).