Glyndebourne Open House

The world-class singing, the sense of occasion, even a glass or two of fizz – the unmistakable elements of Glyndebourne Festival Opera can be enjoyed from home this summer, as the opera house puts classic productions online, having cancelled the festival in full.

Glyndebourne Open House opens its doors every Sunday at 5PM, starting on 24 May with Michael Grandage's very smart production of Mozart's upstairs-downstairs comedy, The Marriage of Figaro.

Glyndebourne suggests viewers of Open House create a sense of occasion at home. Photo: Leigh Simpson

Glyndebourne's reputation for matchless music-making, from its founding in the 1930s, was built on its exceptional Mozart. Fittingly, the second of the three Mozart operas that open the season of relays, is Don Giovanni. It's another class struggle, and another lustful boss, but this time his comeuppance is his shocking end. Jonathan Kent directs, and Vladimir Jurowski conducts.

Così Fan Tutte on Sun 7 June lightens the mood again, with two couples swopping partners. The men pose as strangers, but in the great theatrical tradition, the women don't recognise their own lovers... Nicholas Hytner's 2006 production, with luscious Mediterranean designs by Vicki Mortimer, is conducted by Iván Fischer.

On 14 June, there is an operatic thriller from the age of Hitchcock. Glyndebourne’s 2018 production, directed by Keith Warner, revealed inSamuel Barber’s Pulitzer prize-winning opera Vanessa one of the 20th century’s most beautiful scores. This welcome streaming stars Emma Bell as Vanessa, Edgaras Montvidas as Anatol and Virginie Verrez as Erika. Jakub Hrůša conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In Vanessa, a woman waits for her lover, many years on. But it is the son who arrives, and as she transfers her affections, it transpires that it is for her daughter that he has called.

Robert Carsen’s unexpected schoolroom staging of Handel's Rinaldo is a power-packed take on Handel’s first opera for the London stage. The 2011 live recording (21 June 5PM) stars Sonia Prina as Rinaldo, Anett Fritsch as Almirena, Brenda Rae as Armida and Luca Pisaroni as Argante. Ottavio Dantone conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. The tortuous plot is neither here nor there: just listen to these amazing melodies.

Glyndebourne Open House is the perfect way to get the best seat in the house at the prestigious home of country house opera. Each production is available for one week from first streaming.