The opera company was founded in 1989 by the late Leonard Ingrams and his wife Rosalind. Leonard was an accomplished musician and his growing love of opera was given an unexpected chance to develop when they bought Garsington Manor in 1982 and discovered a natural stage on the terrace and in the garden.
From the very early days, Garsington Opera began to explore the neglected works of first-class composers such as Haydn, Rossini, Richard Strauss and latterly of Russian and Czech composers and a number of British premieres have taken place.
This detailed and continuous development of repertoire has awakened critical interest and established a reputation that has grown not only nationally but internationally.
Garsington Opera promotes young British talent by providing a platform for those just beginning to make their name on the world-wide opera stage and a number of notable UK debuts have taken place. The resident orchestra, The Garsington Opera Orchestra, is made up of talented musicians many of whom have careers as soloists and have their own chamber ensembles.
A book chronicling the first 22 years of Garsington Opera is available - Click here for further details.
