About

“Garsington has established itself as the most stylish and adventurous of Britain’s country-house opera companies.”
Michael Church, inews

Garsington Opera presents four fully-staged operas every year during a seven-week summer season in its award-winning Opera Pavilion, a glass-sided theatre set within the natural beauty of the Chiltern Hills on the Wormsley Estate. The company attracts high-profile opera singers, directors, designers and conductors, under the artistic leadership of Douglas Boyd. Details of past seasons can be found here.

The festival works in partnership with the Philharmonia Orchestra and period instrument orchestra The English Concert, who accompany all the operas.

The Garsington Opera Chorus comprises singers from the Emerging Artists’ Programme. In addition to singing in the chorus, the majority of our Emerging Artists understudy a principal role or sing a small role, which enables them to prepare as a soloist alongside established artists and creatives. In addition to their chorus and cover activity, Emerging Artists attend extra-curricular seminars on all aspects of life in the industry.

Alongside the festival, the company also delivers a year-round broad range of community engagement. GO Participate works with schools, providing an extensive range of workshops and a chance for children to attend special versions of fully-staged operas in the Opera Pavilion. GO Participate runs Youth and Adult companies with opportunities as part of the festival both on and off-stage. Special projects take place with groups including stroke survivors, refugees, prisoners and many others, at home and abroad.

Garsington Opera is based at the purpose-built Garsington Studios on the Wormsley Estate. During the rest of the year a series of chamber music and song recitals in partnership with Wigmore Hall is presented, along with other concerts, events, and talks.

Garsington Studios is open for hire to the public. Designed as a highly adaptable, multipurpose space the Studios have been built sympathetically to their surroundings in the rolling Chiltern Hills. It contains with a wide range of flexible rooms and facilities to suit everything from filming and recording to meetings and conferences.