There are places one returns to not only for what they offer, but for how they unfold. Glyndebourne is one of them. Opera, yes—but framed by clipped hedges, lengthened intervals, and the quiet rhythm of summer days in Sussex.
Since 1934, when the first notes were sung in the theatre beside the house, Glyndebourne has gone about its work with little need for remark. The stage may now be modern, the reach international, but the spirit remains local and particular.
A Day at Glyndebourne
The journey down is part of the rhythm. Those who know catch the earlier train from Victoria or London Bridge, alight at Lewes, and make their way across to the estate by shuttle or car. The rest of the day follows its usual pattern—gardens, performance, long interval, more performance—with the occasional variation for rain.
The interval, of course, is its own performance. Some dine at the restaurants, but many prefer the lawn, where tables, linens, and folded chairs appear as if by instinct. It is never quite the same twice, and yet entirely dependable.
What One Wears
There is no need to be instructed on the matter. The prevailing custom is evening dress, and most adhere to it without discussion. The atmosphere on the lawn benefits from it. It is neither theatrical nor affected—simply correct.
This Year's Programme
The 2025 Festival runs from 16 May to 24 August, and includes both new stagings and returning productions.
The season features Wagner's Parsifal as the major new production—a work that promises to fill the theatre with its particular gravity and grandeur. The programme also includes returning favourites and carefully chosen works that suit both the intimate scale of the theatre and Glyndebourne's distinctive summer atmosphere.
Tickets for particular performances do disappear quickly. One books early, or one waits until next year.
Placement in the Season
Glyndebourne sits easily among the summer fixtures—neither louder nor quieter than the rest, but with its own tempo. It draws a certain crowd, most of whom have been before, and who know what to bring, what to wear, and where best to unfold the table.