20 Opera Companies Join Forces to Launch UK Opera Association

A new organization representing the UK’s opera sector, the UK Opera Association (UKOA), has officially launched, uniting 20 founding companies to advocate for opera’s future and strengthen its presence across the country. UKOA, which was founded by Birmingham Opera Company, British Youth Opera, Buxton International Festival, English National Opera, English Touring Opera, Garsington Opera, The Grange Festival, Glyndebourne, Longborough Festival {…}

Nov 22, 2024

Longborough Festival Opera to Open Longborough Wagner Club

Longborough Festival Opera is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Anthony Negus as its Music Director in 2025 by announcing the launch of the Longborough Wagner Club. Negus will be the Club’s Founder President, and its distinguished ambassadors include Stephen Fry, Sir John Tomlinson, Susan Bullock CBE and Alan Rusbridger. In a statement, Negus said, “I am thrilled with the launch {…}

Jan 11, 2024

Longborough Festival Opera Announces New Executive Director

Longborough Festival Opera has appointed Emily Gottlieb as its new Executive Director from April 2024. Gottlieb will join Longborough from the National Opera Studio where she served as Chief Executive for nine years, following 15 years with the Royal Opera House. Under her leadership, Longborough will stage Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen in the summer of 2024. In a statement, {…}

Sep 14, 2023

Jennifer Smith Resigns from Longborough Festival Opera

Jennifer Smith has resigned as Executive Director of the Longborough Festival Opera. Smith began her position in 2014 and held the position for nine years. Since holding the position, the LFO has seen a turnover growth of 66 percent, as well as major growth within the administrative team and expansion of its educational provision. Smith also helped the company through {…}

Aug 24, 2023

Longborough Festival Opera Announces New Non-Executive Chair of the Board

The Longborough Festival Opera has announced that Andrew Mosely will become the Non-executive Chair of the Board of Trustees starting Sept. 1, 2023. The festival said that the news comes as they plan the Ring Cycle year which will be staged in 2024 alongside a new production of Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Mosely has spent over 30 years in senior corporate leadership {…}

May 25, 2022

UPDATED: Longborough Festival Opera Announces 2022 Season

***This article has been updated from its original version to include the casts for each opera. The Longborough Festival Opera has announced its 2022 season featuring four productions. The season opens with Wagner’s “Siegfried” in a production created especially for Longborough by Amy Lane, Artistic Director of Copenhagen Opera Festival, and Longborough Music Director and eminent Wagnerian Anthony Negus. “Siegfried” will {…}

May 20, 2022

Longborough Festival Opera Board Chariman Steps Down

(Credit: Matthew Williams Ellis) The Longborough Festival Opera has announced that the chairman of the board Martin Graham is stepping down from his position. Graham, who is the founder of Longborough Festival Opera, served on the Board for over 20 years and will retain his close interest in the season’s performances. The festival also announced that Lizzie Graham will become {…}

Dec 8, 2021

Longborough Festival Opera Names Harry Sever as Inaugural Ring Cycle Conducting Fellow

Longborough Festival Opera has announced the appointment of Harry Sever as their first Ring Cycle Conducting Fellow. Sever will work alongside Music Director and leading Wagnerian Anthony Negus as the festival works toward the cycle in 2024. The appointment comes following an audition process which saw eight conductors work with Negus on the opening scene of “Siegfried.” The panel was {…}

Jul 23, 2020

Longborough Festival Opera Announces 2021 Season

The Longborough Festival Opera has announced its 2021 program. The U.K festival, which is scheduled to take place between June 4 and August 3 will showcase four productions. In a press release, Artistic Director Polly Graham said, “We’re delighted to be announcing these plans for 2021 and look forward to sharing these now much-anticipated productions with our wonderful audiences, whose loyalty and generosity {…}

Jun 17, 2020

Longborough Festival Opera Launches Podcast

The Longborough Festival Opera has launched a podcast series that will feature conversations with many of opera’s biggest stars. The company has released four episodes to this point, with three of them focused on Wagner’s Ring Cycle. In the first, journalist Richard Bratby, Longborough Music Director Anthony Negus, and bass-baritone Paul Carey Jones talk about Wotan’s journey through the tetralogy. In a second episode, Writer and {…}

Apr 24, 2020

Longborough Festival Opera Audience Members Raise over £300,000

The Longborough Festival Opera has announced that 1,000 audience members have chosen to donate the value of their tickets, generating a fund of over £300,000. In a press release Executive Director Jennifer Smith said, “We are overwhelmed by the number of people who have chosen to donate some or all of the value of their tickets. We are so grateful {…}