(Photo credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis) Longborough Festival Opera has announced that Music Director Anthony Negus has been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s Honours List. Negus was recognized for his services to music and his work at Longborough Festival Opera, where he has served as Music Director since 2000. Among the highlights of his {…}
(Credit: Marine Stassen) Longborough Festival Opera has appointed Christopher Ward as its next Music Director. He will take over for Anthony Negus, who has held the post for more than two decades and will now transition to the title of Conductor Laureate in 2027, when he will lead the company’s anniversary production of Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.” Ward joins {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
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, {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
***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 {…}
(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}