Daisy Brown, Matthew McKinney, Faryl Smith, Robert Forrest Headline Waterperry Opera Festival’s 2026 Season

(Photography credit: Julian Guidera) Waterperry Opera Festival announces its 2026 Festival, running from Aug. 7–16, 2026. This is the first season under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO John Savournin. “Our 2026 programme reflects everything we believe in as a Festival: artistic excellence, imagination, and openness,” Savourin said per an official press release. “Alongside two operatic masterpieces, we are {…}

Dec 1, 2025

Waterperry Opera Festival Unveils 2026 Mainstage Productions

The Waterperry Opera Festival has announced a preview of its 2026 season. Opening the season is Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Ruth Knight will direct alongside designer Jennifery Gregory. Bertie Baigent will conduct. Next, John Wilkie will direct Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love.” Ceci Calf, Jake Wiltshire, and conductor Charlotte Politi make up the creative team. In a press release, Artistic Director {…}

Jul 10, 2025

Waterperry Opera Festival Names New CEO & Artistic Director

Waterperry Opera Festival has announced that John Savournin will be its new Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director. He will assume his new position on Sept. 1, 2025 ,following a vote by the Board of Trustees of Waterperry Opera Festival. “I have always greatly admired Waterperry Opera Festival, and I look forward to working with co-founders Rebecca Meltzer and Bertie {…}

Jan 16, 2025

Waterperry Opera Festival Unveils 2025 Slate

Waterperry Opera Festival in Oxfordshire has unveiled its 2025 slate. “We are thrilled to present yet another exciting season of productions this summer. With beloved classics returning alongside bold new projects, our varied programme offers something for everyone. This year, we continue to push artistic boundaries, creating operatic experiences aimed at inspiring new audiences and the next generation while delighting {…}

Jun 24, 2024

Q & A: CEO Guy Verrall-Withers on the Waterperry Opera Festival’s Past, Present & Future

Most opera enthusiasts across the world know about the Glyndebourne Festival. They may also know about other high-profile festivals set in country houses across England, such as The Grange Opera and the Longborough festivals. Few, however, will have heard of the Waterperry Festival, situated close to the city of Oxford. Established in 2017, the festival opened its doors the following {…}

Apr 10, 2024

Waterperry Opera Festival 2024 Lineup

The Waterperry Opera Festival has announced its 2024 lineup. In a press release, Artistic Director & CEO, Guy Verrall-Withers, expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, stating, “For 2024, we have created an ambitious season of productions. With returning favourites and exciting new ventures, our broad programme has something for everyone. We are taking artistic risks to create exciting operatic {…}

May 26, 2023

Waterperry Festival Unveils 2023 Festival Lineup

The Waterperry Festival has announced its 2023 lineup. The ten-day festival, which runs Aug. 11-20, features something for everyone, from children’s shows to grand operas. Here’s what’s in store for audiences. The festival will unveil a new production of “Carmen,” directed by Anna Morrissey and featuring Samantha Price in the title role, Xavier Hetherington as Don José, Matthew Durkan as {…}

Jan 25, 2022

Waterperry Opera Festival Announces 2022 Season

The Waterperry Opera Festival has announced its 2022 season. The festival, which will run between August 12 and 20 2022, will feature eight productions. The season opens with Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” with Music Director Bertie Baigent conducting the production by Isabelle Kettle. Performance Dates: August 12-20, 2022 “Svadba ‘A Wedding’” by Ana Sokolović will make its UK professional {…}

Jul 6, 2020

Waterperry Opera Festival Announces Mini-Festival

The Waterperry Opera Festival has announced a mini-festival featuring two concerts. In a press release, the U.K. festival said, “It has been a long and difficult road, but we are glad to be able to welcome back both artists and audiences to live performance at Waterperry this August (15th & 16th) with a new mini-festival program of outdoor opera.” The {…}

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