The touring season at Glyndebourne is an opportunity for exciting young singers to perform some of Glyndebourne's new and old productions in the Sussex setting. This year there is the new production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel which is being premiered at the 2008 Festival Season. It is directed by Laurent Pelly, one of France's most talented opera directors, and conducted by the Musical Director, Robin Ticciati. There is the revival of David McVicar's acclaimed production of Bizet's Carmen. Finally, there is Adrian Noble's visually stunning production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.
While at Eastbourne it is possible to visit Charleston, the country home of the Bloomsbury Group, or go to Bexhill-on-Sea to visit the De La Warr Pavilion, a modernist icon for contemporary arts and architecture. There are also many other places of interest in the area .
We have best tickets for all performances.
Hotel: We stay at the Hydro Hotel, a 3-star hotel situated just off the sea front. It commands one of the finest positions in Eastbourne, in a garden setting with spacious lawns and panoramic views of the sea towards Beachy Head and the south downs. It has a restaurant, spacious and elegant lounges and well appointed rooms. There is a large free car park within the hotel grounds.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Independent arrival at the Hotel Hydro in Eastbourne. In the afternoon we meet up with our tour guide and travel by coach to Glyndebourne. There will be time to explore the gardens and visit the shop before dinner. After the performance, return to the hotel by coach.
Day 2 – The day is free for you for you to explore Eastbourne or perhaps visit Charleston or the De La Warr Pavilion. We meet in the late afternoon and travel by coach. Dinner is in one of the Wallop restaurants at Glyndebourne. This is followed by a pre-performance talk. After the performance we return to the hotel by coach.
Day 3 – Independent departure from the hotel, or enjoy an additional night and take in the performance of ‘Hansel and Gretel ’.
Day 3 – Independent departure from the hotel for clients staying the additional night..
Departure: 29 Oct – 31 Oct 2008
Tour Code: XMK610
29 Oct Carmen
30 Oct The Magic Flute
Optional Performance
31 Oct Hansel and Gretel
Performance Details
Carmen
At its first performance, Georges Bizet’s Carmen was dismissed by the critics; 'What truth, but what scandal!' Based on a libretto by Meilhac and Halévy after a novella by Mérimée, the story moved far away from the traditional opéra-comique subject matter to which audiences of the time were used. However, Bizet's extraordinary, passionate score (incorporating the anti-heroine Carmen, fighting female factory workers, corrupt soldiers and a murder) had, within three months of the composer's death, become recognised as one of the greatest operas of all time. This is the acclaimed David McVicar production.
The Magic Flute
Adrian Noble's staging of The Magic Flute is part pantomime, part Arabian Nights. There are loads of gorgeous anthropomorphic animals. This reflects the opera’s origin as the only opera Mozart wrote for the popular theatre. An exotic fairytale incorporating mystical elements and symbolism it has as many interpretations as productions. Whatever the interpretations it has some of the most accessible and popular tunes that Mozart wrote.
Hansel and Gretel
Hänsel and Gretel is a dark tale based on the traditional fairy story by the Brothers Grimm. Careless mother, drunken father encourage their children to find strawberries in the forest, where they are caught by the witch, whose habit it is to bake children into gingerbread in her oven. In the words of the BBC: ‘Concerned Grown-ups may like to preview the story first.’. Richard Strauss thought it a masterpiece of the highest quality.
Opera at Glyndebourne
Price: £545 per person
Single Supplement: Nil
Deposit: £250
Price Includes: 2 nights bed and English breakfast accommodation at the 3-star Hydro Hotel in Eastbourne, transfers to the operas, 2 pre-performance dinners at Glyndebourne and 2 performance tickets, services of Prospect representative.
Additional Performance:
Price: £160 per person
included: Transfer to the opera, 1 night B&B at the Hydro hotel, 1 performance ticket.
Travel: Travel to and from Glyndebourne is not included.
