Special Interest Day
- Glyndebourne
Saturday 12 November 2005
Going to Glyndebourne is quite an unusual experience. The opera house is situated deep in the Sussex countryside, inside the extensive grounds of the Glyndebourne Estate of Sir George Christie, whose father founded the Festival in 1934.
John Christie's original theatre built on to the side of his house and enlarged and improved over the years, was becoming increasingly awkward. Its acoustics were unhelpful. Accretions of additional buildings (scenery stores, restaurants, dressing-rooms, etc.) had grown up higgledy-piggledy around it, and eventually a decision was taken to sweep most of the buildings away and build a completely new modern theatre. A successful major fund-raising campaign followed, the old theatre closed its doors for the last time in 1992 and the wonderful new opera house opened on time for the start of the 1994 season. The architects, Michael Hopkins and Partners, had previous operatic experience, having designed a "grandstand" for the Festweise scene at the end of Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Itinerary
We travel in an executive coach (includes WC etc.) with Farnham Coaches.
08.15 Leave the car park in The Hart
10.30 Arrive at Glyndebourne Opera House for coffee and biscuits
11.00 Tour of Glyndebourne - behind the scenes.
13.30 Lunch at the Rainbow Inn at Cooksbridge
15.00 Ridgeview Wine Estate for a tour and tasting of current Sparkling Wines. (They are seriously good!)
18.00 - 18.30 Home!
There will be a choice of light bite lunch dishes: Steak Sandwich or Bacon and Brie or Rainbow Club Sandwich or Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Cheese fillings on Ciabatta Bread
PRICE £ 32
NB The price of the ticket is non refundable
CWDFAS is a member of NADFAS