Glyndebourne’s growing autumn season

Spark, a new youth opera by composer Lucy Armstrong and librettist Olivia Bell, will receive its world premiere in Glyndebourne’s autumn season on Saturday, November 14.

Continuing Glyndebourne’s decades-long commitment to creating work with and for young people, more than 60 young singers from Glyndebourne Youth Opera (GYO) will perform in the opera alongside professional soloists and the Glyndebourne Sinfonia.

Spark is the first opera by composer Lucy Armstrong to be performed at Glyndebourne and follows her time as a participant in Balancing the Score, a Glyndebourne development initiative supporting the next generation of opera composers. She and librettist Olivia Bell first met in 2024 and worked in close collaboration to devise an original story of loss, friendship and keeping the spark of imagination alive.

Composer Lucy Armstrong said: “It’s been an absolute joy to work with Olivia and Glyndebourne Youth Opera who bring such energy and openness. Our story contains two worlds, the real world and Spark World, a magical place on the rooftops.

“Musically, the real world is quite tense – it’s restricted in colour and built around a doorbell and alarms.

“It’s a relief when we escape to the magic of Spark World, which is a kaleidoscope of musical colours filled with wonder and excitement. There’s an exuberant welcome, a swirling tea-party waltz, a folky, raucous drinking song and some outrageous patter and pop-influenced party scenes.

“There are also quieter, heartfelt moments of connection with some soaring tunes as our central character Clara finds her way and brings magic back to the real world. The honesty of Olivia’s words challenged me to be as brave and emotionally direct as possible with the music. I can’t wait to hear the incredible cast and orchestra bringing it to life!”

Spark will be directed by Fiona Dunn and conducted by Ashley Beauchamp. Among the professional singers in the cast are Ella Taylor, Clementine Thompson, Rachel Howe and Natasha Oldbury, all making their debuts in principal roles at Glyndebourne. The 64 young people making up the youth chorus range in age from nine-19.

Director Fiona Dunn said: “Being part of a youth opera at Glyndebourne is about more than the brilliant challenge of learning and performing a piece. It’s about making friends, expressing your ideas, and feeling heard and seen. It’s about building confidence, working hard and experiencing moments of nerves followed by real triumph. And, of course, it’s about stepping onto that beautiful stage as part of Glyndebourne’s autumn season and showing everyone what you can do. It is an incredible privilege to support our young people as they bring this show to life. I can’t wait to see what we all create together.”

Now in its fourth year, Glyndebourne’s growing autumn season is a place for discovering emerging talent and new work. It also offers new audiences a more informal and affordable way to experience opera at Glyndebourne with over 10,000 tickets at under £50 in 2026.

The 2026 autumn season opens on October 14 and includes revivals of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro (October 14-November 8) and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (October 15-November 7). The first revival of director Mariame Clément’s Festival 2025 Figaro will see conductor Bertie Baigent return to conduct the Glyndebourne Sinfonia. Annabel Arden’s Festival 2016 production of Barber meanwhile will be conducted by Chloe Rooke, making her Glyndebourne debut.

Concert performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture will be conducted by Adam Hickox, principal conductor of the Glyndebourne Sinfonia (October 30 & November 4). Glyndebourne’s Christmas Concerts return, featuring opera choruses, orchestral classics and singalong carols for all ages (December 5-13): Aidan Oliver conducts the Glyndebourne Chorus, Glyndebourne Youth Opera and Glyndebourne Sinfonia.

In the second year of a partnership between Glyndebourne and Wimbledon College of Arts, part of University of the Arts London (UAL), the opera house will exhibit costumes, costume pieces and design proposals made by students on Wimbledon’s MA costume course in response to The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville.

And in the latter part of the autumn season, Glyndebourne will present its annual group exhibition – Fair Ground – a celebration of new work made in Sussex. The show will feature works by 20 contemporary artists in dialogue with works by Ann Wynn Reeves, a mid-century Sussex artist and designer.

Tickets are available from £10 to £104 via glyndebourne.com

Spark is performed on November 14 and 15 as part of Glyndebourne’s autumn season which runs from October 14 to December 13. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked via the Glyndebourne Box Office via 01273 815000 or glyndebourne.com.