Longborough

You can teach an old dog new tricks. What I discovered on Sunday evening is Longborough Opera.

It has much in common with Glyndebourne: a beautiful setting, a dreamy “mother-ship” house, a good auditorium with acoustics to match, high production standards and an appalling train link to London. I had booked to go back from Moreton-in-Marsh to Paddington in my dinner jacket – although I didn’t expect the Orient Express – that’s the title of an earlier post here, by the way – but when it’s a bus replacement service to Didcot Parkway, that’s a gap year travel experience to be avoided when you’re sixty-four.

Longborough, like Glyndebourne, was founded by enthusiasts. Martin and Lizzie Graham started putting on operas in their barn in 1991. By 2013 they were putting on the Ring cycle and have gradually improved the 500 seat auditorium. I am mighty impressed by Longborough. It has earned its place beside the big Gs: Glyndebourne, Garsington and the two Granges. Since 2009 Longborough has been joined by another L: Lismore Castle and I have heard only praise for their productions.

On Sunday I saw Ariadne auf Naxos and it will be interesting to compare it with Opera Holland Park’s production later this month. The production at Longborough was sublime and the hens were on parade.