Glyndebourne House dates back to the 1500s and offers many layers of history for visitors to explore beneath, but its wonderful opera seasons began in 1934, when people still dressed for dinner and top hats were quite a normal part of evening wear.

John Christie, who inherited Glyndebourne in 1913, had the huge opera house built as an organ room, and when he met and married his opera singer wife, Audrey, they built a theatre too, and began to stage professional operas there in a very brave effort to ignore the Great Depression. The first performance was of 'Le Nozze di Figaro', given to an audience of only 300, but the idea took off and became a tradition, and today you'll be one of a few thousand attending the event. The new theatre has capacity for 1,200, but a picnic in evening dress in the glorious grounds has to be the most romantic option. Wear black tie or your floatiest dress, and bring candles, champagne, umbrellas and a snuggly blanket to wrap up in later.

Written by  larapiegeler.

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