LONGBOROUGH FESTIVAL OPERA 2026 PROGRAMME PRESENTS THREE NEW PRODUCTIONS AND A CELEBRATED REVIVAL
Longborough opera house façade ©Matthew Williams-Ellis
- The world-class opera festival in the Cotswolds presents new productions of Handel’s Orlando, Verdi’s Macbeth and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel alongside a revival of its acclaimed 2017 Tristan und Isolde
- Set overlooking the Evenlode valley in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the festival offers bold stagings, exceptional artists and an intimate theatrical experience shaped by its unique setting
- Championing both emerging British talent and established international singers, this year’s LFO includes role debuts, rising talent in leading roles and a new partnership with Academy of Ancient Music
The former chicken shed that has evolved into one of the world’s leading summer opera destinations returns from 30 May to 8 August 2026 with a typically bold and wide-ranging programme. Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, Longborough Festival Opera (LFO) presents outstanding productions led by acclaimed conductors and directors, and this season presents three new stagings of Handel’s Orlando, Verdi’s Macbeth and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, alongside a revival of its celebrated 2017 Tristan und Isolde.
Since Martin and Lizzie Graham began hosting summer opera on their land in 1991 – and building an opera house in 1997- Longborough Festival Opera has established a formidable international reputation for ambitious, high-quality productions, particularly its acclaimed stagings of Wagner. Under the bold artistic leadership of Polly Graham since 2018, the company has continued to broaden and grow, culminating in an ambitious staging of Wagner’s Ring Cycle in 2024, offering visitors a diverse repertoire delivered with exceptional standards in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
The first of the new productions in 2026, Orlando is the first Handel opera at Longborough since 2017 (30 May – 7 June). Sinéad O’Neill, whose Uprising won an Ivors Classical Award in 2025 and has been nominated for a RPS award, directs the brand-new production. Star mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor makes her role debut as Orlando – a casting choice that, in departing from the more traditional countertenor, shows Longborough’s willingness to rethink the drama. Orlando will be performed by renowned period-instrument ensemble the Academy of Ancient Music making its LFO debut, conducted by Christopher Moulds. Celebrated soprano Anna Devin makes her role debut as Angelica, with eminent bass-baritone Andrew Foster-Williams singing Zoroastro and rising star Katie Bray in the role of Medoro.
The first ever LFO production of Verdi’s Macbeth is directed by European Opera Award-winner Karolina Sofulak (1 – 16 July). Nil Venditti, who has had considerable impact as an orchestral conductor in recent years – including a 2025 debut at the BBC Proms – makes her UK operatic debut in the pit. Baritone Mark Stone, who sang Alberich in Longborough’s 2024 Ring Cycle, returns to Longborough to sing the title role. Ukrainian soprano Viktoriia Balan makes her LFO debut in the role of Lady Macbeth. The production is designed by the award-winning Kimie Nakano who is also behind Longborough’s Tristan, revived this year. Additionally, the production features the Longborough Festival Chorus and the Longborough Community Chorus.
Humperdinck’s operatic setting of the immortal Grimm brothers’ tale, Hansel and Gretel, is conducted by Grammy Award-winner and International Opera Award-nominee, Karen Kamensek (30 July – 8 August). Lucy Bailey directs a cast which includes established singers Darren Jeffery and Lee Bisset in the ‘adult’ roles of Father and Mother / Witch. Longborough Festival Opera’s 2026 Emerging Artists Joanna Harries and soprano Rosalind Dobson take up the title roles, alongside the acclaimed Longborough Youth Chorus.
In 2017, Longborough Festival Opera’s new production of Tristan und Isolde drew critical acclaim and further cemented LFO’s reputation as the UK home of Wagnerian drama. Longborough Music Director, Anthony Negus, conducts a revival of that production this summer, directed by Carmen Jakobi (20 June – 18 July). Anthony has recently won the Australian Chaser Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Conductor of 2025 for Melbourne Opera’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Tristan and Macbeth share a designer in Kimie Nakano who has won admiration for her ambitious and imaginative productions. As with every Wagner opera at Longborough, Tristan features a top cast of British and British-trained Wagnerians including tenor Peter Wedd as Tristan and soprano Catharine Woodward in her role debut as Isolde. The celebrated mezzo-soprano, Catherine Carby, returns to Longborough as Brangäne.
Emily Gottlieb, Executive Director of Longborough Festival Opera, said: “What excites me most is the extraordinary level of artistry we’re able to bring to this special corner of the Cotswolds. Longborough is a place where artists and creators feel supported to take risks, and where audiences can encounter opera at its most vivid and imaginative. This season reflects everything we stand for: ambition, intimacy, and a deep belief in the power of live performance.”
Polly Graham, Artistic Director, said: “What drives me each season is the thrill of curating brilliant creative teams and performers to create a stimulating and rich programme of work. Our setting invites boldness, and our artists rise to that challenge with extraordinary imagination. This year’s programme brings together works that ask big questions, reveal unexpected beauty, and celebrate the power of storytelling – all in the intimate, electric environment that makes Longborough unlike anywhere else.”
Booking for members opens on 16 February.
General booking opens on 2 March.
For more information, please visit: https://lfo.org.uk/