Video: watch Sky Arts at Glyndebourne on Tour >>

Glyndebourne on Tour was founded by John and Audrey Christie's son, George Christie, in 1968 with the aim of taking productions mounted by the Glyndebourne Festival to a wider audience around the country.  Traditionally the Tour is an annual autumn event, opening with a three week season at Glyndebourne and followed by a week of performances in each of the six venues it is visiting. 

Today GOT's policy remains largely the same - to make the work of the Glyndebourne Festival accessible to audiences throughout the country, and to give performing opportunities to young singers.  GOT has had a remarkable record of launching the careers of new artists, including Roberto Alagna, Thomas Allen, Edward Gardner, Gerald Finley, Philip Langridge, Felicity Lott, Kate Royal, Christopher Maltman, Amanda Roocroft, John Tomlinson and Willard White, all of whom began their careers with the touring company.

Sky Arts spent some time down in East Sussex as the company prepared to tour 2009’s three productions: A revival of the 1989 festival production of Jánaček’s Jenůfa, the shocking tale of misdirected love, violent jealousy and desperate infanticide. A revival of Glyndebourne’s 2009 version of Verdi’s Falstaff and finally a revival of the festival’s 2006 production of Così Fan Tutte.

As well as being granted access to the ongoing rehearsals, we talk to some of the directors involved in reviving the productions, meet young cast members, some of whom will be making their UK stage debut and we meet conductor Robin Ticciati, who’ll be marking his third and final season as music director of Glyndebourne on Tour.

To find out more visit  Glyndebourne.com