Leading British composer David Sawer and celebrated young playwright Rory Mullarkey have been commissioned by Garsington Opera to write a new work – The Skating Rink (based on the novel by Chilean author Roberto Bolaño). It will have its world premiere during the 2018 season and will be Garsington Opera’s first new festival commission.
Douglas Boyd, Artistic Director of Garsington Opera said:
‘I am delighted that we have reached a stage in our development as a company where we will be presenting a major new festival commission. I strongly believe in our responsibility as musicians to create new works of art that will stand alongside great works of the past, both for audiences today and in the future. David Sawer is one of the leading lights of our generation and has a wonderful flair for dramatic character. Together with librettist Rory Mullarkey they are creating a work that is theatrically thrilling and musically exhilarating. This is a very important step for us and I can’t wait to share this new work with our audience and the wider world.’
The 2017 season that runs from 1 June to 30 July features four opera productions and a community piece – Handel’s Semele, Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande, Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Rossini’s Il turco in Italia. Roxanna Panufnik’s new community opera Silver Birchcommissioned by Garsington Opera, for professional singers and over 180 amateur performers, completes the season. Public booking opens Tuesday 28 March 2017.