A new philanthropic initiative from Britten Pears Arts which enables members to connect with like-minded individuals to support opera projects. Members will gain insights into the production process and be given exclusive behind the scenes access to cast, musicians and the creative team.

Each year, Britten Pears Arts stages an opera either as the opening piece of the Aldeburgh Festival or during the autumn season. This may be a new commission or an established production.

In 2025, A Visit to Friends was inspired by an intriguing Chekhov short story. The world premiere of Colin Matthews’ first opera, with a libretto by William Boyd, was critically acclaimed:

In 2026, the Opera Circle will support the semi-staged production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande. This tragic story of a destructive love triangle will open the 77th Aldeburgh Festival with two performances on 12 and 13 June, conducted by our Featured Artist for the 2026 Festival, Ryan Wigglesworth.

The opera boasts a stellar cast including Jacques Imbrailo, Sophie Bevan, Gordon Bintner, Sarah Connolly and John Tomlinson. Accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, this co-production will be directed by renowned British actor and director, Rory Kinnear.

We invite you to join this exclusive syndicate with an annual donation of £3,000+

Members of the Opera Circle will be offered a unique programme of involvement, which may include:

• Invitations to attend events such as music insights and rehearsals, bringing you behind the scenes and into the creative process.
• Post-performance celebrations around the performance, including members of the cast and creative teams.
• A complimentary Aldeburgh Festival Book.
• A dedicated Development team member for your opera ticketing requirements.

For further information on the Opera Circle, please contact Nicola Anderson: nanderson@brittenpearsarts.org

Main image: A Visit to Friends at Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Richard Hubert Smith