Help! A surprise visit to Glyndebourne

[SpanielsByTheSea]

As a surprise for DD14, who is studying classical singing, my fabulous ( also well off, and infuriatingly commitment-free and spontaneous) in law has wangled four seats at Glyndebourne next Saturday.

She has already made her dressing plan (retro Collectif dress with net skirt and DM’s) and will obviously look amazing. The boys will just wear black tie. But I haven’t worn evening dress since before Covid (and pre-peri lumps and bumps) and am panicking.

Any ideas for an elegant evening outfit ( I feel the cold!)? I can’t make it to London but could get to Cambridge at a push. Was thinking about ordering half a dozen from John Lewis and picking the best one.

Though a pub would be very much in the maximalist spirit of the Glyndebourne picnic.

We are eating in the fine dining restaurant in the interval. It was DD’s only eyeroll and she’s bringing Kitkats just in case. I’d also prefer a picnic in the grounds, but I’m sure I’ll cope.

An emergency KitKat is never a bad thing, but definitely encourage her to embrace the fine dining experience while someone else is kindly paying. A rich uncle paid for me to go to Glyndebourne, with fine dining, when I was her age (Marriage of Figaro - amazing 😀). I've never been able to afford it since, and I'm now in my 50s!

I was there last week, glorious weather so wore a Bombshell dress and wedges for strolling around the beautiful gardens before the performance. Smart summer wedding without a hat was very much the vibe although there were some lovely ball gowns and some arty boho velvet drapery, definitely dress up rather than down. The fine dining restaurant was great, remember to pre-order, the tarte tatin was gorgeous. Have a great time, I can't wait to go again.

Thank you! Your post, and others mean I’m really excited now 🙂 I’m a sucker for a posh nosebag.

If you're seeing Don Giovanni you're in for a treat @SpanielsByTheSea it was great fun.

We are seeing Don Giovanni!

Also going next week for the first time.
I'll wear flats so that I'm happy to explore the grounds but shall dress up generally.
Seeing L'elisir d'amore (Donizetti)

Ooh enjoy! My boringly practical tip is absolutely to stick around in the grounds rather than leaving immediately afterwards, because from memory it takes ages to get out of the car park when everyone's leaving at the same time, and I'd rather be enjoying the end of the evening than sitting in my car. So something warm for later would be well advised!

Got myself invited by a mate - whole thing payed for incl picnic etc. I don't like opera and the dress 'code' put me off. She and her DPs are going. i was going to say no. I'm WC and never been to anything close to this.
Should I be going for the 'experience'???

Also never heard of the performance so won't know the music. Not that i know much of any classical music TBF!

Starman, go for the people watching.

We did not know the opera, nor indeed much about opera. The grounds are nice so it was quite an English occasion and we like the person who invited us. Just go, and don’t worry.

Honestly, all types of people go. Yes, there are the Hooray set but there are also lots of normal people, who are there for the music in a beautiful setting. It's no different from going to the theatre and you don't need to know anything about opera. There aren't any wanky secret tests of whether you 'belong', like you get with some English social events (or, if there are, I have never noticed them, and no one's thrown me out yet..).

I'd listen to the music a few times beforehand, as you tend to definitely enjoy it more if you have, IME, but then go for it.

I don't like opera

Can I ask why, @StarmanBobby ?

(And I would say the only real reason to attend an opera is to absorb the narrative conveyed through music and voice … Anything else is external to the actual art form.)

@wheresmyshoe was it a long Bombshell dress & where did you get posh wedges from? (we are going for the 1st time in August)

It was an edge of the shoulder dress that came to mid calf, wedges were from tkmaxx years ago. The dress has been going strong for a few years now, love Bombshell. @echidna1 have a lovely time.

Thank you @wheresmyshoe!

Great thing to see at G.

It's an incredibly relaxed affair @StarmanBobby people are in nice dresses and outfits but it's pretty small as a venue and has a lovely atmosphere. I must have taken ten photos for people who were all just happy to be there on a sunny day. If it's Don Giovanni you're seeing then it's a bawdy romp and very funny, lots of operas are the opposite of pretentious when you get to know them, full of humour and wayward characters. Go with your pals with an open mind to having fun and I'm sure you will. The ushers and staff are the warmest friendliest most helpful people I've encountered at any venue.

Especially as the village pub closed a few years ago and shows no sign of ever reopening!

They could really do with a pub...

Good grief, yes!

The gardens are beautiful, the opera house is a fantastic building, they always have excellent singers and orchestras and it really is a fantastic experience. I would listen to whatever you're going to see a couple of times first though, so you're a bit familiar with it.

@StarmanBobby yes go! I went last year and am not posh, but it was a lovely place to spend an evening and the music was beautiful. It helps to google the plot of the thing you’re going to see beforehand so you can follow what’s going on on stage, but overall it’s just a really beautiful place and experience. It’s not like a wedding where you’re expected to talk to people, you’ll only interact with your own group so if you like the people you’re with you’re likely to have a good time!

And it doesn’t really matter what you wear, any on or below the knee dress or skirt that looks decent and you feel nice in is fine. Some people will be in floor length gowns but most won’t, it’s generally more arty than super posh.

Glyndebourne have a what to wear guide on their website and there really are no rules.
I pass a lot of glyndebourne visitors at the station and some people go all out evening dress glam and some smart casual. Make sure you're comfortable and take a pashmina!
Enjoy

Don’t forget your picnic! There is a long interval and everyone sits in the grounds for food and drink. I usually order a picnic from glyndebourne and they set it all up for you but you can take your own. Some people bring tables and chairs and silverware. It’s bonkers but not in an exclusive way

@StarmanBobby Oh, definitely go, especially if someone's generously offering to treat you! It’s a lovely evening out. Beautiful grounds, great atmosphere, not quite like anything else. As pps say, find out a bit about the plot of the opera first, then you'll know what’s happening onstage.

I haven’t been for ages but DH is musical (in the business) so we’ve been several times in the past and it’s always a treat.