Enjoy first-rate performances of two comic masterpieces: Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, with expert lectures introducing both operas
Experience a concert performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet ‘Fantasy Overture’
Become immersed in Sussex’s cultural offerings with guided tours of the modernist De La Warr Pavilion and Kew’s botanic garden at Wakehurst, as well as a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the archives at Glyndebourne
“The whole trip was very well organised. ACE do excel at making everything go smoothly… The talks prior to the performances were very good and enhanced my experience at Glyndebourne”
– ACE customer on the 2025 Glyndebourne tour led by Nicholas Wearne
Every year, Glyndebourne produces an exhilarating programme of world-class opera featuring young and promising singers. Many international careers – such as those of Thomas Allen, Felicity Lott and Willard White – began with Glyndebourne Touring Opera, as it was originally called. We look forward to returning this autumn for an inspiring musical programme featuring no fewer than three performances, based at the festival’s East Sussex home.
At the heart of our 2026 tour are two operas championing the comical antics of ‘barber turned valet’ Figaro, originally invented by playwright Pierre Beaumarchais. Rossini’s The Barber of Seville is considered something of a prelude to Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and this autumn, Glyndebourne offers a rare opportunity to enjoy performances of each opera side-by-side.
As we look ahead to the commemoration of Beethoven’s death two centuries ago, Glyndebourne will be honouring the composer with a concert performance of his prodigious Ninth Symphony, with its iconic ‘Ode to Joy’ melody. This will be presented alongside the ‘Fantasy Overture’ from Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet, a piece which has been described as “by turns, thunderingly dramatic and achingly beautiful” (John Mangum, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra).
Expert lectures from our Tour Director will introduce and elucidate each performance, while daytime excursions to nearby cultural attractions will be woven around our trips to Glyndebourne, providing participants with a rounded understanding of the rich history and culture of the beautiful county of Sussex.
New for 2026, we look forward to a visit to the delightful seaside town of Bexhill to explore its iconic Grade I-listed De La Warr Pavilion, a modernist masterpiece designed by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, housing a pioneering arts centre. We will enjoy a special guided tour focusing on the building’s origins, design and influence.
A visit to Wakehurst, a stunning historical house and garden in the care of the National Trust and today used and managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, will be a further highlight. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild seed conservation project in the world. Recently named Sussex’s top visitor attraction for the second year running, this fascinating site offers much of interest – from historical architecture and exhibition spaces to beautiful natural landscapes and ornamental gardens.
Meanwhile, an afternoon at Glyndebourne will offer an opportunity to delve into its fascinating archive and to enjoy a special afternoon tea in the relaxed surroundings of the Mildmay Tearooms.
We will stay at the four-star Alfriston Hotel, a recently refurbished boutique hotel in the charming South Downs village of Alfriston. Beautifully decorated rooms provide a restful retreat at this characterful property, where history and modern comforts combine to offer “a peaceful countryside stay rooted in place and tradition”. We will dine twice at the hotel’s restaurant, which prides itself on its warm hospitality and use of seasonal ingredients, and our tour will also feature a delightful afternoon tea and a further dinner at Glyndebourne itself.
Nicholas Wearne
Musicologist and organist Nicholas Wearne is a Senior Tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and has been leading ACE tours to Glyndebourne for several years.
This tour will be led by Nicholas Wearne, BA, MPhil, a former ACE Bursary student and organist at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. Nicholas is currently a Senior Tutor at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. His career as a solo organist has taken him all over the world, and he is a former winner of the Poul Ruders Prize at the Odense International Organ Competition.
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£2295
GLYN-26
Fully booked. Please contact the office on 01223 841055 to be added to the waiting list.
Included: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, performances as described, three breakfasts, one afternoon tea, three dinners with a glass of wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £325.
