Tucked away in the idyllic heart of the English countryside, lies a yearly opera festival teeming with wonder, art and elegance. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a sprawling and pristinely manicured lawn, peppered with perfect picnic spots and the promise of extraordinary performances. Anticipation hangs in the air as opera enthusiasts ready themselves for the drama and passion of Puccini, Mozart and Handel. All the while, the magnificent façade of Glyndebourne opera house towers over the grounds, enveloped in foliage as if it has always been part of the picturesque East Sussex landscape.

It may feel like one has stepped through the looking glass, into a wondrous world of high tea and croquet on the lawn. In reality, classical music fanatics from around the world have entered the UK’s spiritual home of opera – the iconic Glyndebourne Festival.

The annual festival takes place each summer, with performances mesmerising audiences from May to August. During the autumn months, Glyndebourne house buzzes back to life as it hosts the first performances of the annual Glyndebourne Tour.

In 1934, the very first Glyndebourne Festival Opera began with a love story. When John Christie met soprano Audrey Mildmay, he already had a reputation for the lavish concerts he hosted for his aristocratic friends at his home, Glyndebourne. After falling in love with Mildmay’s charm and beautiful singing voice, he was inspired to transform the organ room at Glyndebourne into an awe-inspiring opera theatre, and thus, the rich legacy of the Glyndebourne Opera Festival was born.

Since that point, the unique opera festival has been held annually, with brief intervals during World War II and the rebuilding of the grand theatre in 1993. Year on year, high-status guests have flocked to the quintessentially English setting, dressed extravagantly, due to Christie’s wish that patrons would dress formally as a show of respect to the performers.

There are many tantalising reasons to make Glyndebourne Festival the highlight of your summer, from the high dining to the charming setting. However, there is one main element that attracts visitors from far and wide to this lavish event – the opera. Guests can expect to be spellbound by critically acclaimed productions of classic operas, such as Mozart’s greatest comedy Le Nozze di Figaro.

The power of the performances is further amplified by the state-of-the-art indoor auditorium that envelopes audiences, musicians and performers alike. The intimate, horseshoe design auditorium seats 1,200 guests, bathing them in the warm lighting and contributing towards the atmosphere of anticipation before the lights dim and the show begins.

One unique element of enjoying an opera at the Glyndebourne Festival is the ninety-minute interval that allows for a leisurely picnic lunch, a game of croquet, or an exploration of the pastoral surroundings. Guests can choose to bring their own picnics, or – for the true Glyndebourne Festival experience – they can select one of the pre-prepared picnic baskets when they arrive at the event. The elongated interval allows festival-goers time to reflect on the wonders of the first act, while also truly experiencing the remarkable setting that is Glyndebourne house and gardens.

In addition to the sprawling lawn which extends from the anterior of the stately home, Glyndebourne is equipped with a multitude of quaint gardens, each with its own individual design. The sunken Bourne Garden, for instance, is brimming with tropical plants that allude to the exotic drama of the performances inside the auditorium. There are even gardens that have been directly inspired by the operas themselves, such as the Figaro Garden, which offers a calm oasis within its manicured hedges. The aethereal Figaro Garden is complete with a calm glassy pool and an original Henry Moore sculpture: Draped Reclining Woman.

The Glyndebourne Festival experience isn’t complete without sampling some of the tantalising cuisines on offer. From picnic baskets full of freshly prepared sharing treats, including scones and sandwiches prepared by local suppliers, to a quintessential afternoon tea spread at Mildmay Tearooms, the available dining options carry festivalgoers from pre-performance treats to post-show banquets.

A particular highlight of the Glyndebourne music festival is the innovative cuisine on offer at the fine dining restaurant Middle & Over Wallop. Here, a bespoke menu is exclusively curated by world-renowned chefs each year. During the previous opera festivals, guests had their tastebuds fascinated by the modern British style gastronomy of Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. The menu that is sure to delight at Glyndebourne Festival Opera each year.

The Glyndebourne music festival is undoubtedly an occasion to ignite all of the senses. The drama of world-class operatic performances beautifully contrasts with the calm, pastoral landscape, making for a visit that will take audiences through a range of emotions, enticing them to fall in love with opera all over again each and every summer.