July
April
PMF contributed to the Palestine Mozart Festival
The Choir of London produced the Palestine Mozart Festival – a series of more than 25 concerts and educational events from 29 March - 14 April - involving approximately 60 visiting musicians from the UK and Germany as well as more than 200 from the Palestinian Territories. It presented concerts in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nablus and Ramallah. Central to the Festival was a new production of The Magic Flute – in Jeremy Sams’ English translation, with Arabic texts provided – which was the first ever professionally-staged opera production to tour the West Bank.
To cap glowing epithets from the classical music press: 'ravishing, unmissable, a little miracle, a triumph, a thoroughly enjoyable performance' and a Gramophone ‘Editor’s Choice’ accolade, the Chandos Opera in English recording of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel was named Best Opera Recording at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on 10 February - from an international short list.
So it’s hats off to Sir Charles Mackerras, the Philharmonia, Rebecca Evans, Jennifer Larmore, Jane Henschel, the rest of the ‘well chosen’ cast and the team at Chandos Opera in English.
At each venue on the Glyndebourne on Tour schedule, Glyndebourne Education runs touring workshops in primary schools which involve active participation from children in an opera with two professional singers and the fundamentals of set, costume, story and music. It also introduces young people to opera in secondary schools through a combination of engaging workshop activities and attending Glyndebourne on Tour performances.

The Independent
'… the most imaginative opera-education department in the country.'
Glyndebourne Chorus member, Gillian Ramm, started the 2007 Festival covering the part of Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte. Rachel Harnisch, the Swiss soprano scheduled to sing the role felt unwell at the dress rehearsal, sung the first night but was forced to withdraw for the rest of the run. It must be most young opera singers' dream to take over the role they are covering, but Gillian didn't just take it over for a couple of nights, she performed so well that she sung Fiordiligi for the remainder of the run. Justification for the Times Literary Supplement to describe the Glyndebourne chorus 'as a cradle of tomorrow's stars.'
June
Hansel and Gretel named Best Opera Recording at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
A star is born at Glyndebourne
December
August
PMF Scholars Andrew and Rodney Clarke sing together
Andrew and Rodney Clarke are singing together in Oscar Hammerstein's musical of Georges Bizet's Carmen now running at the Royal Festival Hall until 2 September.

The Stage
‘There is robust support from real-life brothers Andrew and Rodney Clarke as Joe, and Husky Miller.’
The Times:
‘… when Rodney Clarke’s Husky is giving us his version of the Toreador Song – “17 decisions in a row, only five on points, the rest were all KO” – something special happens. We have what we came for: lift-off.’
The Daily Mail:
‘Andrew Clarke, playing boyfriend Joe, also has a gorgeous voice, a high flute worthy of a 1950s Italian.’
October
PMF supports the new opera, Edward Rushton’s The Shops
The recent Opera Group tour from July to October of the new opera, Edward Rushton’s The Shops was supported by PMF. The tour included a visit to the Bregenz Festival, Austria and the Linbury Studio at the Royal Opera House.'

The Guardian
‘Edward Rushton’s latest opera: a breezy, fluent chamber work in 30 snappy scenes.'

The Times
‘Gioulami’s snappy and very singable libretto is expertly delivered by a dexterous cast.’
Glyndebourne Education is supported by PMF
Magic Flute premieres in Venice and London
The Magic Flute film had its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September 2006 and its UK premiere in November 2007.

The Guardian

'Opera is stagey and static; film tries to look like real life... Kenneth Branagh resolves the stand-off with some panache. He takes Mozart's The Magic Flute off the stage and on to the killing fields of the first world war... Branagh has also made his singers act, using mostly emerging talents rather than operatic superstars, prizing dramatic expressiveness over vocal range... the sheer visual verve of Branagh's peppy direction turns this into that rarest of beasts: opera you can eat popcorn to.'

The Daily Telegraph

'The idea was that of Sir Peter Moores... He said: "For a long time I had thought of making the film of The Magic Flute in English. I thought it could reach a wider audience, far outside the opera house." Sir Peter said Branagh "worked with the singers in enormous detail and with infectious enthusiasm".'
November