Cathy's Art Diary

Fun exhibition in the Archive Gallery at Glyndebourne Opera House looking at how the costume department made Louise Alder's impressive dress for the Last Night of the Proms in 2025. The room was dominated by the dress itself. I remembered it from the concert and it was very impressive. I hadn't realised the back was red with a red and blue bow. I remember at the time hearing that the costume department had made it for her as she had been starring in one of their productions that year. It was shown with pictures of other dresses made in response to the Union Jack and photographs explaining the process of designing and making it. There was also bunting made from odd cuts decorated by members of the team who had made it. Closes 30 August 2026

Interesting exhibition at Glyndebourne Opera House of work by contemporary artist Sara Berman responding to their new production of "Billy Budd". Berman is a former fashion designer, now painter, who was given access to the costume department over the past year, and it draws from the costumes and elements of the set. The show consists of large-scale paintings and smaller drawings both of her in some of the costumes and others of tangled rope. Evidently the latter explore themes of vulnerability in the opera. The work also included some text based pieces Berman made when she was housebound   following major surgery in the Autumn where she used a child’s printing set to stamp build abstract works made up of words from the libretto. I loved the images which looked good in the space. I have yet to see the opera so may reassess the work after I've seen it but for now it served as a good trailer for it and I am looking forward to seeing it in a few weeks. Closes 30 Aug...

Touching exhibition in the Organ Room at Glyndebourne Opera House of a selection of costumes worn by Dame Felicity Lott. I say touching as since the display was planned Dame Felicity Lott has died. The display was organised with her to mark the auction of a number of her outfits in aid of   Friends of Sussex Hospices in October. As she was involved in the show the descriptions of the outfits had been written by her. There were five outfits displayed in the fireplace including a kaftan made by Glyndebourne’s costume department, worn at the BBC Proms, and a military jacket designed by Laurent Pelly, director of this season’s Ariadne auf Naxos. This was a lovely unintentional homage to the singer who had often sung at the opera house and who lived nearby. Closes 30 August 2026

Interesting annual exhibition at Glyndebourne Opera House of new work by a selection of Sussex artists. My favourite works this year were by Michael Bishop who painted realistic landscapes but in exaggerated colours. I also liked Katherine Allen's loosely painted works. Closes 19 December 2025

Delightful small exhibition at Glyndebourne Opera House by Luke Edward Hall responding to the sister exhibition on Oliver Messel’s designs for the company. The main work was an imagined small backdrop in the style of Messel alongside six watercolours. I loved the delicate colours and Rococo styling. I had seen Hall talk at Charleston Festival last year, so it was I interesting to see another aspect of his work.   Closed 24 August 2025

Small display at Glyndebourne Opera House marking Pablo Bronstein’s design for the cover of this year’s programme. I love Bronstein’s work so was excited to realise the cover design, featuring ornate opera glasses, was by him. Now, at the end of the season, I have become very familiar with the programme so it was good to learn a bit more about it. It was shown with four drawings by Bronstein from a series titled “Gilded Keyholes” (2013), shown here for the first time in the UK which are like a theatre set in their construction. Closed 24 August 2025

Charming exhibition at Glyndebourne Opera House exploring Oliver Messel’s designs for the company in the 1950s and 1960s. The show had a selection of design drawings and posters as well as costumes and props. Messel is a designer who keeps cropping up in strange places for me so it was a welcome addition to add this one. As well as designing for the stage it was In Messel’s house in London in 1951, that the Glyndebourne Festival Society was launched and he was also instrumental in the creation of the Glyndebourne Festival Programme Book, designing the cover for its inaugural edition in 1952. Closed 24 August 2025

Lovely annual exhibition at Glyndebourne featuring Sussex artists. There was an interesting range of work this year with the inclusion of sculpture, stained glass and textiles as well as paintings and prints. I loved this Downland cottage by William Davies but my favourite was a tiny painting on copper called “Returning Light” by Dawn Aldridge. Reading the blurb again I’ve learnt that Aldridge works in the gardens at Glyndebourne! Closed 15 December 2022  

Small exhibition at Glyndebourne Opera House highlighting posters from the companies 90-year history. Over the years there has been a tradition of commissioning contemporary artists to design the posters and there was a good blend of the old and new ones commissioned to mark the anniversary. Of the new ones I l loved a shadowy Antony Gormley and works by Conrad Shawcross and Edmund Du Waal using old techniques. Closed 8 September 2024    

Charming annual exhibition at Glyndebourne of work by Sussex artists. I loved Faye Bridgwater’s bright bold landscapes which almost mugged you with colour. It was nice to see some new pieces by Dion Salvador Lloyd in an unusual lime green palate. I was drawn to Victoria Homewood’s views through window’s but my favourite was Janie Longmore’s “Sussex Book Stack” as I own at least three of the books in it!    Closed 18 December 2023  

Interesting exhibition at Glyndebourne by Lubaina Himid. Himid draws on her love of opera to respond to the current season at the opera house. Himid trained as a theatre designer before turning to art and grew up listening to opera records owned by her grandfather. The centrepiece, which is also the cover of the season's programme, looks at what love sounds like combine the title with an abstract piece based on the structure of the ear. This was combined with some of her signature pieces painted on the inside of draws. The commentary says she images the portraits are people involved in the operas. Himid has also done paintings inspired by the operas in the current season which are used in the programme to introduce each work which I think are on display in another venue. I must investigate as I am due to go again! Closes 27 August 2023 Review Guardian    

Interesting exhibition at Glyndebourne marking 70 years of their production of a programme to cover the whole season of opera. The Glyndebourne programme, as the commentary said, is “an anthology of ideas on opera, art, history and place.” Over the years they have commissioned well known artists to design them. This year it is designed by Maggi Hambling and there were previous examples by David Hockney and Oliver Messel. I liked this photo print by Mark Vessey, commissioned to mark this event of the edges all the covers. Closes 28 August 2022