Photo gallery

Don Giovanni - cover rehearsal gallery

Take a peek at our Cover Artists in rehearsals for Don Giovanni in these photos by James Bellorini…

Take a peek at our Cover Artists in rehearsals for Don Giovanni in these photos by James Bellorini…

About Glyndebourne Cover Artists

Talent development is at the heart of Glyndebourne, and the Cover Artist scheme offers a unique opportunity for emerging artists. The singers follow an intensive programme of training and development to prepare them in covering a principal role.

This means that our Cover Artists get to experience extensive rehearsals with the assistant conductor and assistant director. This is different to many other opera houses, where rehearsals for understudies are much more limited.

Covers are prepared to the extent where they not only learn the role but also the staging in great detail, with provision made for full costumes and wigs. This means that, if required, they will perform the role on stage, rather than singing from the side with a score.

This detailed preparation enables Glyndebourne to get a more experienced singer, one who perhaps would not normally be willing to cover, as they can thoroughly prepare a role not yet in their repertoire. This can include members of the main cast, who occasionally cover one of the lead roles (for example Michael Mofidian in the photos below plays Masetto in Don Giovanni, and also covers the role of Leporello).

The artists’ intensive preparation culminates in a final cover run, where they perform the opera to an invited audience of Glyndebourne staff and industry professionals, which can lead to future casting opportunities.

The Cover Artists programme is supported by Riverstone and individual donors.

Philippa Cold (Donna Anna), Spencer Britten (Don Ottavio), Michael Mofidian (Leporello), Shafali Jalota (Zerlina) and Michael Ronan (Masetto)

Theodore Platt (Don Giovanni), Philippa Cold (Donna Anna) and Spencer Britten (Don Ottavio)

Shafali Jalota (Zerlina) and Theodore Platt (Don Giovanni)

Philippa Cold (Donna Anna)

Theodore Platt (Don Giovanni)

Michael Ronan (Masetto)

Spencer Britten (Don Ottavio) and Philippa Cold (Donna Anna)

Theodore Platt (Don Giovanni), Spencer Britten (Don Ottavio), Carrie-Ann Williams (Donna Elvira), Philippa Cold (Donna Anna), Shafali Jalota (Zerlina) and Michael Ronan (Masetto)