Pictured Foreground: Callum Thorpe as Carvahlo, Rhian Lewis as Teresa. Background: Elizabeth Llewellyn as Ludovina, Philip Shakesby as Neto. Photograph by Simon Laundon

Composer Julian Philips' new opera premièred at the world-renowned Sussex opera house as part of a special collaboration between the University of Sussex and Glyndebourne.  

The Yellow Sofa, a tale of sex, a city and the seductive power of furniture, which premiered on Thursday 20 August at Glyndebourne, was composed by Julian with a libretto by Edward Kemp. It is the culmination of doctoral student Julian's three-year tenure as Composer in Residence at Glyndebourne. 

The chamber opera, based on a novella by Portuguese writer Eca de Quieros, tells the story of Godofredo Alves, a businessman who comes home to find his wife in the arms of his best friend and business partner. He determines at once to seek revenge. 

The project is a unique collaboration between one of Europe's most esteemed opera houses and the Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre at Sussex, and exemplifies the Centre's commitment to ensuring the widest possible impact for academically-led research. 

Julian was appointed as Glyndebourne's first ever Composer-in-Residence in 2006. In partnership with the University, he has worked closely with Glyndebourne's pioneering education department, providing musicians, singers and community groups with the opportunity to take part in music-making. 

Julian's work was funded by a collaborative research award from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Alan and Karen Grieve Charitable Trust. The AHRC introduced the collaborative doctoral awards scheme in 2005, with the aim of promoting partnerships and research collaboration between universities and non-academic institutions. 

The Yellow Sofa was created for the Jerwood Chorus Development Scheme, based at Glyndebourne, which fosters new talent within Glyndebourne's own dedicated Chorus while providing Chorus members with performing opportunities. Members of the Chorus are accompanied by The Britten Sinfonia, making its house debut at Glyndebourne under conductor Leo McFall. The production is directed by Frederick Wake-Walker. 

Julian says: "The past two years at Glyndebourne have been an extraordinary opportunity to engage with opera in theory and practice, and The Yellow Sofa marks the culmination of this. My residency has allowed me to absorb myself in this complex art-form, testing my own instincts through development time with company singers, sitting in on music and production rehearsals and formulating my own creative response." 

For more information about opera studies at Sussex, see the Centre for Research in Opera and Music Theatre 

The Yellow Sofa will be performed by members of The Glyndebourne Chorus on the following dates during the 2009 Festival: 

• Sunday 23 August 14:25 (before L'elisir d'amore)
• Tuesday 25 August 15:40 (before L'elisir d'amore)
• Friday 28 August 14:35 (before Rusalka) 

Tickets are FREE but there is limited availability. Book by telephoning the Box Office on +44 (0) 1273 813813 (open 7 days, 10am-6pm). Please note these tickets are only available to Festival ticket holders for performances on the same day.

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