FOLLOWING the success of their 2014 Ring Cycle, Longborough Festival Opera has positioned itself on the international operatic stage as a Wagner production house of great merit.

Wagner is at the heart of this summer’s programme with a new production of Tristan und Isolde, in the hands of music director Anthony Negus, directed by Carmen Jakobi.

Rachel Nicholls and Lee Bisset share the role of Isolde, while Peter Wedd and Neal Cooper take on Tristan.

In Verdi’s Rigoletto Longborough introduces a new conducting talent, Gad Kadosh.

Gad teams up with another first for Longborough, the director Caroline Clegg, who will be joined by Martin Kronthaler and Andrea Tweedale in the principal roles.

Longborough also stages Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, conducted by Thomas Blunt, with an all-star cast led by David Stout as Don Pasquale and Susanna Hurrell as Norina, the young widow who teaches him his place.

Gary Griffiths plays the devious Malatesta, and Jesus Alvarez the lovesick nephew Ernesto.

Don Pasquale will be directed by Alan Privett, with the innovative designer Lara Booth.

The Young Artist Production will be Handel’s opera buffa Xerxes, directed by Jenny Miller and conducted by Jeremy Silver, featuring the young countertenor Jake Arditti.

Director Jenny Miller is committed to nurturing young talent and will be mentoring a young production team.

Dates for the diary:.

Tristan und Isolde Richard Wagner: June 12, 16, 18 and 20.

Rigoletto Giuseppe Verdi July 4, 8, 10, 13, 16 and 18. Don Pasquale Gaetano Donizetti July 3, 7, 11, 15, 19.

Xerxes George Frideric Handel July 25 and 26 July.

* For tickets go to lfo.org.uk