Bass Brindley Sherratt to be artistic director of The Grange Festival following Michael Chance's retirement

Brindley Sherratt (Photo: Film and Star)

The Grange Festival (which is based at The Grange, Northington in Hampshire) has announced that the bass, Brindley Sherratt will be stepping up to take the reins as artistic director of the festival following the retirement of Michael Chance at the end of this year's festival. Michael Chance had led the company since its formation in 2016 (in succession to Wasfi Kani's Grange Park Opera which was founded at The Grange in 1998, departing after the 2016 season). 

The Grange is a country house in the style of an ancient Greek temple designed by William Wilkins. The house is an important example of the Greek Revival style in England. The house was subsequently extended by Robert Smirke and Charles Robert Cockerell, but for much of the later 20th century was effectively a roofed ruin. The opera house was created in Cockerell's orangery turned art gallery under Wasfi Kani's auspices. 

The Grange, Northington in 1870

Sherratt, who is about to sing Gurnemanz in Covent Garden's new production of Wagner's Parsifal (which opens on 1 October), is known for roles such as Sarastro in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Claggart in Britten's Billy Budd and Ochs in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier. In 2025, Sherratt's second gala for the Meath Epilepsy Charity was held at The Grange. I chatted to him in 2024 on the release of his first recital disc, see my interview 'A bit topsy turvey' Last year we caught him as Cadmus and Somnus in Handel's Semele at Covent Garden [see my review] and as Boris in Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the BBC Proms [see my review]

Sherratt will continue to perform internationally alongside his role as artistic director but will be more selective with his engagements to ensure he can fulfil his commitments. He commented: "It is an exciting prospect to be investing in British opera at such a crucial moment in this art form’s history. The Grange Festival provides a much-needed platform for the next generation of artists. I’ve benefitted from the support of the local community in so many ways – being a resident of neighbouring county West Surrey - I have seen first-hand the impact that the local audiences can make. In my most recent performance on The Grange’s stage, I held a fundraising gala with a roster of our greatest opera stars in aid of The Meath Epilepsy Charity, where my daughter, Amy, is a resident. Together with The Grange’s generous community, we raised over £180,000 for our cause.   

As a performer, I feel extremely lucky to have taken on roles I could have only dreamed of. Up until now, this role too was a dream, and I am looking forward hugely to working with the creative and administrative teams, as well as all the incredible line-up of artists who appear each year at this wonderful festival."

Sherratt begins his role next month, and full details of the 2027 Festival including its 10th anniversary celebrations will be announced shortly.

In other news, the Festival's chief executive, Tyler Stoops is stepping down after three years in the role, and the Festival's chief financial officer, Sheila Wye has been announced as interim chief executive. 

Full details from The Grange Festival's website.