We warmly welcome our new CEO & Artistic Director, John Savournin

The Board of Trustees at Waterperry Opera Festival is delighted to announce that John Savournin has been appointed as CEO and Artistic Director with effect from 1 September 2025. Chair of the Board, Judith Tew, says, “John brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and energy to Waterperry to lead the next phase of our rapid growth as a festival and a developer of the next generation of talent in opera. He is passionate about our mission to introduce new audiences to opera and bring on new performers and creatives.”

“I have always greatly admired Waterperry Opera Festival, and I look forward to working with co-founders Rebecca Meltzer and Bertie Baigent to build on its success. I’m excited to be a part of shaping Waterperry’s future, from touring and collaboration, the expansion of outreach projects, to new, accessible commissions. Waterperry is a leading light for the future of opera and the vital development of new audiences, and I'm very much looking forward to getting started.”

John Savournin

John Savournin is currently CEO and Artistic Director of Charles Court Opera. He is also one of the opera world’s most versatile creative talents, renowned as a bass-baritone with charisma and comic presence and as a celebrated stage director, working with most of the UK's national and festival opera companies, and internationally.