On Sunday 18th April 2010, Glyndebourne Opera gave an afternoon concert to support two local charities, the Lewes Railway Land Project and Leo House at home. The proceeds of the concert – amounting to almost £30,000 – was split between the two charities.
The concert, the Mozart Requiem (W A Mozart Requiem in D minor, K.626) was performed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Glyndebourne Chorus, conducted by James Gaffigan with soloists Sally Matthews (soprano), Barbara Senator (mezzo soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor) and Matthew Rose (bass).
The afternoon was a delight. The sun was shining, the warmest day of the year so far, and a great opportunity to enjoy the idyllic setting of Glyndebourne opera house. Many of the 
audience arrived early, either to have Sunday lunch in the fabulous restaurant - reminiscent of Alice Through the Looking Glass - or to simply enjoy a springtime walk around the lake and gardens nestled in the Sussex Downs. As everyone took their seats in the modern 1200-seat theatre they saw a slide presentation of images from the charities and the concert was opened by Lord Dennis Healey, a patron of the Railway Land Trust a former patron of Leo House. The concert had almost sold out in three days and the keen audience weren’t disappointed. The Glyndebourne Chorus sounded sublime, the soloists and the orchestra were magnificent and it was conducted brilliantly by James Gaffigan. As the Requiem finished there was a momentary stunned silence and some audible snuffling from people moved to tears before the rapturous applause. The young man sitting next to me whispered ‘I’d like to hear it all again’.
Leo House would like to thank Gus Christie and Glyndebourne management who so kindly arranged the concert and especially the conductor, soloists and front of house staff who so generously gave their time without pay to help local charities.