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John Christie was born on May 14, 1913, in Glyndebourne, East Sussex, England. He was the son of William Christie, a wealthy landowner, and his wife, Ellen. From a young age, John showed a keen interest in music, particularly classical music, and he began playing the piano at the age of six. As a teenager, John attended Eton College, where he continued to develop his musical skills. He was a talented pianist and also played the violin and cello. After leaving Eton, John went on to study music at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in musicology. In 1934, John married Audrey Mildmay, a soprano who would later become a renowned opera singer. The couple shared a love of music and together they began to explore the world of opera. In 1935, they attended a performance of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Glyndebourne Festival, a small opera festival that had been founded by John's father in 1934. John was immediately captivated by the festival and its intimate setting, and he began to dream of one day running the festival himself. In 1936, he and Audrey purchased the Glyndebourne estate from John's father, and they set about transforming it into a world-class opera venue. Over the next few years, John and Audrey worked tirelessly to build up the Glyndebourne Festival, which quickly became known for its high-quality productions and talented performers. In 1946, the festival staged its first production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute," which was a huge success and helped to establish Glyndebourne as one of the premier opera venues in the world. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, John continued to oversee the growth of the Glyndebourne Festival, which expanded to include a wider range of operas and attracted an increasingly international audience. In 1962, the festival staged its first production of Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde," which was widely regarded as a triumph and helped to cement Glyndebourne's reputation as a leading venue for Wagnerian opera. In addition to his work at Glyndebourne, John was also involved in a number of other musical ventures. He served as the chairman of the English National Opera from 1972 to 1977, and he was a founding member of the Britten-Pears Foundation, which was established to promote the music of Benjamin Britten and his partner, the tenor Peter Pears. Throughout his career, John received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1961, he was awarded a knighthood for his services to music, and in 1977 he was made a Companion of Honour. He also received honorary degrees from a number of universities, including the University of Sussex and the University of Cambridge. John Christie died on May 4, 1996, at the age of 82. He is remembered as a visionary and passionate advocate for classical music, whose tireless efforts helped to establish Glyndebourne as one of the world's leading opera venues. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and music lovers around the world.

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