Sir George Christie, for many years the Chairman of Glyndebourne has died at the age of 79. The son of Glyndebourne's founders, John Christie and Audrey Mildmay, George stepped into the Chairman's shoes aged 23 and in the 41 years that he led the enterprise he created an internationally admired opera house that survived without a penny of public subsidy.

Educated at Eton and Cambridge, where he read Italian and German though failed to take his degree, Christie's first job was overseeing the distribution of grants from the Gulbenkian Foundation.  

In 1968, Sir George launched Glyndebourne Touring Opera which not only allowed Glyndebourne productions to be see beyond the Festival itself but also gave performing opportunities to a host of younger performers. He followed this in 1986 with a highly successful education programme.

In 1994, at the cost of £33 million, Christie oversaw the building of a new theatre seating 1200.

George Christie was knighted in 1984 and received the Companion of Honour in 2001. The 2014 Glyndebourne Festival - which opens on May 17 - will be dedicated to his memory.

His son Gus, currently Glyndebourne's Chairman, contributed a family memory to Gramophone in 2012.