As an art form, opera stands entirely alone; a unique blend of music, drama, poetry and emotion. It is as addictive, glamorous and fascinating now as it was at its inception.
With a lifespan of over 500 years and counting, part of the lure of opera is its ability to reinvent itself, and, naturally, the musical geniuses it has captivated along the way. These geniuses are not always, however, those whom posterity will celebrate! All too often, the darlings of musical society are eclipsed posthumously by those who, whilst perhaps obscure in life, are far better-known to us today. Who were these forgotten masters, and what have we lost with them?
Join Rosemary Clifford for a dive back into history to discover the successes and failures, the trailblazers and those who went adrift, and attempt to answer the question: what will history make of us?
Has everything about Puccini been said/studied/sung already? Musicologist Alexandra Wilson and mezzo-soprano Adriana Festeu discuss Dr Wilson’s critically acclaimed book, _The Puccini Problem:...
Hailed as ‘one of the finest singing actresses this country has produced’, Yvonne Howard's reputation in diverse repertoire from Wagner to Handel proclaims her one of the country's finest mezzos....
Conductor Mark Austin offers an accessible exploration of opera in the 20th century, uncovering its roots in the 19th century as the starting point for a survey of the pathways composers took in...
Inspired by the recent exhibition 'Icons of Modern Art. The Shchukin Collection', which attracted over 1.3 million visitors in just four months and took place at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in...
We are extremely grateful to Sir John Tomlinson for joining Opera Prelude again at Cadogan Hall and for generously sharing his invaluable professional expertise with our young artists, as he coaches...
With writer and historian Adrian Tinniswood, Callie Gaston (soprano), TBC (tenor) and Natalie Burch (piano).
There is nothing quite as beautiful as an English country house in summer. And there...
In the centenary of Debussy’s death, Stephen Walsh’s compelling new biography 'Debussy: A Painter in Sound', digs deep into Debussy’s musical advances – “the pentatonic scales, the...
With Becca Marriott (soprano), and Maria Levandovskaya (piano). Focussing largely on La traviata, which Becca recently adapted for the King’s Head Theatre (nominated for an Olivier Award for...
Roderick Williams, OBE – arguably one the UK's leading baritones, equally acclaimed in both opera and song is generously leading this morning’s highly sought-after masterclass with Opera...
With Ricardo Panela (baritone) and Opera Prelude’s young artists, accompanied by Maria Levandovskaya.
This lecture will focus on the history of the creation of one of the most famous and beloved...
With Rosie Clifford (mezzo) and Opera Prelude’s young artists, accompanied by Natalie Burch. "Glitter and be gay, that's the part I play" – so sings Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein's masterpiece...
Few other composers have so perfectly explored the complexity of duty vs. personal relationships like Verdi. Focusing on some of his most well-known compositions, this lecture will explore the...
In this lecture Becca Marriott will explore the concepts of Exoticism and Orientalism in verismo opera and how Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Turandot uphold and defy our ideas of the exotic East....
Love is the tenor's realm. Look through any compilation of tenor arias from history's greatest operas and you will find that love and romance is the overwhelming theme. That word 'love' however...
Now in its sixth year, the Opera Prelude Singers’ Prize offers one of our young singers the unique chance of private masterclasses with Della Jones, one of Great Britain’s leading mezzo-sopranos....
A musical insight with Michael Chance accompanied by rising young mezzo-soprano Amy Lyddon who will be performing a range of arias.
Over more than 30 years, Michael Chance has established an...
Italian conductor Renato Balsadonna was Chorus Director of the Royal Opera Chorus 2004–16, during which time he prepared the Royal Opera Chorus for all their productions with The Royal Opera and...
Great opera composers have one thing in common - they combine musical genius with a strong dramatic gift. In this illustrated talk Jonathan Darnborough explores the techniques, common to composers of...
‘La dame aux Camelias’ was a real woman, Alphonsine Duplessis. But how much of her real character and story survived the journey from real life to novel, to stage play to Italian opera?
We...
A discussion about the special relationship between the soprano voice and the harp in opera through the ages. This engaging duo has been performing together for a number of years since being selected...
Join conductor Mark Austin for an engaging introduction to Wagner’s masterpiece. This lecture will explore one of the most influential compositions ever written, and why it came to occupy a central...
Nigel Bates was Principal Percussionist of the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden. In this morning’s talk, he takes a look at the history, architecture and life backstage at London's Royal...
What do you feel when listening to music? Can you see colours, images, geometrical objects, and how does music play on all of our senses? Franz Liszt famously asked orchestral musicians to play ‘a...
‘We never seem to get over looking for the next Benjamin Britten. It’s a stupid game’ – Robert Saxton, Professor of Composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and teacher of Thomas...
In his short 35-year life, this musical genius wrote melodies which are still celebrated 350 years later. Mozart had more than just musicality – he understood how to create distinct characters with...
