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. She will look at how these operas sit within Puccini’s oeuvre, perhaps epitomizing one of Puccini’s favourite subjects, miscommunication.

With discussion not only of composition, historical and social context but also of her own performance experiences, this promises to be a highly informative and entertaining morning.