Opera Prelude: The 2019 Opera Prelude Singer’s Prize Masterclass with Della Jones

Opera Prelude: Concert Figaro with Michael Chance

Droit du Seigneur in the #metoo age

Tuesday 26 February 2019, 10:30

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 international reputation as performer, teacher and director...

Opera Prelude: Renato Balsadonna masterclass and discussion

Tuesday 5 March 2019, 10:30

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 The Royal Ballet. This morning, he joins American sop...

Opera Prelude: The Craft of the Opera Composer

with Jonathan Darnborough

Tuesday 12 March 2019, 10:30

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 all eras, by which they mould their musical idea...

Opera Prelude: La traviata – Fact, Fiction and Mythology

Tuesday 19 March 2019, 10:30

‘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 examine what we know of her short but dramatic life, how...

Opera Prelude: Pulling the Heart Strings

The harp in opera

Tuesday 26 March 2019, 10:30

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 to open the BAFTA games awards in 2016.

Opera Prelude: Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde

Tuesday 2 April 2019, 10:30

“I have never found a work as dangerously fascinating” (Nietzsche). 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 cam...

Opera Prelude: ‘Tantrums & Tiaras’

Tuesday 9 April 2019, 10:30

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 Opera House Covent Garden and the tribulations an...

Opera Prelude: Music in Colour

Tuesday 16 April 2019, 10:30

“When I hear music… I always hear colour complexes in my mind” (Messiaen) 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 o...

Opera Prelude: Britain after Britten

The revival of British opera post 1945

Tuesday 14 May 2019, 10:30

‘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 Adès. Benjamin Britten famously only had one s...

Opera Prelude: Mozart's Masterful Characterisation

A focus on his female roles

Tuesday 21 May 2019, 10:30

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 his music. He was able to take any character from...