Profile: Judith Weir
This award-winning British composer is best known for her operas, but she also creates orchestral and choral works and chamber music.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Nov 2023
This award-winning British composer is best known for her operas, but she also creates orchestral and choral works and chamber music.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 16 Oct 2023
We often hear the word aria in connection with opera, but what does it really mean and where did the word come from? Rebecca Armstrong investigates.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Sep 2023
Salieri’s little-known opera buffa is brought to the UK for the first time in this new English-language version by Bampton Classical Opera. Rebecca Armstrong was impressed.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 May 2023
From creative highs to freelance lows, find out what it’s really like to work as a theatre designer. Rebecca Armstrong talked to Noemi Daboczi, a film and theatre set and costume designer.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 10 Apr 2023
This Italian composer is particularly known for his comic operas, as well as that famous refrain from the William Tell Overture. But he wrote a wide range of music and was a well-known foodie.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Mar 2023
Deeper than deep, the bass singer goes as low as the human voice can go. Editor Rebecca Armstrong delves into this rumbling, rich sound.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Mar 2023
Ethyl Smyth’s opera The Wreckers is a tale of love, lies and betrayal in an 18th century fishing village that partakes in the highly illegal practice of luring ships onto the rocks so they can be pillaged.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 25 Jan 2023
From sorceresses at war to social rejection – by way of Dickens, fairytales and gender identity – Rebecca Armstrong uncovers some of the best operas written by women you can watch for free.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Dec 2022
Wondering what to get the opera lover in your life for Christmas? Or maybe you’re stuck for ideas for your own Christmas list. Rebecca Armstrong rounds up some opera-related gifts.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Nov 2022
Sets create a production’s look, placing it within the context of the story and communicating the time period, location and more. The set designer is responsible for this. Rebecca Armstrong looks at this essential role.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 17 Oct 2022
YouTube is a fantastic resource when it comes to finding free full-length operas to watch. Here we identify 10 in the Baroque style that you might want to tune into
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Sep 2022
German composer Beethoven’s only opera tells a story of justice, freedom and the power of love. Find out all you need to know about this tale of a woman’s bravery.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 16 Sep 2022
The most recognisable of males voices, heard in many pop and rock bands, find out more about the hero role: the tenor.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Aug 2022
Largely unknown today, Amanda Aldridge was a successful Black British composer, singer and vocal coach.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Aug 2022
This internationally renowned Italian baritone had a repertoire of almost 100 operatic roles, singing some of the great Verdi and Puccini baritone parts.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 20 Jul 2022
Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married, foiling the efforts of their philandering employer Count Almaviva to seduce Susanna, teaching him a lesson in fidelity along the way, in Mozart’s ever-popular comedy.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Jul 2022
This celebrated female composer was a master of the Baroque style and at one point the highest-paid musician of the 17th-century Medici court.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Jun 2022
One of the rarest voice types, a true contralto is a joy to hear. Editor Rebecca Armstrong explains this deep and delightful female voice.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Jun 2022
In our continuing series on who does what in opera, editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at the all-important role of lighting technician.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Apr 2022
Opera can seem removed from everyday life – costly, remote and taking place elsewhere. But, says Rebecca Armstrong, there are many outreach programmes that are taking the artform out into the community.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Mar 2022
The first-known opera to be composed by a woman, Francesca Caccini’s work tells the story of the knight Ruggiero and his escape from the evil sorceress Alcina.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 23 Feb 2022
A trip to the opera can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these top tips to get your cheap tickets.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Feb 2022
This world-famous, award-winning conductor has blazed a trail for women conductors everywhere.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Jan 2022
The conductor is one of the most visible people in a performance, but many people are baffled as to what they actually do, or why they’re even needed. Rebecca Armstrong explains this most necessary of roles.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 Jan 2022
English composer and a member of the women’s suffrage movement, the first female composer to be granted a damehood.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Dec 2021
The physical space in which you experience an opera affects how you perceive that opera. O4A Editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at the importance of place.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 22 Nov 2021
Women are under-represented at all levels in the opera industry. Editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at why this might be and what is being done about it.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 3 Nov 2021
Italian for ‘little book’, the libretto contains the full text of a dramatic musical work such as an opera, along with stage directions, it provides a useful way for audiences to follow the story.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jul 2021
The most common male voice type, some of the most iconic vocalists are baritones. This voice category is often incredibly distinct and powerful.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 28 Jun 2021
The Italian composer is one of the greatest and most successful proponents of ‘verismo’ opera, writing some of the artform’s best-known pieces.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 9 Jun 2021
Britten’s powerful opera about a misunderstood fisherman paints a vivid picture of a small community’s descent into suspicion, gossip and mob mentality in the face of tragedy.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Apr 2021
One of the most versatile of voice types, the mezzo sits in the mid-range for female voice types. Find out more about the voice known for ‘witches, bitches and britches’.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 23 Mar 2021
Puccini’s enduring tragic love story tells of the doomed affair between a pretty seamstress and a penniless poet. It is packed with some of opera’s most beautiful – and recognisable – music.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Jan 2021
The French composer, conductor and music critic was often at odds with musical tastes of his day, but has come to represent the epitome of the Romantic artist.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jan 2021
The performing arts sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 health crisis, but it has also forced some innovative solutions to difficult problems. Rebecca Armstrong looks at what this might mean for opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 Dec 2020
This lyrical fantasy composed by Ravel, with a libretto by Colette, brings together humour and theatricality.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Nov 2020
The rarest of voice types, this is the highest adult male singing voice, with a vocal range above that of a tenor and similar in pitch to female contralto or mezzo-soprano voices.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 20 Oct 2020
Chair of the Welsh National Opera’s board of directors, Yvette Vaughan Jones has a long career in the arts. We talked to her about her favourite productions.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Sep 2020
This satirical ballad opera by John Gay tells the story of London’s criminal underbelly, centring on highwayman, gang leader and philanderer Captain Macheath.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Aug 2020
Seventeenth century English satirical poet and playwright, best known for his opera The Beggar’s Opera. Find out more about his work and life.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Aug 2020
Find out about British bass-baritone John Savournin’s introduction to opera and how he came to love the artform.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 28 Jul 2020
With its iconic and instantly recognisable portico, the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden is one of the most famous opera venues in the world. Rebecca Armstrong delves into the history of this much-loved building.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 21 Jul 2020
The voice that can shatter glass – this is the highest singing voice and probably the one that everyone has heard of. But what do we really mean by soprano?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jul 2020
Over the years, all texts – whether musical or not – will be copied, with mistakes creeping in. To preserve the composer’s original work, a version that reflects their intentions has to be created.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Jul 2020
We talk to Petroc Trelawney, presenter of Breakfast on Radio 3, and host of the world’s leading opera singing competition, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jun 2020
Working behind the scenes, the stagehand is something of a jack of all trades, providing support across a range of duties to ensure the smooth running of a performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Jun 2020
Born in Moscow but now based in London, this award-winning young composer has already added new and innovative operas to the repertoire.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 May 2020
We talked to Manchester-based composer and songwriter Anna Appleby about how she came to love opera and what one work she would recommend to a newcomer to the artform.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 May 2020
With the country in lockdown and theatres forced to close, opera companies have been coming up with novel ways of sharing their productions. Rebecca Armstrong asks if this will have a lasting effect on how we enjoy opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 28 Apr 2020
We talk to award-winning theatre director Sasha Regan about her love for Gilbert and Sullivan and why Bizet’s Carmen is her favourite opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 21 Apr 2020
With venues across the UK – and much of the world – shut down due to coronavirus, Rebecca Armstrong looks at ways you can still access a bit of culture.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Apr 2020
Mozart’s magical fairy tale is one of opera’s most beloved works, telling the story of handsome Prince Tamino as he attempts to rescue Pamina from the evil sorcerer Sarastro.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Apr 2020
Featuring some of the most beautiful music ever written, Puccini’s much-loved opera tells the tragic tale of the lives, loves and friendships of four starving artists in Paris.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Mar 2020
Widely considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time, German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven celebrates his 250th anniversary in 2020.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 Mar 2020
If you only speak English is there good reason to listen to an opera in the language in which it was written? Find out why Rebecca Armstrong thinks there is.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Dec 2019
If you’re new to opera and only speak English, language can be a barrier to enjoyment, so we here provide you with a list of works that are sung in English for you to add to your library.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 Dec 2019
Paul Bunyan, Benjamin Brittan’s opera about the giant lumberjack, a US folklore hero, seems to prefigure today’s environmentalism.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Nov 2019
There are laughs aplenty and happy endings all round in this satirical shipboard farce about love, mistaken identity and the absurdities of the British class system.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Nov 2019
Donizetti’s two-act romantic comedy follows the fortunes of poor villager Nemorino who is in love with wealthy, beautiful heiress Adina.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Oct 2019
Ground-breaking American soprano Jessye Norman had a voice that defied classification, allowing her to play an enviable range of roles.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Oct 2019
Some opera purists argue that operetta isn’t true opera, but what’s the difference and does it really matter? Rebecca Armstrong investigates.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Sep 2019
The very first operas were performed in the houses of the aristocracy, but what was the first public venue dedicated to the artform?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Sep 2019
There are a lot of technical terms in opera, and one of these is Fach. So what is this German system of voice classification?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Aug 2019
Billed as the best tenor of his generation, Jonas Kaufmann has had an enviable career. Find out more about the German superstar.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 9 Aug 2019
Dafne by composers Peri and Corsi is considered the first opera, but what made this piece different from what came before? And what came next?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 26 Jul 2019
We explore the macabre history of the practice of castrating young boys in order to preserve their voices.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 25 Jun 2019
This multi-award-winning soprano is considered to be one of the finest opera singers of the 20th century, as well as a pioneering African-American woman.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jun 2019
Verdi’s much-loved tragedy tells the story of a doomed courtesan and the young nobleman who loves her.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 4 Jun 2019
Musical genius, astute businessman and well-known ‘grump’. There’s certainly more to this much-loved 19th-century composer than meets the eye.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 May 2019
Voice type is important in opera, dictating which roles a singer will play, as well as telling the audience something about the character. But what do the different types mean?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 12 Apr 2019
Explore the romance and tragedy of one of Giacomo Puccini’s greatest operas, a tale of passion and jealousy about the tempestuous opera singer Floria Tosca.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Apr 2019
Attending an opera can be costly, but there are ways that you can get your musical fix without paying a penny.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 13 Dec 2018
Opera at Glyndebourne in Sussex is respected all across the world. Find out how John Christie brought the artform to the estate.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Oct 2018
This technical skill refers to the process of staging an opera. We look at the elements that combine to produce the look of the production.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Oct 2018
You might wonder why people still go to the opera, but the stories often revolve around themes that are recognisable to the modern audience.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Sep 2018
Rural Suffolk might not seem the obvious location for an opera festival, but local boy Benjamin Britten saw its potential.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Aug 2018
If opera is to shake off its elitist reputation, translating more productions into English could be the way forward, but it’s not without its difficulties.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Aug 2018
Why opera in pubs is a great thing if the artform is ever going to shake off its stuffy image.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Jul 2018
With modern technology allowing high-quality streaming of operas to big screens, we look at the differences between cinema and live performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Jul 2018
You want to work in opera but you’re not sure what skills you need, where to look or what’s available? Read our advice on where to start.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jul 2018
What a character wears is as important as what they say when it comes to understanding their motivations.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 19 Jun 2018
This popular opera tells the story of the passionate but doomed eponymous gypsy girl and is packed with well-known tunes.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Jun 2018
While many composers of opera have enjoyed worldwide fame both, the writers of the sung dialogue have often languished in obscurity. Here we celebrate the librettist.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Jun 2018
From the private homes of Europe’s nobility and back again – we take a potted look at the rise of the public opera house as it spread from Italy across the continent.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 10 May 2018
We talked to Opera Holland Park’s Michael Volpe about all things opera, including his documentary, Hip Hop to Opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 May 2018
One of the greatest composers in Western music, find out more about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 May 2018
The BBC Proms is probably the world’s best-known classical music festival. Here are 10 things everyone should know about the event.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 May 2018
What do musicians mean when they talk about the musical score? This written form of a composition is essential to any performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 May 2018
Downloading your first opera, or buying the CD, can seem daunting. We identify 10 opera albums every beginner should own, so you don’t have to.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 May 2018
This popular comic opera by Rossini is all about disguises, deception and true love.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Apr 2018
A list of some of the most significant operas throughout history, complete with dates, period and composer, from the very first opera to the end of the 20th century.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Apr 2018
Ever wondered what an aria actually is? Or what the conductor really does? Here we explain some of the main terms used in opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Nov 2023
This award-winning British composer is best known for her operas, but she also creates orchestral and choral works and chamber music.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 16 Oct 2023
We often hear the word aria in connection with opera, but what does it really mean and where did the word come from? Rebecca Armstrong investigates.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Sep 2023
Salieri’s little-known opera buffa is brought to the UK for the first time in this new English-language version by Bampton Classical Opera. Rebecca Armstrong was impressed.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 May 2023
From creative highs to freelance lows, find out what it’s really like to work as a theatre designer. Rebecca Armstrong talked to Noemi Daboczi, a film and theatre set and costume designer.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 10 Apr 2023
This Italian composer is particularly known for his comic operas, as well as that famous refrain from the William Tell Overture. But he wrote a wide range of music and was a well-known foodie.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Mar 2023
Deeper than deep, the bass singer goes as low as the human voice can go. Editor Rebecca Armstrong delves into this rumbling, rich sound.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Mar 2023
Ethyl Smyth’s opera The Wreckers is a tale of love, lies and betrayal in an 18th century fishing village that partakes in the highly illegal practice of luring ships onto the rocks so they can be pillaged.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 25 Jan 2023
From sorceresses at war to social rejection – by way of Dickens, fairytales and gender identity – Rebecca Armstrong uncovers some of the best operas written by women you can watch for free.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Dec 2022
Wondering what to get the opera lover in your life for Christmas? Or maybe you’re stuck for ideas for your own Christmas list. Rebecca Armstrong rounds up some opera-related gifts.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Nov 2022
Sets create a production’s look, placing it within the context of the story and communicating the time period, location and more. The set designer is responsible for this. Rebecca Armstrong looks at this essential role.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 17 Oct 2022
YouTube is a fantastic resource when it comes to finding free full-length operas to watch. Here we identify 10 in the Baroque style that you might want to tune into
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Sep 2022
German composer Beethoven’s only opera tells a story of justice, freedom and the power of love. Find out all you need to know about this tale of a woman’s bravery.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 16 Sep 2022
The most recognisable of males voices, heard in many pop and rock bands, find out more about the hero role: the tenor.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Aug 2022
Largely unknown today, Amanda Aldridge was a successful Black British composer, singer and vocal coach.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Aug 2022
This internationally renowned Italian baritone had a repertoire of almost 100 operatic roles, singing some of the great Verdi and Puccini baritone parts.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 20 Jul 2022
Figaro and Susanna succeed in getting married, foiling the efforts of their philandering employer Count Almaviva to seduce Susanna, teaching him a lesson in fidelity along the way, in Mozart’s ever-popular comedy.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Jul 2022
This celebrated female composer was a master of the Baroque style and at one point the highest-paid musician of the 17th-century Medici court.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Jun 2022
One of the rarest voice types, a true contralto is a joy to hear. Editor Rebecca Armstrong explains this deep and delightful female voice.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Jun 2022
In our continuing series on who does what in opera, editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at the all-important role of lighting technician.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Apr 2022
Opera can seem removed from everyday life – costly, remote and taking place elsewhere. But, says Rebecca Armstrong, there are many outreach programmes that are taking the artform out into the community.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Mar 2022
The first-known opera to be composed by a woman, Francesca Caccini’s work tells the story of the knight Ruggiero and his escape from the evil sorceress Alcina.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 23 Feb 2022
A trip to the opera can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow these top tips to get your cheap tickets.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Feb 2022
This world-famous, award-winning conductor has blazed a trail for women conductors everywhere.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 24 Jan 2022
The conductor is one of the most visible people in a performance, but many people are baffled as to what they actually do, or why they’re even needed. Rebecca Armstrong explains this most necessary of roles.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 Jan 2022
English composer and a member of the women’s suffrage movement, the first female composer to be granted a damehood.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Dec 2021
The physical space in which you experience an opera affects how you perceive that opera. O4A Editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at the importance of place.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 22 Nov 2021
Women are under-represented at all levels in the opera industry. Editor Rebecca Armstrong looks at why this might be and what is being done about it.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 3 Nov 2021
Italian for ‘little book’, the libretto contains the full text of a dramatic musical work such as an opera, along with stage directions, it provides a useful way for audiences to follow the story.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jul 2021
The most common male voice type, some of the most iconic vocalists are baritones. This voice category is often incredibly distinct and powerful.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 28 Jun 2021
The Italian composer is one of the greatest and most successful proponents of ‘verismo’ opera, writing some of the artform’s best-known pieces.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 9 Jun 2021
Britten’s powerful opera about a misunderstood fisherman paints a vivid picture of a small community’s descent into suspicion, gossip and mob mentality in the face of tragedy.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Apr 2021
One of the most versatile of voice types, the mezzo sits in the mid-range for female voice types. Find out more about the voice known for ‘witches, bitches and britches’.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 23 Mar 2021
Puccini’s enduring tragic love story tells of the doomed affair between a pretty seamstress and a penniless poet. It is packed with some of opera’s most beautiful – and recognisable – music.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Jan 2021
The French composer, conductor and music critic was often at odds with musical tastes of his day, but has come to represent the epitome of the Romantic artist.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jan 2021
The performing arts sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 health crisis, but it has also forced some innovative solutions to difficult problems. Rebecca Armstrong looks at what this might mean for opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 Dec 2020
This lyrical fantasy composed by Ravel, with a libretto by Colette, brings together humour and theatricality.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Nov 2020
The rarest of voice types, this is the highest adult male singing voice, with a vocal range above that of a tenor and similar in pitch to female contralto or mezzo-soprano voices.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 20 Oct 2020
Chair of the Welsh National Opera’s board of directors, Yvette Vaughan Jones has a long career in the arts. We talked to her about her favourite productions.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Sep 2020
This satirical ballad opera by John Gay tells the story of London’s criminal underbelly, centring on highwayman, gang leader and philanderer Captain Macheath.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Aug 2020
Seventeenth century English satirical poet and playwright, best known for his opera The Beggar’s Opera. Find out more about his work and life.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 Aug 2020
Find out about British bass-baritone John Savournin’s introduction to opera and how he came to love the artform.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 28 Jul 2020
With its iconic and instantly recognisable portico, the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden is one of the most famous opera venues in the world. Rebecca Armstrong delves into the history of this much-loved building.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 21 Jul 2020
The voice that can shatter glass – this is the highest singing voice and probably the one that everyone has heard of. But what do we really mean by soprano?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jul 2020
Over the years, all texts – whether musical or not – will be copied, with mistakes creeping in. To preserve the composer’s original work, a version that reflects their intentions has to be created.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Jul 2020
We talk to Petroc Trelawney, presenter of Breakfast on Radio 3, and host of the world’s leading opera singing competition, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jun 2020
Working behind the scenes, the stagehand is something of a jack of all trades, providing support across a range of duties to ensure the smooth running of a performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 2 Jun 2020
Born in Moscow but now based in London, this award-winning young composer has already added new and innovative operas to the repertoire.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 May 2020
We talked to Manchester-based composer and songwriter Anna Appleby about how she came to love opera and what one work she would recommend to a newcomer to the artform.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 May 2020
With the country in lockdown and theatres forced to close, opera companies have been coming up with novel ways of sharing their productions. Rebecca Armstrong asks if this will have a lasting effect on how we enjoy opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 28 Apr 2020
We talk to award-winning theatre director Sasha Regan about her love for Gilbert and Sullivan and why Bizet’s Carmen is her favourite opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 21 Apr 2020
With venues across the UK – and much of the world – shut down due to coronavirus, Rebecca Armstrong looks at ways you can still access a bit of culture.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Apr 2020
Mozart’s magical fairy tale is one of opera’s most beloved works, telling the story of handsome Prince Tamino as he attempts to rescue Pamina from the evil sorcerer Sarastro.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Apr 2020
Featuring some of the most beautiful music ever written, Puccini’s much-loved opera tells the tragic tale of the lives, loves and friendships of four starving artists in Paris.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Mar 2020
Widely considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time, German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven celebrates his 250th anniversary in 2020.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 Mar 2020
If you only speak English is there good reason to listen to an opera in the language in which it was written? Find out why Rebecca Armstrong thinks there is.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 27 Dec 2019
If you’re new to opera and only speak English, language can be a barrier to enjoyment, so we here provide you with a list of works that are sung in English for you to add to your library.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 Dec 2019
Paul Bunyan, Benjamin Brittan’s opera about the giant lumberjack, a US folklore hero, seems to prefigure today’s environmentalism.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Nov 2019
There are laughs aplenty and happy endings all round in this satirical shipboard farce about love, mistaken identity and the absurdities of the British class system.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Nov 2019
Donizetti’s two-act romantic comedy follows the fortunes of poor villager Nemorino who is in love with wealthy, beautiful heiress Adina.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Oct 2019
Ground-breaking American soprano Jessye Norman had a voice that defied classification, allowing her to play an enviable range of roles.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Oct 2019
Some opera purists argue that operetta isn’t true opera, but what’s the difference and does it really matter? Rebecca Armstrong investigates.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Sep 2019
The very first operas were performed in the houses of the aristocracy, but what was the first public venue dedicated to the artform?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Sep 2019
There are a lot of technical terms in opera, and one of these is Fach. So what is this German system of voice classification?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 15 Aug 2019
Billed as the best tenor of his generation, Jonas Kaufmann has had an enviable career. Find out more about the German superstar.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 9 Aug 2019
Dafne by composers Peri and Corsi is considered the first opera, but what made this piece different from what came before? And what came next?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 26 Jul 2019
We explore the macabre history of the practice of castrating young boys in order to preserve their voices.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 25 Jun 2019
This multi-award-winning soprano is considered to be one of the finest opera singers of the 20th century, as well as a pioneering African-American woman.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 14 Jun 2019
Verdi’s much-loved tragedy tells the story of a doomed courtesan and the young nobleman who loves her.
Read Moreby Rebecca | 4 Jun 2019
Musical genius, astute businessman and well-known ‘grump’. There’s certainly more to this much-loved 19th-century composer than meets the eye.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 11 May 2019
Voice type is important in opera, dictating which roles a singer will play, as well as telling the audience something about the character. But what do the different types mean?
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 12 Apr 2019
Explore the romance and tragedy of one of Giacomo Puccini’s greatest operas, a tale of passion and jealousy about the tempestuous opera singer Floria Tosca.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Apr 2019
Attending an opera can be costly, but there are ways that you can get your musical fix without paying a penny.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 13 Dec 2018
Opera at Glyndebourne in Sussex is respected all across the world. Find out how John Christie brought the artform to the estate.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Oct 2018
This technical skill refers to the process of staging an opera. We look at the elements that combine to produce the look of the production.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Oct 2018
You might wonder why people still go to the opera, but the stories often revolve around themes that are recognisable to the modern audience.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 17 Sep 2018
Rural Suffolk might not seem the obvious location for an opera festival, but local boy Benjamin Britten saw its potential.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 29 Aug 2018
If opera is to shake off its elitist reputation, translating more productions into English could be the way forward, but it’s not without its difficulties.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 Aug 2018
Why opera in pubs is a great thing if the artform is ever going to shake off its stuffy image.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Jul 2018
With modern technology allowing high-quality streaming of operas to big screens, we look at the differences between cinema and live performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 6 Jul 2018
You want to work in opera but you’re not sure what skills you need, where to look or what’s available? Read our advice on where to start.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 5 Jul 2018
What a character wears is as important as what they say when it comes to understanding their motivations.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 19 Jun 2018
This popular opera tells the story of the passionate but doomed eponymous gypsy girl and is packed with well-known tunes.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 18 Jun 2018
While many composers of opera have enjoyed worldwide fame both, the writers of the sung dialogue have often languished in obscurity. Here we celebrate the librettist.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 Jun 2018
From the private homes of Europe’s nobility and back again – we take a potted look at the rise of the public opera house as it spread from Italy across the continent.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 10 May 2018
We talked to Opera Holland Park’s Michael Volpe about all things opera, including his documentary, Hip Hop to Opera.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 8 May 2018
One of the greatest composers in Western music, find out more about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 7 May 2018
The BBC Proms is probably the world’s best-known classical music festival. Here are 10 things everyone should know about the event.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 May 2018
What do musicians mean when they talk about the musical score? This written form of a composition is essential to any performance.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 4 May 2018
Downloading your first opera, or buying the CD, can seem daunting. We identify 10 opera albums every beginner should own, so you don’t have to.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 3 May 2018
This popular comic opera by Rossini is all about disguises, deception and true love.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Apr 2018
A list of some of the most significant operas throughout history, complete with dates, period and composer, from the very first opera to the end of the 20th century.
Read Moreby Rebecca Armstrong | 30 Apr 2018
Ever wondered what an aria actually is? Or what the conductor really does? Here we explain some of the main terms used in opera.
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