In brief: The Wreckers
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.
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Operas
10 Operas By Female Composers To Watch For Free
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 More
10 Baroque Operas To Watch For Free
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 More
In Full: Fidelio by Beethoven
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 More
In Brief: The Marriage of Figaro
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 More
In brief: La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina
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.
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How To Get Cheap Tickets To The Opera
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 More
In brief: Peter Grimes
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 More
In Full: La Bohème
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 More
Coronavirus And The Changing Face Of Opera
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 More
In Brief: L’enfant et les sortilèges
This lyrical fantasy composed by Ravel, with a libretto by Colette, brings together humour and theatricality.
Read More
In brief: The Beggar’s Opera
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 More
Will Coronavirus Change The Way We Consume Opera?
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 More
How To Get Your Opera Fix
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 More
In full: Die Zauberflöte
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 More
In Brief: La Bohème
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 More
Why Listen to Opera in its Original Language
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.
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Operas Sung in English
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 More
In full: HMS Pinafore
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 More
In Brief: L’elisir d’amore
Donizetti’s two-act romantic comedy follows the fortunes of poor villager Nemorino who is in love with wealthy, beautiful heiress Adina.
Read More
The World’s First Opera
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 More
In full: La traviata
Verdi’s much-loved tragedy tells the story of a doomed courtesan and the young nobleman who loves her.
Read More
In Brief: Tosca
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 More
How to Access Opera for Free
Attending an opera can be costly, but there are ways that you can get your musical fix without paying a penny.
Read More
The Trouble with Translation
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 More
In Full: Carmen
This popular opera tells the story of the passionate but doomed eponymous gypsy girl and is packed with well-known tunes.
Read More
Starting Your Collection
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 More
In Brief: The Barber of Seville
This popular comic opera by Rossini is all about disguises, deception and true love.
Read More
In brief: The Wreckers
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 More
10 Operas By Female Composers To Watch For Free
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 More
10 Baroque Operas To Watch For Free
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 More
In Full: Fidelio by Beethoven
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 More
In Brief: The Marriage of Figaro
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 More
In brief: La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola di Alcina
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 More
How To Get Cheap Tickets To The Opera
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 More
In brief: Peter Grimes
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 More
In Full: La Bohème
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 More
Coronavirus And The Changing Face Of Opera
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 More
In Brief: L’enfant et les sortilèges
This lyrical fantasy composed by Ravel, with a libretto by Colette, brings together humour and theatricality.
Read More
In brief: The Beggar’s Opera
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 More
Will Coronavirus Change The Way We Consume Opera?
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 More
How To Get Your Opera Fix
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 More
In full: Die Zauberflöte
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 More
In Brief: La Bohème
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 More
Why Listen to Opera in its Original Language
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 More
Operas Sung in English
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 More
In full: HMS Pinafore
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 More
In Brief: L’elisir d’amore
Donizetti’s two-act romantic comedy follows the fortunes of poor villager Nemorino who is in love with wealthy, beautiful heiress Adina.
Read More
The World’s First Opera
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 More
In full: La traviata
Verdi’s much-loved tragedy tells the story of a doomed courtesan and the young nobleman who loves her.
Read More
In Brief: Tosca
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 More
How to Access Opera for Free
Attending an opera can be costly, but there are ways that you can get your musical fix without paying a penny.
Read More
The Trouble with Translation
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 More
In Full: Carmen
This popular opera tells the story of the passionate but doomed eponymous gypsy girl and is packed with well-known tunes.
Read More
Starting Your Collection
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 More
In Brief: The Barber of Seville
This popular comic opera by Rossini is all about disguises, deception and true love.
Read More