The European Opera Centre is bringing leading experts and much-loved stars to Liverpool for The Audland Talks, a brand new series of evening talks exploring the extravagant world of opera this autumn.
Presented in venues on the city’s iconic waterfront, and forming part of the Liverpool-based Centre’s wider commitment to developing audiences for opera.
The season launches on Monday 7 October at RIBA North with a talk at 6.15pm on country house opera by music historian Dr Sophie Redfern and the architect behind the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize-shortlisted Nevill Holt Opera theatre, Christopher Watson, of Witherford Watson Mann.
Watson previously won the prestigious prize in 2013 and the talk comes on the eve of this year’s award ceremony in London.
Carefully planned to relate to the operas and opera companies visiting Liverpool over the coming year, the season continues at RIBA North through October and November with thought-provoking and entertaining talks by some of the country’s most distinguished opera experts.
On Tuesday 22 October Professor Simon McVeigh of Goldsmith’s University considers how Handel conquered London in the 18th century, while on Monday 11 November, BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 regular Nigel Simeone delves into 19th-century Britain’s insatiable appetite for Italian opera.
Spring 2020 sees Mozart authority Professor Cliff Eisen of King’s College London re-evaluate that most famous of musical prodigies on Monday 2 March, and on Monday 16 March French opera specialist Professor Sarah Hibberd of the University of Bristol reveals what made 19th-century Paris Europe’s most exhilarating operatic capital.
The series closes with an end-of-season celebration at the Royal Liver Building featuring one of Britain’s best-loved opera singers, Dame Felicity Lott. With a view overlooking the Mersey, on Monday 11 May Dame Felicity will discuss her international career and the composers, operas, and artists who have been part of her extraordinary life on stage.
Since moving to Liverpool in 2004 the European Opera Centre has increasingly worked within the region, staging critically acclaimed opera performances and pioneering an award-winning education programme in Greater Liverpool schools.
The Audland Talks are named in recognition of the generous support the Centre has received from Christopher and Maura Audland.