A Night at the Opera
THE HISTORY OF OPERA; AN ILLUSTRATED TALK
A fascinating talk of how opera began, developed and spread worldwide; from 1600 to the present day. Illustrated with operatic arias, performed live by international opera singer, Jean Rigby accompanied by David Knowles.
This enjoyable lecture will include excerpts of opera productions from around the world, a 400-year journey which will bring us up to Hamilton – the musical!
Suitable for the operatic novice; or expert.
Jean Rigby
Born in Fleetwood, Lancashire, Rigby studied at the Birmingham School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. She made her debut with the English National Opera in 1977. She has sung with the Royal Opera and has been for many years a regular guest at the Glyndebourne Festival. At the 2008 Glyndebourne festival, she created the role of Martina Laborde in Peter Eötvös’ opera Love and Other Demons. In the field of concert music, she has been a frequent soloist at the BBC Promenade Concerts. Her recordings include the role of Maddalena in the English-language RIGOLETTO (EMI/Angel), based on Jonathan Miller’s “gangster” production for ENO. She is an opera coach at the Royal Academy of Music.
Jamie Hayes
Jamie has directed many new opera productions, both at home and abroad. After training at RADA, he worked for Kent Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, the BBC, the Royal Shakespeare Company and English National Opera. He has directed many opera productions for leading UK festivals as well as all our most distinguished musical conservatoires. His new opera productions overseas have appeared as far away as Reykjavik, Malta and Melbourne. Jamie was Associate Director on the original production of the hit musical Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway. He was Director of Productions for British Youth Opera for over a decade, a company devoted to promoting the talents of our finest young opera singers in the UK. Jamie is married to the opera singer Jean Rigby and they have three children.
Tickets are £10, concessions £8
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